Regional launch for the middle east & north Africa region of the report: “Natural hazards, un-natural fisasters: the economics of effective prevention”
A regional launch has taken place on the 15th of September 2011 to present the report: “Natural Hazards, Un-Natural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention”.
Earthquakes, droughts, floods and storms are natural hazards, but these hazards need not result in disasters. This report prepared by the World Bank in partnership with the United Nations and funded by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, concludes that natural hazards often turn into disasters as a result of poor policies and practices, and examines ways to make prevention cost-effective.
The report outlines a number of measures to prevent death and destruction from natural hazards; measures which do not necessarily require governments to spend more, says the report, but to spend better. According to the report, damages from disasters are projected to grow, making prevention all the more critical. By 2100, even without climate change, damages from weather-related hazards may triple to $185 billion annually and factoring in climate change can then add another $28-$68 billion from tropical cyclones alone. Property damage between 1970 and 2008 totaled $2,300 billion (in 2008 $US), with earthquakes and droughts causing most of the losses.
Programme:
- Presentation of the Report “Natural Hazards, Un-Natural Disasters: the Economics of Effective Prevention”
- Disaster Risk Financing Instruments Framework
- Video on GFDRR’s role in building resilience