The DKKV is…
German Committee for Disaster Reduction e.V. (ger.: Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V.)
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Disasters Avoided Publishes Newsletter Edition 17: The Importance of Meaningful Targets in Disaster Prevention
The Disasters Avoided initiative has published the 17th edition of its newsletter for October 2026. This edition marks the conclusion of a six-part series exploring the Disasters Avoided Model, which identifies six interconnected factors that contribute to preventing...
New Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network Newsletter: Issue 19 on the European Civil Protection Forum 2026
The 19th issue of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN) newsletter has been published on the occasion of the European Civil Protection Forum (CPF), taking place in Brussels on 3 and 4 November 2026. This special edition explores key topics addressed at...
New Online Course: Using Insurance to Strengthen Urban Resilience
What role can insurance play in protecting cities against natural hazards? Can it do more than cover financial losses by also attracting investment and supporting more resilient urban development? These questions are explored in the online course “From Risk to...
THW Delivers Relief Supplies to Panama Following Severe Earthquake
Following a powerful earthquake in southwestern Panama, the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) has dispatched almost 20 tonnes of humanitarian relief supplies worth more than €150,000 to the affected region. The delivery aims to support people affected...
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What is disaster risk reduction?
Storms, natural hazards and extreme events can quickly become a danger to people and the environment. But climate change, extreme urbanisation, power outages and fires also offer potential hazards.
A disaster occurs when the functioning of a community or society is impaired or interrupted and, as a result, high human, material, economic and ecological losses occur that cannot be managed alone.
Precautionary measures can help to reduce the consequences and impact of the disaster. Depending on the hazard and personal circumstances, the precautionary measures to be taken may vary.
Find out more about potential hazards and individual precautionary measures on our topic pages.