▁of ▁life , ▁property ▁destruction ▁and ▁social ▁and ▁economic ▁dis ruption ▁caused ▁by ▁natural ▁dis aster s , ▁such ▁as ▁earth qu akes , ▁t sun am is , ▁flo ods , ▁land sl ides , ▁vol can ic ▁er u ptions , ▁dr ought s , ▁loc ust ▁inf est ations , ▁and ▁other ▁dis aster s ▁of ▁natural ▁origin . ▁ ▁An ▁International ▁Dec ade ▁for ▁Natural ▁Dis aster ▁Red u ction , ▁beginning ▁on ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁was ▁launched ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁Nations , ▁following ▁the ▁ad option ▁of ▁Resol ution ▁ 4 4 / 2 3 6 ▁( 2 2 ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 9 ). ▁The ▁de cade ▁was ▁intended ▁to ▁reduce , ▁through ▁concert ed ▁international ▁action , ▁especially ▁in ▁developing ▁countries , ▁loss ▁of ▁life , ▁property ▁damage ▁and ▁social ▁and ▁economic ▁dis ruption ▁caused ▁by ▁natural ▁dis aster s . ▁To ▁support ▁the ▁activities ▁of ▁the ▁de cade , ▁a ▁Secret ariat ▁was ▁established ▁at ▁the ▁United ▁Nations ▁Office ▁in ▁Gene va , ▁in ▁close ▁association ▁with ▁U ND RO . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁International ▁Day ▁for ▁Dis aster ▁Red u ction ▁World ▁Conference ▁on ▁Dis aster ▁Red u ction ▁Natural ▁Dis aster s ▁Dis aster ▁management ▁V ul ner ability ▁Dec ade ▁Vol cano es ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁UN IS DR ▁UN IS DR ▁Regional ▁Office ▁for ▁the ▁Amer icas ▁Pre vention Web ▁ ▁International ▁Rec overy ▁Platform ▁Dis aster ▁Red u ction ▁for ▁Children