Raging floods destroyed homes and livelihoods in Viet Nam, but survivors continue rebuilding their lives with courage and determination.

Devastating floods in Yemen’s Wadi Nakhla displaced thousands, destroying homes and leaving grieving families struggling to rebuild their lives.

Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural hazards, striking without warning and causing immense loss of life as well as long‑term social and economic damage. Their impact is severe and measurable: since 1900, at least 12 major earthquakes have each killed more than 50,000 people, causing trillions of dollars in damage over recent decades. Risk is intensified by rapid urbanization, weak infrastructure, and inequality. For the first time, the United Nations observes the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes on 29 April, to honour those who lost their lives and to promote prevention and resilience.

In the northern province of Cagayan, communities depend on coastal waters and fertile land for their livelihoods, from fishing to farming. Yet intensifying typhoons increasingly threaten lives, assets, and food security. In 2024, six cyclones caused over USD 13.7 million in damage. When Super Typhoon Fung-Wong (Uwan) approached in 2025, communities were better prepared. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, fishers secured boats and farmers protected inputs and livestock. In Buguey, coordinated action safeguarded assets and enabled a quick recovery. These efforts show how anticipatory action and local coordination reduce disaster impacts, while influencing national policy in the Philippines to strengthen resilience and collective preparedness.

In February 2026, back-to-back cyclones tore through Madagascar’s east coast, leaving destruction, displacement, and hundreds of thousands affected in their wake. After the winds and floodwaters receded, the quiet, urgent work of recovery was led by UN Volunteers, who were both survivors and first responders. Supported by UN agencies, emergency aid—from food and shelter to health services and logistics—reached vulnerable communities, helping stabilize lives in the immediate aftermath. Moving between loss and duty, volunteers restored essential services, supported their communities, and held fragile systems together.

Hurricane Melissa struck Cuba as a Category 3 storm on 29 October, tearing across the island in six hours with powerful winds and torrential rain. It battered five eastern provinces, forced more than 735,000 people to evacuate and affected millions of others. Floodwaters swept through towns, winds damaged infrastructure, and power outages rippled across entire districts, disrupting essential services across eastern Cuba when communities most needed them. Extensive flooding in Santiago de Cuba has submerged farmland and surrounding homes, leaving stagnant water that heightens the risk of mosquito-borne and waterborne diseases in already hard-hit communities. OCHA is helping national authorities and the UN Resident Coordinator steer and organize the emergency response under the UN Plan of Action for Hurricane Melissa, which guides multi-agency support across shelter and housing, food security, health, logistics, education, and water, sanitation and hygiene. 

A village fighting rising seas with unshakable spirit and an unbreakable promise to its ancestral land.

By using anticipatory action and trigger-based early warnings, WFP is able to deliver timely cash and food assistance to millions, reducing the impact of disasters like Cyclone Fung-wong and Hurricane Melissa before they escalate.

After devastating El Niño floods destroyed her home in Burundi, Alphonsine and thousands like her are rebuilding their lives with IOM’s support, proof that with compassion, resilience, and sustained climate action, recovery is possible.

From climate-fuelled disasters to destruction caused by conflict and other human-made crises, the focus of recovery is often fixed on the visible – collapsed buildings, flooded streets and shattered infrastructure. Yet, the deepest wounds are often the invisible losses – the emotional scars and the anguish of those who have been permanently displaced, carrying with them the memories of a home and a community they may never be able to return to. Decades of underground salt-mining beneath the coastal city of Maceió in Brazil led to land sinking and the flooding of entire neighbourhoods, forcing tens of thousands to abandon their homes. The tragedy unfolding in Maceió stands as the largest ongoing urban social-environmental disaster in Brazil. UNOPS is offering psychological support workshops in the Bebedouro neighbourhood – helping residents rebuild social connections and move forward together.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025, displacing thousands of children and instilling fear and uncertainty in their lives. Many children experienced trauma, crying at night and withdrawing from friends. In response, UNICEF and HYSIO established child-friendly spaces at the Zeri Baba camp, providing safe environments for children to learn and play, helping them cope with their emotions. These spaces also serve as referral points for health, nutrition, and mental health services, benefiting over 2,300 children through case management and over 13,500 through recreational and psychosocial activities.

The World Food Programme is racing to support Jamaica as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches, threatening catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction across the island.

As climate change drives more extreme weather, early warning systems are vital to protect lives and economies. These systems rely on climate information—data from sensors and stations—transformed into insights for forecasts and planning. Despite their proven value, investment remains low. Yet early warnings can cut damage by 30% and yield up to 10x returns. In sectors like agriculture and energy, better climate services could unlock over $160B annually in global economic gains.

Floods, cyclones, and wildfires devastate communities, but these disasters are shaped by human choices—where we build, how we farm, and what we invest in. Climate change amplifies these hazards, causing over $200 billion in annual damages and $2.3 trillion in total costs. The human toll is immense: displaced families, lost livelihoods, and stalled development. Yet, many governments spend less than 1% of budgets on disaster risk reduction. The choice is clear: invest in resilience or keep paying for disasters. 

The rising cost of disasters highlights the impact of climate change and poor development choices, with direct costs at $202 billion annually and broader economic impact estimated at $2.3 trillion. Developing nations suffer most, while wealthier ones also face major losses. Yet, less than 1% of public budgets go to disaster risk reduction (DRR). Public and private sectors often overlook these risks. National strategies should integrate DRR and climate adaptation. The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October) reminds us to invest in resilience and risk-informed development.