Disasters in Africa: old and new hazards and growing vulnerability

Abstract

Disasters occur when hazards and vulnerability meet. Out of 100 disasters reported worldwide, only 20 occur in Africa, but Africa suffers 60% of all disaster-related deaths. This is probably due to the type of hazards that affect this continent, to under-reporting, and to the fact that under the circumstances prevailing in Africa, it is easy for any disaster to escalate and multiply its impact. Africa's natural hazards are mainly epidemics, endemic diseases, drought, floods, agricultural pests and bush fires, but some areas are also susceptible to earthquakes, cyclones and volcanic eruptions. The natural hazards interact with manmade ones, such as armed conflicts, air, road and railway incidents, other industrial hazards such as mining accidents, chemical spills, etc., and with widespread vulnerability. The context is one of rapid population growth, forced movements of population, environmental degradation, precarious urbanization, food insecurity, poverty, fragile economies, infrastructures and institutions, and cultural and political instability. The 53 countries of the continent are highly susceptible and vulnerable and their 761,390,000 people are exposed to both natural and manmade hazards. Through complex causal chains, disasters affect people directly and indirectly. In the first 6 months of 1996, meningitis had already killed 5,000 people. Throughout Africa, there are 500,000 measles-associated deaths each year; the direct and indirect costs of malaria are estimated at US$ 1.7 billion per year. In June 1996 food emergencies were looming in 14 African countries with 22 million people facing direct food shortages. Since 1980, conflicts have caused at least 3.7 million excess deaths and cost the Region about US$ 13 billion per year. Wars have destroyed 70% of the health network of some countries, and have left behind 30-40 million landmines, making Africa the most mine-infested continent in the world.