NEW YORK, May 1. /Dunyo IA/.  The UN Headquarters marked for the first time April 29 – the International Day of Remembrance for Earthquake Victims, established by a UN General Assembly resolution at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

On the occasion of this commemorative date, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted: “Earthquakes are inevitable, but the destruction they cause does not have to be. Through purposeful action and foresight, we can build safer towns and cities, no matter how hard the earth shakes. Let us honour the memory of the victims by investing in disaster resilience”.

As part of the International Day’s program, the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the UN, together with partners, held three major events: a high-level forum, an earthquake response training exercise and a commemorative ceremony.

The centrepiece was a high-level forum co-organized with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), as well as Australia, Chile, Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Peru and Türkiye. The event was attended by representatives of UN member states, international organizations, the scientific community, and civil society.

Opening the forum, Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ulugbek Lapasov, emphasized that the establishment of the International Day holds not only memorial but also practical significance, aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction policies, developing safe infrastructure, enhancing preparedness, and ensuring inclusive recovery.

It was specifically noted that a high-level event took place in Tashkent on the same day, featuring the participation of Kamal Kishore, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

An example of practical solidarity was also highlighted - Uzbekistan's assistance to Turkey following the devastating 2023 earthquakes. In particular, the Uzbek side promptly dispatched search-and-rescue and medical teams and implemented reconstruction projects, including the building of a residential complex in Hatay province for affected families.

During the discussions, participants highly praised Uzbekistan's initiative to establish the International Day, noting it as a manifestation of leadership and a significant contribution to the global resilience agenda. It was emphasized that the new international day has created a much-needed platform for exchanging experience and practical solutions in the field of disaster risk reduction.

Special attention was paid to early warning systems, earthquake-resistant construction, increasing public preparedness, and strengthening international cooperation. A number of participants, including Turkey, Japan, Haiti, and other countries, presented their national experiences in earthquake response and recovery.

On the same day, an earthquake response training exercise was conducted in cooperation with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), UNDRR, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The practical part of the event included emergency modelling and a virtual simulation, which vividly demonstrated the importance of preparedness and coordination during a disaster.

The program concluded with a commemorative ceremony co-organized with Indonesia, Japan, and UNDRR.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Permanent Representatives: Ulugbek Lapasov of Uzbekistan, Umar Hadi of Indonesia and Yamazaki Kazuyuki of Japan.

The participants honoured the memory of the victims with a minute of silence and the lighting of candles, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and the collective responsibility of the international community.

Overall, the events confirmed the high level of interest from UN member states and international partners in Uzbekistan's initiative. The International Day of Remembrance for Earthquake Victims has become a significant step in uniting the memory of the deceased with practical measures for disaster risk reduction and strengthening global resilience.

Paula Albrito, Director of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) New York Office:

-  Today, the world marks for the first time the International Day of Remembrance for Earthquake Victims - a day that was made possible thanks to Uzbekistan.

- It was Uzbekistan, together with Chile and the Philippines, that initiated this crucial topic at the UN by introducing the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on April 29, 2025, which established this new international day of remembrance. This has been a manifestation of leadership with profound practical significance for communities around the globe that live with the risk of earthquakes every day.

The resolution reflects two distinct yet interconnected objectives. The first is the necessity of supporting survivors, including through international aid, reconstruction efforts, and long-term psychosocial support for those whose lives have been shattered by disaster. The second is the need to raise awareness of earthquake risks and mitigation measures. Both tasks are of an urgent nature. Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural threats facing humanity. The 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria claimed over 55,000 lives. The earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 of this year has already resulted in thousands of deaths. This is not just remote statistics — behind these figures are communities, families, and lost lives. It is this realization that prompted Uzbekistan to bring this issue to the attention of the United Nations.

By placing this issue at the heart of the international agenda, Uzbekistan has made a contribution whose significance will be felt far beyond this first observance. This Day is now a permanent part of the UN calendar — an annual moment for reflection, remembrance, and the reaffirmation of our collective commitment to building a safer and more resilient world.

The visit of Mr. Kamal Kishore, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, to Uzbekistan reflects the importance that the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) attaches to this partnership, as well as our readiness to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in the coming years - in support of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the common goal of protecting human lives before disasters strike.