URBAN DISASTERS

Humanitarian
Coalition

Difference between a natural and an urban

disaster
Natural Valley Magazine

FEMA

An urban disaster is a hazard that threatens a

city, its population and related socioeconomic
activities (J.M. Albala-Bertrand, 2003). In contrast
to other forms of disaster, the urban hazard
endangers the lives and livelihood of a population
within a relatively small and confined geographical
area, and comprises other forms of disasters
(2003). As a result, we find that a natural (e.g.
hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis),
technological (e.g. engineering, chemical or
biological) or anthropogenic disaster (e.g. war,
terrorism and civil disorder) may become an urban
disaster if such take place in an urban setting.

Higher Risks:
As the worlds population concentrates in
cities and disasters hit undetermined areas
we are seeing an urbanization of disasters
and risk (World Disasters Report, 2010). The
population growth is mostly taking place in
urban settings of low-income and middle
income nations, where poverty not only
enables underdevelopment and a lack of
protective infrastructure, but risks these areas
from the increased frequency and intensity
of extreme weather events and storm surges
that climate change is bringing (World
Disasters Report, 2010).

Continued
It is not a coincidence that the past fourteen
years have produced urban disasters throughout
different cities in low- income nations in our world.
Not only do they have deep-rooted problems such
as poverty, government, healthcare and lifestandards inefficiency, but are unable to move
forwards on their own, i.e. without the contributions
or involvement of international donors.

A Two Folded Problem

The impacts may vary in these countries, but the
gravity is determined in a considerable manner, on
the kind of development choices they have made
previously (Reducing Disaster Risk, A Challenge for
Development, 2004). Even when development might
seem the solution to these problems, it also can be
two-folded. At the same time, the rush for growth can
trigger haphazard urban development that increases
risks of large-scale fatalities during such a disaster
(Reducing Disaster Risk, A Challenge for Development,
2004). Urban size and fragmentation can create
difficulties in planning, coordination of efforts and
mitigation in the face of a disaster.

Death Toll Comparison

120,000

Haiti
316,000

Syria