The UK’s new Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme, worth £40 million, aims to provide expert training, simulation drills, and new disaster monitoring systems to help countries most vulnerable to natural disasters like Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Sudan prepare for future shocks. Justine Greening, UK’s International Development Secretary, will announce the programme at the World Bank’s Spring Meeting in Washington. Funding for projects that improve the quality and speed of humanitarian response will be awarded competitively under this programme. Greening will emphasize the need for increased global investment in emergency preparedness and resilience, as the humanitarian system is already stretched thin. Accredited international training programmes will be organized in high-risk countries in collaboration with the START network and the Communicating with Disaster-affected Communities Network. Support will also be provided for innovative early warning systems, such as satellite monitoring and improved communication and coordination of disasters. Additionally, a £20 million fund will be set up for UNICEF and the World Food Programme to enhance disaster planning in 11 high-risk countries or regions, benefiting 17 million people at risk of disasters, including 14 million women and children in emergencies. This fund will allow agencies to preposition relief items and replenish stocks for quicker humanitarian responses. The countries mentioned will be Afghanistan, Burma, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Chad, Madagascar, Central America, Central Asia, African Great Lakes, and the Syria region. An example of the effectiveness of this approach was provided by Bangladesh, which reduced casualties from similar cyclones from 500,000 in 1972 to 3,400 in 2008. In addition, the release also mentioned that Greening will outline DFID's five key areas for improvement to alleviate the demand for emergency assistance. These areas include investing more in preparedness and resilience, supporting local civil society organizations for leadership in humanitarian responses, allowing recipients to dictate aid, and tailoring responses to meet the specific needs of those affected by emergencies. Response in the 21st Century calls for new and creative methods of providing humanitarian aid, such as utilizing mobile phones, implementing more adaptable shelter kits, and giving cash instead of traditional relief supplies to allow people to prioritize their urgent needs. The development challenge lies in addressing humanitarian disasters in areas of extreme poverty, requiring long-term planning to prevent or mitigate the impact of recurring crises like food shortages.