UN Calls for Safer Homes and Stronger Household Disaster Preparedness

Yesterday 16:17

By: Azzat Manal

UN Calls for Safer Homes and Stronger Household Disaster Preparedness

The United Nations has called for greater investment in safer housing and household disaster preparedness, warning that damage to homes remains a major source of economic loss and human suffering during natural disasters.

In a statement released on Tuesday, October 13, to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) highlighted this year’s theme, “Resilience starts at home.” The agency stressed that protecting residential buildings and helping families prepare for emergencies are essential to reducing the impact of disasters.

According to data reported by countries through the Sendai Framework monitoring system, housing accounts for approximately 43% of direct economic losses caused by disasters. The UN office also noted that around half of the people reported as affected by disasters experienced damage to or destruction of their homes.

The consequences extend well beyond the loss of property. Families who lose their homes may be forced to relocate, lose access to their livelihoods and essential services, and face physical and psychological health challenges. The disruption can be particularly severe for households with limited financial resources or few options for temporary accommodation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the importance of understanding local risks, preparing a family emergency plan and acting quickly when a disaster threatens. These steps, alongside effective early warning systems, can help people make timely decisions and protect lives.

Global modelling by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure estimates that residential buildings face average annual losses of approximately $228 billion under current climate conditions from cyclones, floods, tsunamis and earthquakes. This represents about 53% of the estimated annual losses to buildings worldwide from these four hazards, underlining the scale of the challenge facing housing and urban infrastructure.

More than a decade after countries adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, progress in reducing disaster-related deaths has not been matched by comparable reductions in the number of people affected or the economic damage recorded. The UN has therefore urged governments to make resilience a central part of housing policy, urban planning and investment decisions.

Measures recommended by the agency include avoiding construction in high-risk locations, enforcing appropriate building standards and strengthening existing homes and infrastructure. It also called for damaged housing to be rebuilt to safer standards, with affected communities involved in decisions to ensure that previous vulnerabilities are not repeated.

Household preparedness remains another critical factor. Results from the 2026 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll suggest that people who have both an emergency plan and confidence in their ability to protect their families are far more likely to act on an early warning. Among respondents who had experienced a disaster and received an advance warning, 83% of those with both a plan and confidence took action, compared with 27% of those lacking both.

The UNDRR stressed that preparedness must be supported by equitable access to reliable risk information, early warnings and the resources needed to respond. Without such support, lower-income households may struggle to reinforce their homes, obtain emergency supplies or relocate when necessary.

The agency’s message is that disaster resilience begins long before a crisis occurs. Safer construction, better planning and practical preparation at household level can help limit damage, protect livelihoods and reduce the long-term human and economic costs of natural hazards.