Statement at the commemoration of International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction

Good morning.

On behalf of the United Nations Family in Eswatini, I am delighted to be among you today as we celebrate this important International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, which falls on 13 October, every year.

Let me start by recognizing the good work done by His Majesty’s Government under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs in enhancing the efficiency of Eswatini Meteorological Services Early Warning Systems for improved disaster risk reduction and management. We also appreciate the role of development partners including UNDP, UNDRR and the Government of Italy for their support of this critical area.

I take this opportunity to congratulate NDMA, with the support of our colleagues from the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction for organizing this week’s workshop with key stakeholders to look at the disaster risk landscape of Eswatini, leading to the commemoration today.

The workshop has been crucial in mobilizing data and information from different sectors across the country upon which to take the necessary action to address disaster risk reduction.

Eswatini is particularly vulnerable to the increasing frequency of and severity of climate-related impacts sch as droughts, floods, lighting and hailstorms. The climate crisis that faces our world has been well demonstrated in Eswatini, including most recently by the effects of Cyclone Eloise.

The focus of this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction is to mobilize action for greater investment in expanding early warning and early action for all.

As already mentioned by the PS, improving multi-hazard early warning systems is one of the seven global targets set at the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015.

Specifically, target G says we must “substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”

Unfortunately, the reality is that as of April this year, only 95 countries had reported on the existence of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems through the Sendai Framework Monitoring system.

One-third of the world’s people, mainly in the least developed countries and small island developing states, are still not covered by early warning systems. In Africa, 60% of people lack coverage. This is unacceptable.

As we commemorate this Day, the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres reminds us that early warning systems – and the ability to act on them -- are proven lifesavers. He is therefore calling on all countries to invest in early warning systems and support those who lack capacity and has set a target for universal early warning coverage in the next five years.

Early warning saves lives. Early warning by 24 hours can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent.

Making investment in early warning is more urgent than ever as climate change continues to cause more frequent, extreme, and unpredictable climate-related hazards.

Early warning systems must be multi-hazard, end-to-end and people centered.

This means that early warning systems must be designed to detect different hazards that may occur alone, simultaneously, or cascade.

They must also cover the entire range, from hazard detection to action, which includes providing understandable and actionable warning messages.

Lastly and more importantly, early warning systems must be designed with people in mind; to empower them to act on time and in an appropriate manner to reduce potential harm.

We must customize early warning systems for different groups to meet their specific needs.

If we are sincere about ‘leaving no one behind’, we must ensure that all vulnerable people including older persons and persons with disabilities are not left behind when warnings are issued. This means we must engage, listen to and empower groups with special needs.

To reduce harm and speed up recovery, early warning systems should trigger anticipatory actions, such as the expansion of social safety nets.

I conclude by quoting a message from the UN Secretary-General for today. He says, “extreme weather events will happen. But they do not need to become deadly disasters.”

Early warning and early action for all.

I thank you.