Disaster management and risk reduction in South Africa

Abstract

The 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction concludes that the mortality and economic loss associated with extensive risks (minor but recurrent disaster risks) in low- and middle-income countries are trending up. In the last decade, losses due to extensive risk in 85 countries and territories were equivalent to a total of US$94 billion. Extensive risks are responsible for more deaths and displacement than major disasters, and represent an ongoing erosion of development assets such as houses, schools, health facilities, roads and local infrastructure. However, according to the cost of extensive risk is not visible and tends to be underestimated, as it is usually absorbed by low income households and communities as well as small businesses (UNISDR 2015).