World Disasters Report 2010
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Material Information

Title:
World Disasters Report 2010 Focus on urban risk
Creator:
McClean, Denis ( editor )
Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Florida International University (DRR/FIU) ( summary contributor )
Publisher:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2010
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Urban development ( lcshac )
Risk management ( lcshac )
Genre:
non-fiction ( marcgt )

Notes

Summary:
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)’s World Disasters Report 2010 focuses primarily on urban risk. This report is composed of seven chapters along with an annex section. The chapters cover issues associated with the increasing risk of disaster found in a world urbanizing at unprecedented rates over the past few decades, particularly in the developing world. These issues include (1) avoiding the urbanization of disasters, (2) urban disaster trends, (3) community rights and post-disaster response, (4) urban violence, (5) urban risk to health, (6) urbanization and climate change risk, and (7) urban governance and disaster risk reduction (DRR). The study identifies three important reasons why cities should be given increased attention in terms of disaster risk reduction (DRR). First, half of the world’s population now lives in cities, while in 1950 this was less than one third. In 2030 it is projected that more than 60 percent of the world population will live in cities. Second, 2.6 out of the 3.5 billion total global urban population lives in low to middle income countries, which often face significant challenges in addressing the nexus between urbanization and disaster risks. Third, climate change plays an important role in increasing the level of disaster risk for cities. While rapid urbanization and population growth do not necessarily have to lead to unsafe cities, the lack of knowledge and financial capacity of urban authorities to reduce disaster risks make urban areas more vulnerable places than rural parts of the world (p.20). Two issues attract special attention in the report: (1) the significance of community-based disaster risk management, and (2) the importance of urban governance and local government for disaster risk reduction (DRR). The third and seventh chapters discuss these issues at greater length. The annex section provides valuable information on the various disasters that have occurred over the past two decades (1990-2010). Annex 1 includes thirteen tables covering information on the timing, frequency, type, and cost (human and economic) of disasters. Annex 2 makes recommendations (“a-ten point checklist”) for local governments (pp.191-99). With each recommendation there is a case study. ( English )
Subject:
Disaster Risk Management ( English )
Citation/Reference:
McClean, D. (ed.) (2010). World disasters report 2010: focus on urban risk. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Refer to main document/publisher for use rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI13042419

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Aggregations:
Disaster Risk Reduction