(From left) head of UNDRR, Mami Mitzutori with Sasakawa Award winners Dr. PK Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, Sidnei Furtado, Director, Dept of Civil Defence, Campinas, Brazil, and Bijal Brahmbhatt, Director, the Mahila Housing SEWA Trust, India

GENEVA, 16 May 2019 – The Department of Civil Defence of Campinas, Brazil, the Mahila Housing Sewa Trust, India, and Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, are the three laureates of the 2019 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction. They have been recognised for initiatives which protect vulnerable communities from disaster risk. 

The winners were announced today by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori at an Awards ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

“Disasters where natural hazards negatively impact people are coming faster, lasting longer and hitting harder. The people impacted the most are those who have done the least to cause these significant changes – the poorest. Nothing lays bare inequality and discrimination like a disaster. While developed countries suffer in terms of absolute economic losses, it is largely the vulnerable and poor who pay the human cost in terms of loss of life, injury and displacement.

“I thank the Nippon Foundation, the 61 nominees and the jury members who have been steadfast in their commitment to inclusivity and recognizing the rights of the most vulnerable. I am pleased to recognize projects and individuals which have made an enormous contribution in integrating the most vulnerable in disaster risk reduction activities.”  

The 2019 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction recognized for the first time projects and initiatives undertaken by institutions and individuals that made a substantial contribution towards more building inclusive and resilient societies.

“We received many excellent projects, and the choice was not easy to make but the finalists are the ones who demonstrated the most durable, sustained and comprehensive and inclusive approach towards disaster risk reduction.” Ms. Marcie Roth, jury member and President and CEO of Inclusive Emergency Strategies LLC.