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[Target Audience: 10 years and older]
Quiz game!
Q1: Which type of natural disaster occurs most frequently around the world?
Q2: What did Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir develop to address major global disasters?
Answer
Q1: Which type of natural disaster occurs most frequently around the world?
Answer: 2. Flood
Professor Guha-Sapir states that floods account for 43%, nearly half, of all the natural disasters worldwide, followed by storms, accounting for about 30%. Together, floods and storms comprise approximately 70% of all natural disasters. Earthquakes follow with 8%, extreme temperatures (heat and cold waves) account for 6% (though the actual figure may be higher), and landslides and droughts make up 5%. As of 2023, approximately 90% of all disasters in the past eight years are climate related. EM-DAT data clearly demonstrates that climate-related disasters have far surpassed earthquakes and volcanic eruptions within the overall disaster landscape. Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir also believes that these changes are the result of climate change caused by global warming.
Q2: What did Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir develop to address major global disasters?
Answer: 1. A database on major disasters
The Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) developed by Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir is the world’s first database of major global disasters. This database is used to support global-scale humanitarian efforts in times of disaster and aims to provide reliable data for disaster preparedness. It has become an indispensable scientific base for climate disaster risk reduction and mitigation efforts by many international organizations and governments.
Important points!
In recent years, the proportion of climate-related disasters among all disasters has increased rapidly, and the impact of climate change is suspected to be a major cause.
The Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), a database on global disasters, is widely used by many people engaged in disaster prevention and mitigation.
More details!
Microstudies (Detailed Studies)
Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir and her colleagues conduct microstudies (detailed studies) for a deeper understanding of disasters. By meticulously examining the details of those who perished in disasters, they identify specific areas of concern in the affected region and conduct research to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
For example, in 2021, a flood in Belgium claimed the lives of 38 people. Many of the victims were men, who were not particularly old, and some had disabilities. They lived in areas with a low cost of living, but a high flood risk. This indicates that housing policies in such areas need reconsideration, and we should pay more attention to the higher risks for people with physical disabilities.
In the case of the earthquake that struck Naples, Italy, most of the victims were young men. Why were so many young men, who are generally agile and resilient and typically have the lowest mortality rate, among the casualties? Investigation showed that the affected area had university dormitories, and most of the victims lived alone. Many of the survivors, though, were assisted by family members or neighbors, as the arrival of a rescue team was delayed. This example suggests that living alone can significantly increase the risk of death in disaster situations.
Professor Debarati Guha-Sapir hopes that this detailed information will be utilized for risk reduction and disaster preparedness initiatives.