Nepal is one of the 20 most disaster-prone countries in the world. The country is exposed to multiple hazards, most prominently earthquakes, floods, landslides, windstorms, hailstorm, fire, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and avalanches. Mortality data for the period 1971-2007 recorded more than 27,000 deaths, which indicates an average loss of more than two lives due to natural disasters every day. More people are killed by disasters in Nepal compared to any other country in South Asia. In addition to the high mortality risk, more than 50,000 people were reported as injured, about 3,000 people missing, and about 5 million people aff ected during the period 1971- 2007.About 32% of the total area and 28% of the total population of Nepal is exposed to risks from three or more hazards. More than one in 20 residents live in an area identified as having a relatively high mortality risk. According to the country profile prepared by EM-DAT on the available database for 1900-2009, earthquake and floods are the biggest hazards in terms of mortality, aff ected population, and economic losses.It is widely held that the incidence of disasters in Nepal is increasing due to rising vulnerability, in line with experience in many other developing countries. A number of factors have contributed to the growing vulnerability in the country. Of the total households in the country, nearly 78% are agricultural households.Agriculture is the principal economic sector, but it is poorly diversified and largely dependent on variable monsoons. Access to safe drinking water, health care and sanitation is below South Asian standards. The population has increased by 2.25% annually over the last decade, which means the population could well double in the next few decades. Under conditions of poor economic growth, the increase in the population growth rate has meant an increase in the poverty level. Since 1976, the absolute number of people living below the poverty level has doubled to nine million.Natural disasters also tend to aggravate conflict situations, with common consequences such as unequal access to assistance; discrimination in aid provision; enforced relocation;sexual and gender-based violence; loss of documentation;unsafe or involuntary return or resettlement; and issues of property restitution. Nepal has suffered these consequences in the recent past. The physical vulnerability of Nepal is also very high. Most of the buildings and infrastructure in Nepal are constructed without reference to hazard-resistant technology;therefore, structures are more vulnerable to disasters. During the last 37 years, more than 250,000 buildings were either destroyed or damaged by flood, fire, or earthquakes. Disturbance of drainage by the construction of roads and canals has also increased the incidence of flooding, particularly in the Terai where there has been considerable infrastructural investment over the past five decades.
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Publisher:
UNDP
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(2011
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Type / Script:
Publication
in English
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Keywords:
CONSORTIUM, DISASTER, EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT, DISASTER MITIGATION, HYDROLOGY, METEOROLOGY, NRRC Steering Committee, KOSHI RIVER BASIN, INTEGRATED COMMUNITY BASED MANAGEMENT , RISK REDUCTION, SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL SAFETY, RESPONSE CAPACITY, FLOOD MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
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Thematic Group:
UNDP
:
Social and Institutional Developoment
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Thesaurus:
13.02.00
- Disaster Prevention, Preparedness And Relief
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Reference Link:
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