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Why are some people more at risk from disasters than others?
Some people are more at risk because of where they live. Others
are more at risk because of who they are.
Certain types of disaster are specific to certain geographical
areas. Hurricanes, for example, tend to hit the land closest to
the warm oceans where they form. Earthquakes commonly happen along
a geological fault (a place where two sections of the earth’s
crust join). Other types of natural hazard, such as flooding, are
widespread across the globe. Throughout history, human society has
become used to coping with, and adapting to, sudden and threatening
changes in the natural environment.
However, even in places which have not recently been touched by
disaster, there is no room for complacency. As the population of
the globe increases, we are finding that human activity is influencing
our environment in new ways. In the years to come it is possible
that global warming will alter weather
patterns and cause sea levels to rise, creating new areas at risk.
Some disasters, such as famine, are known as ‘complex disasters’.
This is because there is no single cause or event which precipitates
them, but rather a gradual worsening of conditions until crisis
point is reached. No country is immune from such disasters, and
most countries have experienced famine at some point in their history.
During the Second World War there were food shortages throughout
Europe, but especially in Greece. The Oxford Committee for Famine
Relief (OXFAM) was formed to help the starving people of Greece.
When disaster strikes, the poor are usually the worst affected.
This is because they are likely to have less choice about where
they live, and many poor communities are forced to settle on dangerous
land – on steep hillsides, or in river floodplains.
In poorer regions, people often build their own houses, and may
not have access to information about how to make their homes safer.
Even when people do have information, they may not be able to afford
stronger, better-quality building materials.
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In parts of Iran, which is vulnerable to earthquakes, the
days are hot and the nights are cold. Houses are often designed
with thick walls and heavy roofs, which are excellent for
insulating people from extreme temperatures, but not so good
at resisting earthquakes.
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After the first impact of a disaster is over, poorer people can
find it hard to recover. As well as the physical injuries and destruction,
the loss of livelihoods can have serious long-term consequences.
If people lose vital tools, or means of transport, then they will
have no way to support themselves and their families for the future.
Those who are insured will get cash to buy the things they need,
and to reconstruct their homes. Those with no insurance will probably
have to make do with whatever they can find, and may never regain
the position they were in before the disaster struck.
What can be done?
In one form or another, disasters will always be with us. Technological
solutions which try to prevent disasters from happening may appear
attractive, but in reality such solutions can never work alone.
The best approach seems to be a combination of good education about
the risks, proper early warning systems, and good preparation.
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