The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), jointly with Qatar Red Crescent (QRC), launched on 16 October 2014 the Societies’ flagship publication, the World Disasters Report (WDR) 2014.
Disaster risk and recovery projects are less effective if they do not take into account how culture affects the way people relate to risk, says the 2014 World Disasters Report, released by the IFRC.
With climate change increasing the number of people at risk and the frequency and/or severity of climate hazards, the World Disasters Report 2014 is advocating for a new approach which takes into account how people and institutions think, behave and act in relation to risk.
This year’s report explores the different ways in which culture affects disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and how disasters and risk influence culture. It examines why people choose to live in hazard-prone locations, and how culture and beliefs enable them to live with the risks they face. The report looks at the organizational culture of agencies working in the fields of disaster risk reduction and adaptation, and challenges the widespread faith in community-based activities. It also considers culture in relation to housing and reconstruction, and healthcare and medicine. Finally, the report indicates starting points for organizations to better align their actions with the way people think and act.
The report was released at a critical time as the Hyogo Framework for Action: ‘Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters’, will expire in 2015.
