On the eve of the first-ever gathering of scientists to discuss disaster risk management, the head of the United Nations office tasked with synergizing disaster reduction activities emphasized today the importance of government leaders and decision makers\u2019 attention to the role of science in lowering the exposure to extreme disaster events and promoting sustainable development.<\/p>\n
\u201cDisasters worsen entrenched poverty and directly impact the lives of over 100 million people every year,\u201d said Robert Glasser, the Secretary-General\u2019s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction (±¬ÁÏÍøISDR<\/a>), in a press statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe application of science and technology is vital to reducing escalating losses from disasters, which can often worsen the potential for strife and conflict in many parts of the world particularly in places where eco-systems are being lost,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Over the last 10 years, the average disaster death toll came to 76,000 annually, with 173 million affected by floods, storms, droughts, earthquakes and other disaster events. Meanwhile last year, the number of major droughts recorded globally doubled \u2013 affecting more than 35 million people.<\/p>\n \u201cImproved forecasting and the development of drought-resistant agricultural practices can help reduce ethnic rivalries and tensions,\u201d he continued, citing pastoralists and farmers. \u201cThis needs to be better understood as desertification spreads and food security is undermined in many parts of the world, exacerbated by the current El Ni\u00f1o phenomenon, which is having a devastating impact on crop production.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 1,000 scientists, politicians, policy makers, disaster risk managers and representatives of the business community will gather tomorrow in Geneva for a three-day ±¬ÁÏÍøISDR Science and Technology Conference<\/a> to mobilize the scientific community to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Sendia Framework<\/a> was adopted in March 2015 as a new global agreement on measures to reduce disaster risk and disaster losses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n