Averting disaster

Disasters appear to be playing a bigger role in human life than ever before, both human-made and natural varieties. Whether it is war, economic collapse, political instability, hurricanes and floods, or some combination of all of these, countries all over the world appear to be becoming more and more disaster-prone. In this context, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed yesterday (October 13), is an important occasion for the world to take stock of why it has become so vulnerable to crises, what needs to be done to address this, and how to prepare people and countries for a world in which disasters are more frequent. The theme for this year’s Disaster Risk Reduction Day is ‘Empowering the next generation for a resilient future’, focusing on the role of education in protecting and empowering children for a disaster-free future. Children are one of the groups most vulnerable to disasters, with the UN estimating that around one billion children worldwide are at extremely high risk due to climate impacts and related disasters. In 2022, the number of children affected by flooding in Chad, Gambia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh was the highest in over 30 years. In addition to an elevated risk of injury and death, those just starting their lives can be deprived of the platform they need to succeed due to disruptions in schooling, nutrition, healthcare and housing.

Last month saw the release of the World Risk Report 2024, which ranked Pakistan at number 10 out of 193 countries on its World Risk Index. When measuring the risk profile of countries, the index aimed to be as comprehensive as possible. It accounted for climate change, natural disasters and epidemic risks alongside more traditional factors like war, conflicts and uprisings. Given the fact that Pakistan has been battered by disasters in almost every realm that the rankings account for in recent years, the country’s high ranking was rather unsurprising. The report shows that risks in one area tend to exacerbate risks in others. Seemingly unconnected events like extreme weather, conflict and pandemics actually amplify each other. For example, water-borne diseases skyrocketed in the aftermath of the 2022 floods, and the risk of widespread disease was amplified by a climate disaster. The regions in Pakistan that are most prone to conflict also tend to be the ones that bear the brunt of our exclusionary economy and are also more likely to suffer from environmental problems such as water shortages.

This indicates that disasters and their increasing frequency are about more than just accelerating climate change and greater exposure to resulting natural disasters. While tackling this problem is indeed an important priority, one must realize that averting disasters requires a whole-of-society approach. Countries with more inclusive and stable political and economic systems are also likely to be more resilient to climate change and more able to address its root causes. They are also less likely to suffer from other kinds of disasters such as war and famine. Disaster risk reduction thus goes beyond creating specific departments tasked with doing technical things like implementing better early warning systems. It is about changing the whole nature of society to become more inclusive and robust.