Who are the main victims of natural disasters?

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Bababam (1:00)

Who are the main victims of natural disasters?

Thanks for asking.

Natural disasters lead to damaged property, loss of life, psychological trauma, displaced individuals and families and many other consequences. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the number of natural disasters has increased 5 times since 1970 Since the turn of the century, we've seen 3 mega disasters, each claiming over 100,000 lives. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Cyclone Nargis hitting Myanmar in 2008, and the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. The biggest killers are without doubt earthquakes and tsunamis, but there's also concern that the frequency and intensity of weather related disasters is increasing due to climate change. These include droughts, heatwaves, flooding and storms. Researchers from all over the world have dedicated their careers to studying natural disasters, and they all agree on one thing. The poorer people are, the more likely they are to suffer the consequences. There's a bitter irony to the fact that countries that have contributed the least to climate change are being hit the hardest by climate related events. Are there any figures to back that up? Back in 2009, charity Oxfam analysed data from 6,500 natural disasters that had taken place since 1980 It found that there are an average of 23 deaths when a natural disaster occurs in a rich country, compared to 1,052 in a poor country.

If you look at the globe, you can see that a lot of the poorest countries are in high risk zones for natural disasters. On top of deaths, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are more brutal in poor countries. We're talking food insecurity, a lack of safe drinking water, illness and further deepening of poverty. Crucially, wealthy countries have the means to offer an effective response as a matter of urgency and soak up the long-term consequences. Are there differences within a single country? Indeed, even at a national level, poorer people and minorities in general tend to find themselves on the front line when a disaster strikes and in the aftermath. One prominent example is Hurricane Katrina which struck New Orleans in 2005 It stands to reason that poor people tend to live in homes that are less solidly built and that they're less able to invest money in risk-reducing measures. In the context of a natural disaster, people need to be able to leave the area quickly and find shelter elsewhere. But poor people may not be able to afford having a car at their disposal in an emergency situation, or paying for temporary accommodation. There you have it.

Now you know who the main victims of natural disasters are. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

Bababam.