1.4. Disaster Risk in Asia

Now, looking at disaster risk, particularly in Asia that is for sure that Asia is one of the hotspot, it is one of the most disaster-prone region in the world. No other region is that much affected by disaster; natural disasters particularly, well you consider earthquake, you consider volcanic eruption, flood; Asia is the most vulnerable, most disaster-prone region in the world.

Asia is considered a hotspot for disaster risk due to its geographical features and environmental conditions. The region faces a variety of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods. This vulnerability is heightened by factors like population density and urbanization, making it crucial to understand the unique risks associated with this region.

Think of Asia like a bowl filled with marbles where some marbles represent people and others represent natural hazards. The more densely packed the marbles are, the higher the chance that one marble will bump into another. In this case, if a marble represents a city and another a natural disaster, the risk of disasters affecting urban populations increases significantly.

One more thing is that urban population; urban population in the world is dominating. In 1950, it was only 29.7% of total population was urban population, only 29.7. In 2030, it is considered that it will grow as 61.1% that means more and more people are living in urban areas and they are exposed to various kind of disasters.

The percentage of the population living in urban areas has significantly increased, from 29.7% in 1950 to an expected 61.1% by 2030. This trend results in more people living in cities that may be more vulnerable to disasters. Urbanization often leads to higher population density and infrastructure challenges that can exacerbate disaster risks.

Consider a small town growing into a bustling city. Initially, there might be enough space and resources for everyone, but as more people move in, the streets become congested, and infrastructure is strained. This situation is similar to urban areas facing more risks during disasters, like flooding, where crowded streets can lead to chaos during evacuation.

Also, not only the disasters are increasing, but economic loss and social impacts due to disasters are increasing, here is one you can look at economic losses or insured losses with trend from 1950’s to 2000 that is for sure that it is increasing.

The frequency and impact of natural disasters in Asia are reportedly increasing, leading to greater economic losses. Data shows that the trends in economic losses due to disasters grew significantly from the 1950s to the year 2000, highlighting the growing financial burdens societies face after disasters occur.

Imagine a household that experiences water damage. Initially, it might cost a few hundred dollars to fix, but as natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the costs can soar into the thousands. This rising expense reflects how communities and nations deal with financial damage from increasingly frequent disasters.

What do we need to do then? we need to make people, increase people's risk awareness, we need to promote preparedness... So, what is happening is that we need to focus on preparedness, to promote preparedness and risk governance to the people.

To mitigate disaster impacts, it is essential to raise people's awareness about disaster risks and promote preparedness strategies. This can include training for evacuation during emergencies, encouraging the purchase of insurance, and utilizing small technologies that enhance risk management. Together, these measures can help enhance community resilience.

Think of preparing for a big storm as preparing for a school exam. Just as students study and review material to perform well, communities must educate themselves about potential disasters and practice evacuation plans in order to 'ace' their response to a disaster when it occurs.

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