The UK's new £40 million Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme aims to provide training, simulation drills, and disaster monitoring systems to countries vulnerable to natural disasters like Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Sudan. International Development Secretary Justine Greening will announce the programme at the World Bank's Spring Meeting in Washington, emphasizing the need for improved humanitarian response. Greening highlights the increasing demands on the humanitarian system due to factors like climate change, population growth, conflict, and extremism. Funding will be awarded competitively to projects that enhance the quality and speed of humanitarian response. The programme will work with organizations like the START network and the Communicating with Disaster-affected Communities Network to provide training in at-risk countries. Additionally, support will be given to innovative early warning systems to improve disaster communication and coordination. A new £20 million fund will be set up for UNICEF and the World Food Programme to enhance disaster planning in high-risk areas, benefiting 17 million people, including 14 million women and children in emergencies. The countries that will be involved in this initiative are Afghanistan, Burma, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Chad, Madagascar, Central America, Central Asia, African Great Lakes, and the Syria region. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by Bangladesh's success in reducing casualties from cyclones from 500,000 in 1972 to 3,400 in 2008. In addition, Greening will outline DFID's five key areas for improvement to alleviate the demand for emergency assistance. These areas include preparing for disasters, supporting national and local leadership, letting recipients drive aid, and tailoring responses to meet the specific needs of those affected. Response in the 21st Century requires new and creative methods for humanitarian aid, such as utilizing mobile phones, incorporating more adaptable shelter kits, and providing cash instead of traditional relief supplies to allow individuals to choose what they require most urgently. The development challenge lies in addressing humanitarian disasters in regions where extreme poverty is concentrated, necessitating long-term planning to mitigate the impact in areas susceptible to recurring or prolonged crises like food shortages.