Natural Disasters, Economic Development, and Humanitarian Aid

TLDR

Natural disasters kill millions, affect billions, and caused roughly $1 trillion in direct economic damage between 1980 and 2004. The study aims to describe the incidence of natural disasters, analyze how societal factors influence exposure and protection, and examine determinants and targets of international aid. The paper is organized into three sections: an overview of disaster incidence and trends, an analysis of societal protective and exposure factors, and a discussion of aid determinants and targets.

Abstract

Natural disasters are one of the major problems facing humankind. Between 1980 and 2004, two million people were reported killed and five billion people cumulatively affected by around 7,000 natural disasters, according to the dataset maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at University of Louvain (Belgium). The economic costs are considerable and rising. The direct economic damage from natural disasters between 1980–2004 is estimated at around $1 trillion. This paper starts by describing the incidence of natural disasters, where they strike, and their development over time. It then discusses how societal factors act to protect people from or expose them to natural hazards. The final section discusses the determinants and targets of international aid to disaster victims.