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World Disasters Report 2010

2010 has already been an abnormally disastrous year, I suppose we can all agree on that, whatever happens the rest of this year. The first 6 months of 2010 knew a death toll of around 230,000 due to disasters, which is 13 times more than the whole of 2009. I am of the opinion that much suffering could have been avoided by better disaster risk reduction and preparedness. The inequality of building standards in Haiti, Chile, and New Zealand made an enormous difference. The impact of earthquakes of similar magnitudes was far worst in Haiti.

As to the Pakistan floods, the disaster partly happened because of lack of attention to maintenance of river embankments, silting of riverbeds, weak water protection infrastructure, massive deforestation and unplanned settlements in riverine areas. Level of preparedness to cope with the impending disaster was very low. Most of the people who were forced to leave houses did not know where to go for shelter, food, medicines and other basic facilities. No government information facilities were set up or prior arrangements made. Mass exodus from flooded cities further choked national highways, nearby cities and towns.

The World Disasters Report 2010 focuses on urban risk, and states that the disproportionately high risk of disaster faced by a billion slum-dwellers across the world could be significantly reduced with prudent investment. Urban poverty and disaster risk are often closely intertwined and the links between them will be increased by climate change. In any given year, more than 50,000 people can die as a result of earthquakes and 100 million can be affected by floods and the worst-affected are most often vulnerable city dwellers.

According to the report, 2.57 billion urban dwellers living in low- and middle-income nations are exposed to unacceptable levels of risk.

Let us not forget that for the first time in the history of mankind, more people live in an urban environment than a rural one and in just 20 years, over 60% of the world’s population will live in cities and towns. Challenges faced are urban growth, water and sanitation, traffic risks and informal settlements, where disaster risk reduction initiatives could offer solutions, and contributions of know-how to improve planning practices, which could lead to innovations to help cities become more resilient, are certainly more than welcome.

Be prepared!

http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2010/index.asp?navid=09_03
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=90542
http://www.unisdr.org/news/v.php?id=15466






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