Livelihoods Connect lessons, experience and views on sustainable livelihoods

Reducing the Risk of Disasters – Helping to Achieve Sustainable Poverty Reduction in a Vulnerable World

Department for International Development, June 2006

Background

The number and frequency of disasters is growing. According to one estimate the 1990s saw economic losses from disasters total over US$608 billion – greater than losses over the four previous decades combined. It is the poorest that are worst affected and suffer the most. The capacity to cope and to reduce risk is much more limited in poorer countries.

The latest policy paper (PDF) from DFID summarises DFID’s policy on disaster risk reduction as it applies to natural and technological disasters. It sets out the key elements of disaster risk reduction and why it is important. The paper’s aim is to provide guidance to DFID staff. It will also inform other UK Government departments and development partners.

Developments- the DFID journal in its latest issue has disaster mitigation as its main focus. The lead article 'What on Earth is Happening?' by Jonathan Walter editor of the World Disasters Report,highlights how the impact of disasters can be minimised through prepardness. Other papers that focus on disaster mitigation are titled 'News You Can Use', 'Emergency Call' and 'No Easy Answers' .

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