Natural disasters are more frightening because of slums

The rampant development of many urban slums along with the greenhouse effect is increasing the level of danger of natural disasters.

Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.Photo: AP.

UN scientists have conducted research on the trends of natural disasters and strategies to reduce their level of destruction. They published research results in Bahrain yesterday.

In the nearly 200-page report, the expert team reiterated the warning of previous studies, whereby indiscriminate urban development and a lack of vision in rural planning caused the extent of the destruction Nature painting has increased many times. The report also clarifies the link between climate change and the severity and frequency of disasters (such as droughts and storms).

According to reports, at least 900 million people around the world are living in shanty buildings in urban areas prone to earthquakes, tornadoes, flood attacks. The number of such people increases by 25 million per year on average.

A model shows many of the more than 19 million people living in the capital of the Philippines and the surrounding areas will be swept away if the tsunami attacks. India, China and many other places in Asia face "super disasters". Two of them were the super typhoon Nargis in Myanmar (which killed about 140,000 people) and the earthquake in China (causing nearly 90,000 deaths and 5 million homelessness).

'Asia faces huge risks from super disasters , ' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference yesterday in Bahrain. According to him, more than 300 natural disasters across the planet last year cost more than $ 180 billion. Disaster risk, poverty and climate change are becoming one of the world's greatest challenges.

Andrew Maskrey, the lead researcher, admits that it is unimaginable to stop the flow of rural-urban migrants from finding jobs. 'But we always have ways to ease poverty if leaders are really determined. Many cities around the world have implemented programs to improve living conditions in slums and makeshift houses. These programs are working very well, ' he added.