Combating the dual challenges of climate-related disasters and COVID-19 (UNDRR-OCHA)
Less than a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Harold slammed into Vanuatu devastating large parts of this Pacific small island developing state. As several other countries in the Asia-Pacific region enter their cyclone, drought, heatwaves or monsoon seasons, the potential for a repeat of such an ‘unprecedented double disaster’ is increasing. How can countries confront a major climate-related or other disaster on top of ongoing prevention, response, and recovery measures to deal with COVID-19?
This brief, developed by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for Asia-Pacific:
Builds on early lessons from Cyclone Harold in the Pacific.
Examines ongoing prevention and preparedness measures at the national and local level in other high-risk countries.
Provides recommendations on how to address climate and disaster risk in an era of COVID-19.
Points the way forward with a massively reinvigorated localization agenda.
The brief reflects the interventions and feedback from the 16 April webinar under the same title, which UNDRR co-organized with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).