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Frequently Asked Questions on Disaster Risk Reduction
What disaster risk reduction programmes is DFID supporting?
DFID is funding significant disaster risk reduction programmes in countries susceptible to disasters. For example, we are providing over £60 million to support disaster preparedness in Orissa, India, and in Bangladesh, with UNDP, we are supporting the development of the Government’s Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme to improve legislation, programming and coordination across government ministries. DFID is also providing support for the international disaster risk reduction system. We are one of the leading donors to the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, providing £1 million per year. We are also contributing £3.75 million over three years to support the Pan American Health Organisation's work in the Caribbean to reduce the vulnerability of the health sector to disasters. Our support to the disaster risk reduction work of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and to international NGOs totals over £16 million over five years.
Is the number and frequency of disasters growing?
Yes, the number and frequency of disasters is growing. According to Munich Re (one of the world’s largest re-insurers), economic losses from disasters in the 1990s totalled over US$608 billion, greater than losses over the four previous decades combined. This is supported by recent research by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) based in Belgium, which found that there were 360 natural disasters in 2005 compared with 305 in 2004. Most agree that the number of disasters will increase as climate change and global warming generate more severe weather-related events. These events will affect economic development and slow down progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
What are the links between disasters and poverty?
The links between disasters and poverty are clear. The poorest are worst affected and suffer the most. Disasters damage infrastructure and affect productivity and growth. The capacity to cope and to reduce risk is much more limited in poor countries, so people are more vulnerable. Impacts on communities can be severe: disasters increase poverty and malnutrition and reduce disease resistance. Families made poor, hungry or ill often have to send their children out to work rather than to school, and women and girls are often left with poorer health and an increased workload.
What are the economic benefits of disaster risk reduction?
There is growing evidence of the economic benefits of disaster risk reduction. The IMF estimates that the average economic cost for each individual large scale natural disaster event was over 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in low-income countries between 1997 and 2001. Recent World Bank estimates have placed this figure in the range of 2 – 15% of GDP for low income countries. Moreover, the impact and incidence of disasters is rising, with Munich Re reporting that economic losses in the 1990s exceeded those of the previous four decades combined. However, where major disaster risk reduction efforts have been made, for example in many small island states, average annual damage relative to GDP has declined sharply. Studies assessing the relative costs and benefits of individual disaster risk reducing initiatives have also indicated high potential returns for disaster risk reduction, and it is estimated that for every dollar invested in disaster risk reduction, between 2 and 4 dollars are returned in terms of avoided or reduced disaster impacts. DFID will work to expand this evidence base, in order strengthen the case for increased investment in disaster risk reduction.
Why have development organisations under-invested in disaster risk reduction?
One factor is that perverse incentives work against disaster risk reduction. Governments may know that they can rely on the international community to respond generously when a disaster hits, which could be a disincentive for investing in prevention. Disaster risk reduction is long-term and low profile. Disaster response, on the other hand, is highly visible and therefore has received greater political attention than disaster risk reduction. Whilst continuing to respond generously to disasters, we must alter the balance and invest more in prevention.
How can we encourage developing countries to invest more in disaster risk reduction?
We need to help governments make the choices of where to invest. At the moment we lack information on the costs and benefits of reducing the impact of disasters. The long-term impact of disasters needs more research. We need a better evidence base for helping to decide which disaster risk reduction interventions to invest in. These choices are pretty tough for cash strapped governments. Do you invest in health or education that will bring a rapid benefit, or disaster risk reduction when a disaster may not strike for 50 years? DFID will be devoting resources to improving understanding of the economic case, enabling our country offices to advocate more effectively for greater investment, and providing tools to implement disaster risk reduction into development programmes so that it becomes a core part of our work.
Why do we need to better integrate disaster risk reduction into development?
Disasters do not just happen – they result from failures of development which increase vulnerability to hazards. Political systems recognise the need for strong intervention following a disaster. The challenge is to increase the focus on disaster risk reduction. DFID will work with developing country governments to consider how disaster risk can be more effectively incorporated into national planning processes. DFID is committed to achieving this in its own development programmes.
What is the impact of climate change on disasters?
Climate change is resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of climatic extremes, which increases the frequency of weather-related disasters. Climate change hits the poor hardest and the greatest impacts are likely to be on food security, the productivity of agricultural export crops, health, water security and quality. It is also likely to result in the displacement of people as a result of flooding or drought. Climate change is a top priority for the UK Government, and DFID is contributing to a range of international environment and climate change initiatives, including a core contribution of £103 million and an additional £15 million to the Global Environment Facility, and £10 million over three years to United Nations Climate Change Convention’s Special Climate Change Fund, to support developing countries in managing the effects of climate change.
How can disaster risk reduction measures help to tackle chronic food insecurity in Africa?
In 2005, over 30 million people in African required food aid to meet their immediate needs. Yet the response of governments and the international community has usually been to treat this as a series of unexpected disasters through the provision of humanitarian relief. DFID is committed to moving away from this short term and often inefficient relief, to meeting needs with stable multi-annual resources delivered through governments. In Africa, this will be implemented through government-led safety net programmes, which will deliver timely, adequate and predictable transfers to those that need it. DFID will also work to develop more comprehensive food security strategies and programmes, which will help people to ‘graduate’ from safety nets. These strategies will need to be placed within the context of countries’ planning processes.
The UK has committed to allocate 10% of its contribution for each natural disaster to prepare for and mitigate the impact the impact of future disasters. How is this money being spent in the tsunami-affected region and Pakistan?
DFID has committed £7.5 m for disaster risk reduction in the tsunami-affected region, where we are collaborating with local UNDP teams to design and implement programmes to strengthen governments’ disaster response and mitigation capacity. DFID is also contributing to climate change adaptation plans in the region and is working with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to develop a Tsunami Warning System for the Indian Ocean that translates into effective response at the community level.
In Pakistan, DFID has pledged around £6 million following the earthquake for disaster risk reduction work. DFID will support activities that are aimed at reducing vulnerability to earthquakes, as well as other natural hazards such as floods and landslides. This work includes the development of national building codes, hazard risk assessments, strengthening provincial level disaster management capabilities and integrating disaster risk reduction across the reconstruction programme.
Will disaster risk reduction feature in DFID’s new White Paper?
Disaster risk reduction will appear in the wider context of humanitarian reform in the White Paper. It will form part of the humanitarian package that DFID has already committed to.