Chapter 3

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2003

Chapter 3: Regional Characteristics of Natural Disasters

3.1 Proportion of Natural Disasters in the World Compared to Region:
The majority of disasters in the year 2003 occurred in Asia, with 36% (increased from previousyear), followed by Africa, America, and Europe with 23%, 23%, and 13% respectively.

Oceania had theleast with only 5% of the total natural disasters that occurred in the world in the year 2003. Figure 23
summarizes this data visually.

Figure 23:

Numbe r o f Disaste rs (Re gio n) (2003)

Europe13%

Oceania5%Africa
23%

Americas
23%

Asia
36%

TOTAL = 380

Source: ADRC, Japan and CRED-EMDAT, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2003

As can be seen in Figure 24, the majority of people killed by natural disasters in the year 2003
lived in Asia, with 57% of the total number of people killed by disasters in the world (decreased from 78%
from the previous year). Another significant region is Europe, with 35% (increased from 2% in theprvious year).

This is due to the heatwave hit the Europe in 2003.

percentage from previous year.

Africa registered decreased

All other regions register a very low percentage.

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Chapter 3

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2003

Figure 2４:

N u m b e r o f P e o p le K ille d (R e g io n ) (2 0 0 3 )Oceania
0.1%

Africa6.1%

Europe34.7%

Am ericas
1.9%

Asia
57.3%

TOTAL = 86,862 People

Source: ADRC, Japan and CRED-EMDAT, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2003

As Figure 25 shows, the Asian region has recorded the highest percentage of totally affectedpeople by natural disasters, with 90%. Nevertheless the number of overall affected people has decreased
from previous year (decreased from 94% in the previous year).

It clearly demonstrates the vulnerability ofdisaster of the region.
Figure 25:

N u m b e r o f T o ta lly A ffe c te d P e o ple (R e g io n )(2 0 0 3 )Europe0.4%

Oceania0.0%

Africa
8.3%

Asia
90.1%

Am ericas
1.2%

TOTAL = 254 Million People

Source: ADRC, Japan and CRED-EMDAT, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium,３２

Chapter 3

ADRC-Natural Disasters Data Book-2003

According to Figure 26, in accordance to the above figures and in contrast to previous year
figures, Asia accounts for more than one third of the economic damage caused by natural disasters in theyear 2003.

This is mainly due to the 2003 Typhoon Maemi hit Korea and Iran Bam Earthquake.

America (30%) and Europe (17%) account the second and third level of economic losses.

This is due tothe socio-economic structure of the region. All other regions accounted for much less economic damage.
Overall damage has increased from the previous year 25 Billion US$ to 43.7 Billion US$ and this isconsiderably a huge blow to the development efforts.

Figure 26:

Amount of Damage (Region) (2003)
Europe16.9%

Oceania
1.4%

Africa12.7%

Americas
29.5%
Asia
39.6%

TOTAL = 43.7 Billion US$

Source: ADRC, Japan and CRED-EMDAT, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2003

These figures indisputably demonstrate that the disaster vulnerability of the Asian
region cannot be neglected in relation to global sustainable development.

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