Droughts, cyclones, floods and mudslides constitute the most damaging—and predictable—disasters to afflict high-risk countries globally. Although climate change is affecting the extent and seasonality of some of these recurring disasters, they are generally foreseeable. By working with governments, civil society and communities on risk reduction activities, lives and livelihoods can be saved.
This map shows a variety of seasonal hazards around the globe. Watch the map progress through the calendar year, or click on an individual month to read about the nature of hazards during that period and illustrative examples from the recent past.
To see large version of this map please, click here.
The 21st Century has already been marked by escalating economic losses and human devastation caused by natural disasters. And in 2008 alone, more than 300 disasters killed more than 235,000 people, affected more than 200 million others and caused losses and damage worth USD 181 billion. Disasters exact an enormous toll not only on lives, but also on livelihoods, homes, basic social services and community infrastructure. Moreover, the destruction typically has a disproportionate impact on the poorest and most vulnerable populations including women, children, youth and the elderly.
Disaster risks need to be effectively managed as an integral part of development. This entails understanding and identifying the risk factors that cause disasters such as the exposure and vulnerabilities of society to natural hazards. High-risk countries need the capacity to put in place effective measures to reduce these risks, such as early warning systems, building codes or disaster sensitive local development plans. The rush for growth can trigger haphazard urban development that increases the risk of large-scale fatalities during an earthquake. Trends such as increasing human settlement and investment in high-risk coastal areas are placing greater numbers of people and economic assets in danger of being affected by cyclones, storm surges and flooding, especially given the prospect of climate change.
UNDP supports national counterparts to develop both a disaster risk perspective and the human, financial, technical and legislative capacity; civil society preparedness; and coordination systems required to effectively manage and reduce risk.
UNDP and Climate Change
In 2008, UNDP implemented environment and sustainable development programmes in 120 countries, disbursing US$408 million through 2,729 projects that address all aspects of climate change. Read more...
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CPR Newsletter on climate change and disaster reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction in Action
In 2008 the United Nations Development Programme provided technical support to more than 40 UNDP offices in disaster-prone countries including Armenia, Belize, China, Ecuador, Jordan, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Read more...
Videos
Learn more about the impact climate
change can have on women's lives. VIDEO
Watch a video about helping women recover from natural disasters. VIDEO
Voices
From Countries in Crisis
Myanmar - Sanaka Samarasinha, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, discusses UNDP's early recovery efforts in Myanmar (streaming audio or download mp3)
Armenia - Nino Antadze, Disaster Reduction Adviser, UNDP Armenia, talks about UNDP's disaster risk reduction efforts in Armenia (streaming audio or download mp3)
Haiti - Marc-Andre Franche from the Regional Bureau for Latin American and the Caribbean discusses the devastating impact of the recent hurricanes on the population of Haiti (English – streaming audio or mp3; French – streaming audio or mp3)
Honduras—Juan Carlos Benítez, Programme Specialist in UNDP Honduras, discusses disaster risk reduction initiatives in the country (Spanish – streaming audio or mp3)
Pakistan—Zubair Murshed, National Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor in UNDP Pakistan, shares his experience working in disaster-prone cities (streaming audio or mp3)
Video Highlights
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