Disasters now affect the lives of some 200 million people every year -- seven times the number of people affected by war. With public and private buildings destroyed and livelihoods shattered, the human, social and economic costs of disasters are piling up – and threatening to reverse the gains of development in many countries.

While effective and efficient responses to a disaster are undoubtedly required, there is also a need to invest more effort and resources in disaster preparedness to reduce the impacts. Disaster preparedness includes public education on how to cope with multiple hazards, and how to manage the many challenges immediately following a disaster.

Being more aware of the many causes and effects of disasters is an integral part of disaster preparedness. In this section, TVE Asia Pacific together with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), India seek to offer some suggestions to help educators as they inform and instruct those in their care. These activities advocate active participation of students and seek to encourage learning about the diverse nature of disasters and their aftermath.