27 October 2015: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has published a report addressing the critical issues and challenges of managing risks in the Asia-Pacific region, including: disaster resilience; emerging risks and sectors most at risk; cross-border disasters, such as earthquakes, droughts, tropical cyclones and floods; the status of early warning systems; gaps and how to address them; and cost-effective opportunities offered by innovative technologies, especially space applications.

The report, titled ‘Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2015 – Disasters without Borders,’ was launched on 27 October 2015 by ESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar during the 4th session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which is taking place from 27-29 October 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to the report, during the past decade, the region, the most disaster prone in the world, was struck by 1,625 disasters – over 40% of the global total – affecting nearly 1.4 billion people. Half a million people lost their lives. Also over the past decade, the region has incurred economic damages worth more than half a trillion dollars. The report clarifies that the figures are “gross underestimates,” since no standardized methodology for collecting disaster-related statistics exists, resulting in under-reporting.

The publication highlights the fact that the region’s existing risks are exacerbated and new risks are created by rapid economic growth, rising population and expanding cities, and their combined impacts on environmental buffers. It also highlights successful cases where countries are working together by sharing technology, information and expertise for disaster preparedness, and identifies areas that lack strong cooperation, especially regarding cross-border floods and landslides.

The report: identifies several “neglected” disaster management issues, such as drought, the impacts of which can be mitigated by treating it as a long-term, recurring risk; analyzes the value of multi-hazard early warning systems, and how to provide “the right information to the right people at the right time;” and presents a framework for integrating DRR into sustainable development plans, policies, sectoral programmes and budgets. The report states that while investing in DRR is cost effective, political commitment and will has not translated into adequate action on the ground. [ESCAP Press Release] [UN Press Release] [Publication: Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2015 – Disasters without Borders]