Disaster Risk Reduction Disaster risk reduction is an integral
part of humanitarian assistance, both in relief and recovery, as
well as in long term development initiatives. However, to date
it has not always received the attention it deserves. With the
climate change debate, the problems approaching the citizens of
mega-cities and the increasing number of natural disasters there
is a need to develop programmes addressing how to prevent
natural phenomena from turning into disasters, to mitigate their
impact and help prepare increased numbers of people who may be
at risk. Climate change, migration patterns as well as socio-
economic pressure have forced more and more people into
vulnerable living conditions. Be it by the reinforcement of
houses against earthquakes and cyclones, or by constructing
flood safe emergency shelters or training village emergency
teams and volunteers in the establishment of early warning
systems, Malteser International includes disaster risk reduction
and mitigation components in many