DARA’s Risk Reduction Index addresses one of the most urgent humanitarian issues of today and does so in a way others have not.

An enormous problem
According to the United Nations Development Programme, in 2008 alone, more than 300 disasters killed over 235,000 people, affected more than 200 million others and caused losses and damage worth USD 181 billion. Since 168 governments signed the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) in 2005, much has been achieved in the area of raising general awareness on hazards, disasters, the risks they pose to different populations as well as the need to act in order to reduce their impact.

A gap in global understanding
Although many countries have developed policies and strategies to reduce the impact of natural hazards, there are very few indicators that assess the effectiveness of such risk reduction activities. By focusing on the identification of what works and what does not, the Risk Reduction Index will fill an important gap in global understanding and help reduce the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities.