Rethinking disasters

Why death and destruction is not nature's fault but human failure

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A destructive combination of earthquakes, floods, droughts and other hazards make South Asia is the world’s most disaster-prone region. The effects are aggravated by climate change, unsuitable social and development policies, and environmental degradation. The effect is to slow or block development and keep millions trapped in poverty.

It does not have to be this way. Oxfam's experience shows that successful disaster risk reduction policies, integrated into
development work, save lives and money, making vulnerable communities more resilient and protecting development gains. This report examines how to achieve those goals – and the cost of failure.

Published: April 2008