The United Nations called for greater safety for cities as it officially launched International Day for Disaster Reduction Wednesday.

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) unveiled the theme of "My City is Getting Ready!," calling for more active involvement in protecting cities against disasters.

"Cities have never been so at risk", said the U.N. disaster reduction body, citing disasters that hit various countries and their cities in 2010, such as earthquakes in Haiti and Chile; floods in Pakistan and Eastern Europe; and forest fires in Russia.

In a message delivered on the occasion, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to civil society, professional networks and municipal and national governments to participate and invest in preventing climate, environmental and social risks to cities and to regard disaster reduction as "everybody's business".

In 1989, the U.N. General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

It is a day to remind the world about the risks from disasters, to highlight the successes and to continue working toward achieving safer and more resilient communities.