Bangladesh among top 5 countries

Bangladesh is the fifth in the list of 173 countries that are most prone to natural disasters worldwide, according to a report.
Titled “WorldRiskReport 2012”, it examines which countries are more at risk from natural disasters than others, what contributes to this risk and what can be done about it, said the report.
Island states Vanuatu and Tonga have the highest disaster risk while Malta and Qatar face the lowest risk worldwide, said the report published on October 11.
Environmental degradation is a significant factor that reduces the capacity of societies to deal with disaster risk in many countries around the world, stated the report.
The report was published in Brussels, Belgium by the German Alliance for Development Works, United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, and The Nature Conservancy.
“This report illustrates the powerful role that nature can play in reducing risks to people and property from coastal hazards like storms, erosion and floods,” said Dr Michael Beck, lead marine scientist at The Nature Conservancy.
The top 15 most “at-risk” nations are all tropical and coastal. In these countries, coastal habitats like reefs and mangroves are incredibly important for people's lives and livelihoods.
The report follows the International Day for Disaster Reduction, a time when the international community is discussing how to best achieve reduction of disaster risk and sustainable development.