International Day for Disaster Reduction began in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. International Day for Disaster Reduction 2025 Fund Resilience, Not Disasters is the theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13 October 2025. Disasters are becoming more frequent, more costly, and more devastating.While direct disaster costs have grown to approximately $202 billion annually, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 estimates that the true cost, is 11 times higher at nearly $2.3 trillion. Despite this, investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) remains far too low in national budgets and international assistance. Under the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”, International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 calls for a decisive shift: fund resilience now to avoid paying for disasters later. Key messages Disasters are a growing threat to economic prosperity and sustainable development, with costs underestimated and unsustainable. Disaster costs are pushing countries into spirals of increased debt, lower incomes, increased insurability, and repeated humanitarian crises. Declining international assistance makes it even more critical to reduce disaster losses through disaster risk reduction investments. Cutting funding for disaster risk reduction leads to more expensive disasters in the future, along with more humanitarian needs. To reduce disaster costs, countries must increase funding for disaster risk reduction and ensure all development investments are risk-informed. Related resources Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction IDDR website of UNISDR National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) - India