(DRR) L1 Basic Concept of Disaster and Disaster Risk

• Disaster is "a sudden, calamitous occurrence that causes great harm, injury, destruction, and devastation to life and property”.
• Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon is caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme temperatures.
• natural hazard occurs when an extreme natural event is destructive to human life and property.
• Human-made hazards are caused by human activities. Unlike natural hazards, human-made hazards can often be prevented.
• Technological/industrial disasters - Unregulated industrialization and inadequate safety standards increase the risk for industrial disasters.
• Terrorism/Violence - the threat of terrorism has also increased due to the spread of technologies involving nuclear, biological, and chemical agents used to develop weapons of mass destruction.
• Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term complex emergency is usually used to describe the humanitarian emergency resulting from an international or civil war.
• Disaster risk is the product of the possible damage caused by a hazard due to the vulnerability within a community.
• Examples of Human-made Hazards

  • Technological/Industrial
  • Terrorism/Violence
  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
• Examples of Technological/Industrial

  • Vehicle collision
  • Road/bridge collapse
  • Power cuts
• Examples of Terrorism/Violence

  • Weapons
  • Release of chemical materials
  • Mutinies
• Examples of Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

  • Civil War
  • Genocide
  • International War