THE global cost of disasters has soared from an annual average of $70–80 billion between 1970 and 2000 to about $180–200 billion in recent years, according to a report by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Experts emphasize that much of this damage is preventable through adequate planning and investment.
This message underscores the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed last Monday under the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”
“Every dollar invested in resilience saves many more in avoided losses and protects the dignity of those most at risk,” said Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Despite the growing urgency, disaster risk reduction remains severely underfunded. In 2024, disasters displaced nearly 46 million people—the highest figure on record—according to the IOM.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the accelerating climate crisis is “multiplying and amplifying disasters,” costing the global economy an estimated $2 trillion annually when indirect losses—such as ecosystem and social impacts—are included.
The UNDRR report noted that earthquakes, floods, storms, droughts, and heatwaves accounted for 95 percent of disaster-related costs over the past two decades.
Communities already facing poverty, hunger, and conflict bear the heaviest burdens. In South Sudan, for instance, recurring floods destroy homes and farmland, forcing mass displacement. Through IOM-supported dyke construction, some communities have regained farmland and restored livelihoods.
Established in 1989, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction promotes global awareness and celebrates efforts to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.
“The impact of disasters depends largely on the choices we make and how much we invest in prevention,” Ms. Pope said. “Let’s meet rising risk with greater funding and build a safer, more equitable future for all.”| – BNN Integrated News
