Sustained investment in tsunami preparedness is essential.

As we mark 80 years since the founding of the United Nations, it is important to celebrate the moments when international cooperation tangibly improved people’s lives.

Among the great successes was the expansion of tsunami early warning systems in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Thanks to those crucial investments 20 years ago, many countries now have access to life-saving tsunami alerts.

We saw this in action just a few months ago, when an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia triggered tsunami warnings across the region – from Southeast Asia and Japan, to the small islands of the Pacific, and as far as the western coast of the United States.

But we must not become complacent. Disaster risks are evolving. More people and economic assets are in coastal regions. And with rising sea levels, due to global warming, tsunami waves can travel farther inland than before.

To stay ahead, countries need to continuously reassess community vulnerabilities, strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, and enhance early warning systems so that no one is left behind.

Sustained investment is essential.
Invest in tsunami preparedness

That is why, for the 10th anniversary of World Tsunami Awareness Day, we call on all countries to “Invest in Tsunami Preparedness.”

These investments pay for themselves when we consider that a warning of only 24 hours can reduce damages by up to 30% and that every dollar spent on making infrastructure resilient in developing countries saves at least four dollars in averted disaster losses.

This year, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is proud to once again partner with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO to promote the Tsunami Ready Programme and to support the Indian Ocean-wide tsunami exercises – IO Wave.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to Japan for its steadfast support for World Tsunami Awareness Day since its establishment ten years ago. Japan’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing global disaster risk reduction.

Tsunamis are rare, but they are among the deadliest and most devastating hazards we face.

On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, let us commit to build on the progress we have made, and to invest the funds needed to enhance tsunami preparedness and resilience for all.

Thank you.

Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.