Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
The UN General Assembly has designated the 29th of April of every year as the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, highlighting both the need to support earthquake survivors and to build resilience against earthquakes.
Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural hazards and are responsible for some of the largest disasters in human history. Currently, Myanmar is in the midst of responding to the earthquake that struck it on 28 March, which killed over 3,700 people, as of 24 April. In Türkiye and Syria, millions are still struggling to rebuild their lives two years after the devastating earthquakes of 2023, which killed over 55,000 people.
Recognizing the tremendous toll of earthquakes on lives, economies and sustainable development, Chile, Phillippines, and Uzbekistan introduced a resolution that was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 29 April designating the day as the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes. The resolution also invites the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to facilitate the observance of the new international day.
“We express our heartfelt appreciation to all Member States who participated in the informal consultations and contributed to the drafting process. We also extend sincere thanks to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for its invaluable support and cooperation,” said Ulugbek Lapasov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the UN in New York, noting that, “it should be emphasized that the adoption of this resolution is not only an act of commemoration but a call to action on earthquake risks.”
The resolution specifies two distinct needs that this day aims to highlight. The first is the need to support the victims of earthquakes, including the provision of international assistance for recovery and long-term psychosocial support. The second is the need to raise awareness around earthquake risks and how they can be reduced.
“By honoring those affected worldwide, this day seeks to strengthen solidarity with impacted communities, raise awareness, and promote resilience and preparedness. It also encourages the implementation of measures to improve response, recovery, and disaster risk reduction, ensuring better support for future earthquake events,” said Paula Narváez Ojeda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN in New York.
While earthquakes cannot be prevented, their destructive impacts can be greatly reduced through proactive disaster risk reduction measures. This includes supporting countries to better understand their earthquake risks, strengthening disaster risk reduction plans and governance, increasing investments in resilience building, and enhancing preparedness to “build back better” in the aftermath of earthquakes. All of these are key priorities for action within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR, has called on countries to do more to reverse the trend of growing earthquake-related disaster costs:
“Our understanding of the physics of earthquakes has improved. We also understand how buildings and infrastructure respond to earthquakes, and we know how to make them safer. From designing a simple structure to a complex physical infrastructure, engineering knowledge is at an all-time high. Yet the risk of losses from earthquakes is rising in most seismic countries. But trend is not destiny. It can be arrested. It can be reversed.”
Ambassador Lapasov encouraged countries to actively support commemorations of the new international day:
“We encourage all Member States to consider making voluntary contributions and urge earthquake-prone countries to organize meaningful national activities in observance of this day. A robust commemoration will serve not only as a tribute to victims but also as a catalyst for advancing disaster prevention and preparedness.”