• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) today launched a new initiative to support cities around the world to manage risk following the worst year on record for economic losses from disasters last year of $380 billion dollars.
• The Office is launching a new online Local Government Self-Assessment Tool, which has been tested in over 20 cities around the world, as part of its global 'Making Cities Resilient' campaign to allow cities to establish baselines, identify planning and investment gaps for risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
• The new tool would greatly enrich understanding of the challenges ahead as the world starts to think about a new blueprint for disaster risk reduction once the existing plan, the Hyogo Framework for Action, expires in 2015.

• By 2030 undernourishment will be only a minor problem in Europe and Central Asia, but obesity and diet-related illnesses like heart disease could emerge as major challenges for public policy, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Wednesday in a new report to be presented at its bi-annual Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia.
• The report says hunger currently affects less than five percent of the population in most of the region, but as diets shift from cereals towards higher consumption of meat and dairy, the risk factors behind chronic, non-communicable diseases could rise. Besides diet, lifestyle habits, poverty and medical care also influence obesity, disease and death rates, the report adds.
• These increased risk levels will place greater pressure on healthcare facilities in the poorer countries of Central Asia than in the European Union.

 
SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTS ON CÔTE D'IVORE SANCTIONS: On Wednesday morning, the Security Council met in closed consultations. The Permanent Representative of Guatemala, H.E. Gert Rosenthal, briefed the Council pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) concerning the Cote d'Ivoire.
 
NEW YORK AWARE OF HOW TO ACCESS U.N. BUILDINGS IN EMERGENCY: In response to a question about emergency access to the main UN buildings, the Deputy Spokesperson said that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organisations in New York City are very familiar with the right entrances to the buildings. However, if by chance an ambulance does shows up at the wrong location or the location needs to be changed for whatever reason, security officers will direct them to the correct location. This has worked consistently many times in the past.