Vital GEO Graphics

Exposure Over the past 20 years, natural disasters have claimed more than 1.5 million lives and have affected more than 200 million people annually. Natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, storms, tropical cyclones and hurricanes, wildfires, tsu- namis, volcanic eruptions and landslides threaten every- one. Proportionally, however, they hurt the poor most of all. More than 90 per cent of the people exposed to disasters live in the developing world, and more than half of natural disaster deaths occur in countries with a low human development index. Developing countries often lack the capacity to cope with extreme climatic events such as floods, droughts, heat waves and storm surges. About 2 billion people were affected by such disasters in the 1990s: 40 per cent of the population in developing countries, com- pared to a few per cent in developed countries. In some areas exposure to natural hazards has in- creased as a result of climate change and human actions such as the destruction of mangrove forests that protect coastal areas from tidal surges. Risks are also increasing as a result of the continuing concentration of population in highly-exposed areas. The consequences of disasters can threaten achieve- ments in development and undermine resilience. The capacity to adapt is often being eroded by, for exam- ple, reduced state social protection schemes, undermin-

D ownload G raphic 2

Number of people affected by climate-related disasters in developing and developed countries

3 500

Number of people affected (millions)

Developed Developing

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Source: complied from EM-DAT

ing of informal safety nets, poorly built or maintained infrastructure, chronic illness and conflict. Conflicts, violence and persecution regularly displace large civilian populations, forcing millions of people into marginal ecological and economic areas within countries and across international boundaries. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimated that there were 11.5 million refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons globally in 2005, plus another 6.6 million internally displaced persons. The resulting poverty, often tied to shortages or degradation of natural resources, contributes directly to lower levels of well-being and higher levels of vulnerability.

D ownload G raphic 2

Highest risk hot spots by natural hazard type

High total economic loss risk top 3 deciles at risk from:

Drought only

Geophysical only Hydro only

Geophysical and hydro Drought and geophysical Drought and hydro Drought, hydro and geophysical

Notes: Geophysical hazards include earthquakes and volcanoes. Hydrological hazards include floods, cyclones and landslides.

Source: Dilley and others 2005

21 D I SAST ERS AND CONF L I CTS