By KUNA
London : Human failure is a bigger killer than nature when disasters hit the world, according to a new report here Thursday.
A study for the major British charity Oxfam International found the choices of politicians, poor decisions, and bad management were to blame for the worst catastrophes.
The report entitled “The Rethinking Disasters” identified south Asia as the most disaster-prone area, where governments and charitable donations could make the biggest difference.
It claimed that when natural shocks such as cyclones or tidal waves hit Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, or Sri Lanka, deprivation in these areas was likely to turn events into a humanitarian crisis.
Oxfam regional director for south Asia Ashvin Dayal said poverty and inequality make natural disasters much more lethal.
“The Kashmir earthquake killed 75,000 people. That’s more than 12 times as many people as died in Japan’s Great Hanshin earthquake, which was of similar strength. Why? Poverty, exclusion, inequality, and unsuitable policies raise risks for poor people, women, and minorities especially,” he said.
The report urged governments to reduce the risk of disasters before they happened by tackling underlying problems that leave millions of people more vulnerable. South Asia loses six percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to disasters each year, which could be better spent on preventative measures, the aid agency argued.
Dayal added “The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. The right policies and preparations can save lives and money. Our experience shows that preparedness costs a fraction of what a disaster response can cost.
“The problem is that governments and donors do not prioritise these preventative measures.”
Dayal also called on governments across the globe to tackle climate change, which is aggravating the risk of disasters in the world’s poorest areas.