UN Observes International Day for Disaster Reduction

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 08:02

Urgent action needed to protect hospitals from natural hazards

The tragedies that struck the Asia and Pacific region this month underscore the urgent action that must be taken to better protect hospitals from natural disasters. Large-scale human suffering is exacerbated when the very services that are most needed to save lives - hospitals, clinics and other health facilities - are counted among the casualties.

Today, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction dedicates its annual International Day for Disaster Reduction to the urgent need to make "Hospitals Safe from Disasters." Dozens of hospitals and heath facilities each year are themselves impacted by floods, hurricanes, cyclones, earthquakes and other natural hazards because safety measures were not integrated in their design, location or construction.

The "Hospitals Safe from Disasters" theme was also used for the 2008-09 World Disaster Reduction campaign that culminates today. This two-year campaign has been a joint initiative of UNISDR, the World Health Organization and the World Bank aimed at ensuring people’s access to functioning health facilities during and after natural hazards. The ISDR system is using today's event to highlight the gains made during the campaign and the work that still needs to be done in making hospitals safer from disasters.

“Since the beginning of the campaign, much has been achieved to make hospitals safer but more investments are still needed to improve the functionality of hospital when disasters occur,” says Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

According to a recent WHO survey, only 50% of all country’s heath sectors have a budget allocation for risk reduction and emergency preparedness. Hospitals and heath facilities are in the frontline when floods, hurricanes, cyclones, and earthquakes strike and many are adversely impacted because safety measures were not integrated in their design, construction and functionality. There are at least 90 000 hospitals and other health facilities in the world's 49 least-developed countries, many of which are vulnerable to disasters, including those related to the harmful effects of climate change.

“No new hospital should be built unless it can withstand the impact of natural hazards,” Ms Wahlström adds. "Existing health facilities should also be assessed for their safety and action take to improve their safety and the level of their preparedness."

Read more about the International Day for Disaster Reduction

Read the Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for Disaster Reduction,