The United Nations Secretariat warns that there is no such thing as a natural disaster, only the failure of humans to prepare for events beyond their control.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) further warns, in an almost Orwellian phrase, that “a hazard can only become a disaster if it affects societies and communities.” Danger is natural, but disaster is not. ”
Online ratings contain a word of warning published “We often hear about 'natural disasters' in the news, in NGOs, and in international organizations (including the less well-informed United Nations agencies!),” the organization said in its opening statement. The truth is, there is no such thing as a natural disaster. ”
Society, not nature, is responsible, says Mami Mizutori, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for UNDRR.
The report goes on to distinguish between nature and the human institutions tasked with helping society cope with “natural disasters.”
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods become disasters only when they affect areas that are not adequately protected and where people are vulnerable as a result of poverty, exclusion, and social disadvantage.
Some disasters result from natural disasters such as wildfires and desertification, which have devastating effects on natural resources and destroy ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Some of these are caused by man-made disasters such as chemical spills and nuclear leaks. This destruction can have severe impacts on communities that depend on and coexist with these resources, causing economic and cultural losses and destroying lives and livelihoods.
However, these are not natural disasters.
After all, disasters are society's failures, UNDRR warns in its conclusion, before adding its own words of wisdom: It's a natural disaster. ”
