According to a recent World Bank report, the year 2023 witnessed devastating natural disasters that resulted in a staggering $250 billion in economic losses and claimed the lives of 74,000 people worldwide.
With over 400 natural disasters occurring annually, millions of people, particularly those in countries supported by the International Development Association (IDA), are at significant risk.
Severe storms accounted for 76% of the total economic losses reported. The looming threat of climate change is expected to exacerbate these events, leading to more destructive climate-related incidents, especially in coastal areas globally.
The concept of a disaster is complex and multifaceted, with numerous official definitions.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes a disaster as "an event or fact that has unfortunate consequences; a mishap, and especially a sudden or great misfortune causing widespread damage or loss of life."
Disasters can be natural, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods, or man-made, including wars, climate change, and accidents.
Proper preparedness for natural hazards can mitigate their catastrophic potential, transforming potential disasters into manageable events.
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