Talking numbers about the consequences of natural disasters

Physical damage averaged $ 1.6 billion per year (equal to 1.8% of GDP), nearly 80% of residents were affected and more than 3,100 died.

These are "numbers that speak" about the consequences of natural disasters for the Asia-Pacific region, published by the United Nations Agency on Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (UNISDR). December 11.

According to UNISDR, the number of people dying from floods in Asia in 2012 has decreased, but the economic losses due to floods are still quite high.

Mr. Jeremiah (Jerry Velasquez), head of UNISDR in the Asia-Pacific region, quoted the announcement of the World Bank (WB) as saying that every year, natural disasters cause damage to this area on average 1, 6 billion USD (equivalent to 1.8% of GDP).

The specific number in Indonesia is 1.2% of GDP, in Vietnam 1.8% of GDP, in Myanmar 1.9% of GDP, Malaysia 1% of GDP, Cambodia and Laos 1.7% of GDP.

UNISDR estimates that in 2012, floods are the most frequent natural disasters in Asia, accounting for 44%. This is the natural disaster that affects people and the highest economy.

Floods are the cause of more than half of the deaths from disasters in Asia this year. Nearly 80% of the people in this continent are affected by floods.

UNISDR believes that floods and storms are still the main threats to Asia, the latest example of the super typhoon Bopha in the Philippines that killed more than 500 people.

In the three regions of South, Southeast and East Asia, in 2012 there were 83 natural disasters causing a total of more than 3,100 people killed and nearly 65 million people affected, with a total of more material losses. $ 15 billion.

Debby Sapir, Director of the Center for Disaster Epidemiology Research at the University of Louvain in Belgium, stressed that Asia is a disaster-prone place in recent decades. Up to 90% of the victims of natural disasters in the past decade lived in Asia.

Ms. Sapir said that this year, the Asian region is fortunate not to suffer major natural disasters, such as the region's earthquake disaster not as much as in previous years.

In response to the natural disaster, Mr. Jeremy said that countries need to deal more systematically.

This activity needs to be included in every urban development and governance plan to sustainably grow and protect people's lives and assets as bad weather becomes more frequent and more severe in the future. .

He appreciated Bangladesh and Viet Nam's disaster prevention and mitigation work, arguing that Vietnam's coastal mangrove planting program is one of the most effective investment programs that can mitigate the impacts. Disadvantage of natural disasters such as storms, sea level rise.

He said Vietnam was the first country in the region to try to combine disaster prevention and mitigation with climate change in the government's plan.

However, Mr. Vlaxk said that a major challenge for the region is the issue of water resources management.

Mr. Vinod Thomas, General Director of the Independent Evaluation Agency at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that prevention measures are very important.

According to him, without prevention measures and without mitigating the effects of climate change, natural disasters will prevent development.

In South Africa, storms in central and eastern areas have killed at least 40 people in the past two days, seven missing and hundreds of people fell into the sky.

Reporters in Pretoria said Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal provinces were the hardest hit.

As of the end of December 11, 27 people were killed in Mpumalanga province, while 13 people were killed in Quadulu Natan province, seven were missing and more than 300 people fell into the sky after the house was hit. Speed ​​up the roof or get swept away by the water.

Due to erosion on the ground, a convoy of ships was dislocated, plunging into the Amamditoti River in the area near the port city of Durban, injuring four people.

South Africa's Meteorological Bureau said the weather situation is still complicated, the rain and storm will decrease on 12/12 but then it can be strong again.