International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
A/RES/64/200
A/RES/64/200
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is the United Nations observance held on 13 October to promote a global culture of risk awareness, prevention and resilience.
Its focus is not only on responding after a disaster. Disaster risk reduction asks how communities, institutions and development decisions can reduce exposure and vulnerability before hazards become disasters.
Why it matters
The day encourages people to think about risk before an emergency happens: safer infrastructure, accessible warning systems, resilient services, informed planning and attention to people who may face greater barriers during disasters.
Preparedness content should remain practical and local. Generic observance material should not replace instructions from emergency-management, weather, health or civil-protection authorities during an active event.
History
The United Nations traces the observance to a 1989 General Assembly call for an international day promoting a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.
The observance is now held every 13 October and is closely connected with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, which emphasizes understanding risk, strengthening governance, investing in resilience and improving preparedness.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/44/236
First documented observance
UN reporting on the International Decade records the first International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on 10 October 1990.
Replaced the movable second-Wednesday timing with a fixed annual date of 13 October.
United Nations General Assembly · UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/200
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
International Day for Disaster Reduction
Ways to observe
Review the emergency alerts, evacuation information and preparedness guidance published by the authorities where you live.
Check whether household or workplace emergency plans account for children, older adults, disabled people, pets, medicines and communication needs.
Use a school or community activity to map local hazards and identify trusted sources of warnings and information.
Support a credible local preparedness, resilience or recovery organization rather than sharing unverified disaster claims.
Discuss how building, land-use, infrastructure and social-policy decisions can increase or reduce risk over time.
Useful facts
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed on 13 October.
The United Nations traces the observance to a General Assembly initiative begun in 1989.
The day emphasizes reducing disaster risk, not only responding after disasters occur.
The Sendai Framework is a major international framework for disaster risk reduction.
During an active emergency, local official instructions take priority over general observance content.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/44/236 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/64/200 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — A/46/621, first International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on 10 October 1990 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (opens in a new tab)
Un International Observance
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction?
13 October The stored recurrence guidance is: 13 October.
Does International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction?
It is observed every year on 13 October.
What is disaster risk reduction?
It is the effort to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing risk and strengthen resilience by addressing exposure, vulnerability, preparedness and the conditions that shape risk.
Is this page emergency advice?
No. During an active hazard or emergency, follow current instructions from the relevant local authorities and emergency services.
Other observances on October 13
These records also resolve to October 13, 2026 under the current authority data.
Commemoration of the Assassination of Prince Louis Rwagasore
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
Herpes Awareness Day
National Today places Herpes Awareness Day on October 13 annually, and AnydayGuide independently lists National Herpes Awareness Day on October 13.
International Civility for the Girl Child Day
National Day Archives identifies October 13 and names Louisa Akaiso as the 2020 creator; EventGuide independently lists the observance every October 13.
National Transfer Money to Your Son Day
National Today and Awareness Days independently place National Transfer Money to Your Son Day on October 13.
U.S. Navy Birthday
Naval History and Heritage Command identifies 13 October as the date celebrated as the U.S. Navy’s birthday.
World Thrombosis Day
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)