Revolution: From Food Aid to Food Assistance — Instruments
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2. Weather related disasters threaten food security Gains in development are at increasing risk from a variety of threats, including climate change-induced disasters (WFP, 2009g), which can exacerbate poverty, especially in the developing world (Dercon, 2004; Hansen et al., 2004). For example, the intensity, amount, frequency and type of precipitation are tending to result in more frequent catastrophic events such as droughts, floods and tropical storms. Ecosystem degradation, chronic poverty and unplanned urbanization underpin this growing risk of devastating disasters. By 2030, these looming risks are forecast to cause average losses of about 12 percent1 of developing countries’ gross domestic products (GDPs), but cost-effective risk reduction measures could reduce this figure by more than 50 percent (ClimateWorks Foundation et al., 2009).
Figure 8.1 Estimated damage caused by reported natural disasters, 1900 to 2008
Estimated damage (US$ billion)
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0 Years 1900 - 2009
Note: Excluding technological disasters, i.e., those caused by neither weather nor natural forces, although these may be contributing factors. Source: EM-DAT: OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels. www.emdat.be.