SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES VIGOROUS ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS, CITIZENS, ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION
Press Release
SG/SM/6073
ND/411
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES VIGOROUS ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS, CITIZENS, ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION
19961009 Following is the text of a statement issued today by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on the occasion of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction:I welcome the celebration today of International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, whose theme for 1996 is "Cities at Risk".
Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes can be particularly devastating in urban environments, where problems of infrastructure and environmental safety are common. With some 45 per cent of the world's population now living in cities and the percentage increasing daily, an unprecedented number of people are at risk. But urban dwellers can take action to protect themselves.
The "Cities at Risk" campaign, which complements follow-up activities for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), focuses on the development and implementation of policy guidelines for safer cities.
I urge governments, local authorities and citizens to vigorously pursue actions and activities to enhance their ability to prevent and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters. In this way, as partners, we can make a valuable contribution to the realization of our common goal: safe, prosperous and healthy cities.
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