The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development. According to the ESCAP, the Asia-Pacific Region is the planet’s most affected region by natural disasters, which in 2016 killed 4,987 people, affected 35 million people and caused damage of about $77 billion. In particular, in 2016, floods caused 3,250 deaths, and droughts affected 13 million people (Executive Summary of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development).

Moreover, the aforementioned risks of disasters are expected to be magnified by climate change. According to the Report, the number of weather-related hazards has tripled globally and the number of people living in flood-prone areas and cyclone-exposed coastlines has doubled due to the warmed climate system (Executive Summary of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development).

The Report indicates that 40% of global economic losses from natural disasters between 2020 and 2030 will occur in the Asia-Pacific Region affecting especially the largest economies - Japan, China, Republic of Korea and India. Increased losses in East, South, South-West, and South-East Asia caused by floods have been indicated. In addition, more life-threatening heatwaves, and droughts, more frequent and powerful tropical cyclones, and heavier monsoon rains in East Asia and India are expected (Executive Summary of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development).

Special attention should be paid to poor communities and counties in order protect most vulnerable people. Natural disasters significantly undermine food and water security of the Asia-Pacific Region. In many countries, the largest share of the poorest people lives in rural areas, working in agriculture. Growing population makes these risks even more pressing (Executive Summary of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development).

ESCAP calls for actions to mitigate disaster risk linked to climate change, and urges countries to invest in resilience plans. Resilience should be further facilitated and enhanced through international and regional cooperation (Executive Summary of the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017: Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Development).

The gLAWcal Team

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