2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign

When a natural hazard strikes, children are among the most vulnerable groups, especially those attending school in times of disaster. Disasters such as the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan where over 16,000 children died in schools that collapsed, or the recent mudslide on Leyte Island in the Philippines, where more than 200 school children were buried alive, are just a few tragic examples of why more needs to be done to protect our children during catastrophic events.

In all societies, children represent hope for the future. Because of their direct link to youths, schools are universally regarded as institutions of learning, for instilling cultural values and passing on both traditional and conventional knowledge to younger generations. Protecting our children during natural hazards, therefore, requires two distinct yet inseparable priorities for action: disaster risk education and school safety.

The UN/ISDR secretariat and its partners have made disaster risk education and safer school facilities the two key themes of the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign. The Campaign, entitled “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School” aims to inform and mobilize Governments, communities and individuals to ensure that disaster risk reduction is fully integrated into school curricula in high risk countries and that school buildings are built or retrofitted to withstand natural hazards. The Campaign’s key partners include UNESCO, UNICEF, ActionAid International, the IFRC, and the ISDR’s thematic cluster on knowledge and education.