World not prepared enough to deal with natural disasters, scientists say

Earthquakes, floods or storms… The world is not sufficiently prepared to face natural disasters, deplores a report published on Tuesday 28 February by the International Science Council (ISC), which includes dozens of scientific organizations. The text regrets that governments too often react only after the event and calls for a rethinking of risk management.

In 2015, the international community adopted the Sendai targets aimed at reducing the number of victims and damage by 2030 by investing in risk assessment and reduction, and disaster preparedness, whether earthquakes or climatic disasters reinforced by global warming. Gold, “it is very unlikely” that the goals are met, according to the report.

Since 1990, more than 10,700 disasters (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, storms, etc.) have affected more than 6 billion people worldwide, according to data from the United Nations Office for disaster risk reduction. Floods and storms, multiplied by climate change, represent 42% of the total.

Too little prevention

“While the international community quickly mobilizes after disasters like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, too little attention and investment is directed towards long-term planning and prevention, whether it’s strengthening codes of building or setting up warning systems”commented ISC President Peter Gluckman.

Only 5.2% of aid to developing countries to deal with disasters between 2011 and 2022 was dedicated to risk reduction, the rest being allocated to relief and post-disaster reconstruction. The ISC also calls for the generalization of early warning systems, noting that warning of a storm 24 hours in advance could reduce damage by 30%.