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Today 10 October 2002 the world is celebrating "The International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction." Yonge Nawe recognise this day and is urging people to reflect on what they are doing to protect people and the environment from the natural and manmade disasters that are striking us with increasing frequency. 

Natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, floods, droughts, tropical storms and landslides. It is estimated that almost 3 million people have perished as a result of such disasters in the past three decades and many millions more have suffered hardship. The outcome has been economic loss and an accompanying negative environmental impact, especially on the developing world. Disaster reduction has been recognized by the United Nations as a precondition for sustainable development. It is also a known fact that the greatest victims of major disasters are the poor since they depend on their immediate environment for survival. Swaziland is at the moment experiencing the worst disasters, drought and poverty that is ravaging about 150 000 Swazis. It has been reported that the Kingdom will likely face another drought situation this year, which will pose serious consequences to both people and the environment. The escalation of severe disasters caused by natural hazards and the related environmental and technological disasters are increasingly posing a substantive threat to both sustainable development and poverty eradication initiatives. It is in this regard that disaster reduction has been recognised as a precondition for sustainable development. 

At a global level the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has facilitated the development of disaster reduction strategies. Nations are encouraged to develop a culture of prevention and build resilient societies and communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the objective of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses. Swaziland should come up with strategies for natural disaster reduction, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and management.

It is imperative that we increase public awareness of the risks that natural, technological and environmental hazards pose to societies, and to increase awareness of existing approaches for prevention and preparedness. Natural disasters will continue to increase unless a concept is adopted to make disaster reduction an integral part of sustainable development. The task of disaster reduction is of long-term nature, and thus requires a progressive approach, which addresses all sectors of society, as no single sector can do it alone. Such an approach should involve government, business, academic, scientific, and technical institutions, NGOs, CBOs, media, schools etc., and at all levels, from local to international.