International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – the importance of preparing for disaster

This year, the theme for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) is 'Empowering the next generation for a resilient future'.

Each year on 13 October, the QBE Foundation acknowledges how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters, and raising awareness of the importance of managing the risks they face.

Research has shown that by 2050, over 200 million people may require humanitarian aid as a direct result of climate change¹. However, despite 50% of crises being reasonably predictable, only 1% of global funding is dedicated to mitigating them².

In response, the QBE Foundation has been focused on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities through climate resilience and inclusion efforts.

A pillar of this commitment is our long-standing global partnership with Red Cross and Save the Children, forged to help global communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

This year, we are proud to celebrate five years of this impactful collaboration under a new name - the Community Ready partnership.

Helping to build resilient communities around the world

This year's theme highlights the importance of supporting young people through age-appropriate education to understand and manage the risks they may face in the future.

With an estimated 850 million children worldwide living in areas exposed to at least four major climate or environmental hazards, such as heatwaves, floods or water scarcity³, the need for disaster preparedness is more vital than ever.

As we celebrate five years of our global partnership in 2024 with the launch of the new name Community Ready, QBE is proud of the impact we've made in helping build resilient communities. Since 2019, QBE has invested USD $5.7 million in the partnerships, with an additional USD $303,000 raised through employee donations, contributing to disaster relief and resilience programs.

The partnership has also delivered 29 programs in 22 countries, responded to 19 major disasters, and supported approximately 497,000 people and 44,300 families/households around the world.

Save the Children - Project SECURE (Philippines)

Launched in January 2024, Project SECURE is a three-year initiative designed to help families, particularly women and children, better prepare for and respond to natural hazards. This year, 80 households received preparedness training and family preparedness kits, alongside disaster risk reduction plan implementation and 'train the trainers' programs to ensure lasting impact.

Save the Children - Generation Hope: Climate Change Matters (Hong Kong)

Climate Change Matters is a child-led advocacy and education initiative that aims to enhance children's understanding of the impact of climate change and motivating child-led climate change action, while building disaster preparedness and resilience. The initiative includes workshops, beach-cleaning days, and educational excursions to foster resilience and preparedness among children.

Singapore Red Cross - Young Hearts Program (Singapore)

Aimed at supporting over 100 children born into poverty, the Young Hearts Program provides not just basic necessities but also education and mentorship. By addressing challenges in literacy, social support and character development, the program is working to create long-term opportunities and inclusivity for these children.

Australian Red Cross - Extreme Heat Response Program (South Australia)

The Extreme Heat Response Program assists vulnerable and isolated people cope with extreme weather events. This service supports people by calling them daily during declared heatwaves. The program allowed for the continuation and expansion of activities to amplify the long-term impact of the service, and to help keep an aging population safe from Australia's biggest killer - extreme heat.

Learn more about QBE's global Community Ready partnership.

Learn more about the contribution QBE is making to community resilience through our Foundation Partners.

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1. Climate change action | Australian Red Cross

2. https://anticipatory-action-toolkit.unocha.org/

3. UNICEF-climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis.pdf [Page 6]

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