Disasters killed 5 lakh in Asia-Pacific last decade

Around 500,000 people lost their lives in 1,625 reported disasters in the Asia-Pacific region over the last decade, according to a report of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The report titled "Disasters without borders: regional resilience for sustainable development" was launched at a discussion organised by the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies of Dhaka University on the campus yesterday.

Puji Pujino, regional adviser on Disaster Risk Reduction Division of ESCAP, conducted the study.        

The report said the disasters affected 1.4 billion people in the region and caused economic damage worth US$523 billion, adding that the figures were probably underestimates as many disasters go unreported.

Shamika Sirimanne, director of ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division of ESCAP, said, "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific will depend critically on greater resilience to disasters." 

Majority of the disasters in Asia-Pacific are cross-border in nature, be they earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, or cyclones, highlighted the report.

"The report provides much needed balanced perspective for Bangladesh to further improve its disaster management system in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 -2030," said Shahid Ulla Mia, additional secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.