First Person: Rising from disaster

In the case of the Americas and the Caribbean, the impact of disasters in terms of economic losses is comparatively higher than other regions of the world. A UNDRR studied showed that the region suffers around 53 per cent of global losses.

(United Nations News) Disasters can reverse hard-won development gains by decades and leave the most vulnerable populations more exposed to deadly risks. As nations gathered this week to take stock of how the world is better preparing for disasters in line with the Sendai Framework, Raul Salazar shared a view for UN News, from the Americas, a region that accounts for 53 per cent of global hazard-related economic losses, alongside high mortality rates.

From Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica in 2004 to earthquakes in Peru in 2007 and Haiti in 2010, Raul – chief of the regional office for disaster risk reduction – has developed an acute understanding of what the impact of disasters are, and what can be done to avoid or prevent them.

“We continuously face a reality that shows us that disasters, or risks associated with disasters, are more complex than we had ever thought.

For example, we have developed what we call a ‘governance system’, for disaster risk reduction in countries. Agencies are addressing risks, responses, or emergency response mechanisms in the context of natural hazards – climate related, geological-related earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes.

Read more at: United Nations News

Source: CARICOM TODAY