NATURAL DISASTERS IN 2012

After an intense year of natural disasters in 2011, countries in the Asia-Pacific region welcomed a reduction in the number of events in 2012. OCHA and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters recorded 93 natural disaster events in 2012, in which over 3,200 people were killed and more than 75 million people were affected. China and the Philippines experienced the most disasters in 2012.

FOREWORD

2011 was an important year for the humanitarian community and for OCHA. There was barely a moment when our community was not faced with a relentless series of natural disasters, political crises and chronic emergencies.

But in the midst of this, we achieved something quite remarkable. At the end of December, humanitarian response partners, UN agencies, NGOs and the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement agreed on a series of reforms that focused on making our response efforts faster and more effective.

This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2011 Programme outcome

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific zone office continues to support its regional and country offices as well as the 37 national societies in the zone in building stronger and more resilient communities, improving and assisting in preparedness, knowledge-sharing and response to disasters as well as health and care challenges.

This Review analyzes some of the major events and trends related to natural disasters and humanitarian disaster response in 2011.

2011 was the most expensive year in terms of disaster losses in history, mostly because of a spate of disasters affecting developed countries. Globally, the ecnonomic cost of disasters in 2011 was $380 billion, of which $210 billion were the result of the earthquake and tsunmai in Japan. This was 72 percent higher than the losses in 2005, the second costliest year in history of disaster-related losses.

For affected communities, the recovery challenge continues one year on from the Victorian floods

For many communities in northern and western Victoria this week marks the one year anniversary of the worst of the 2011 floods and the largest Red Cross relief and recovery program in Victoria since the Black Saturday bushfires.

Red Cross Executive Director Victoria, Toni Aslett, said many Victorians in flood affected communities were still doing it tough and had a long way to go in their recovery journey.

A year after the Queensland flood disaster, the man charged with leading the final phase of the recovery effort says reconstruction is on target and will be finished on time.

The good news comes as sombre memorial services are held across the state to reflect on the devastation caused by the once-in-a-lifetime event.

A monument marking the tenacity of the Ipswich community has been unveiled today after two commemorative services were held in the city.

Next week marks the one year anniversary of the worst of the floods that hit the Queensland in 2011.

For communities across Queensland, next week marks the one year anniversary of the worst of the floods that hit the state in 2011 and led to one of the largest ever Red Cross relief and recovery programs in Australia.

This report covers the period 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011.

In brief

Summary:

The first half of 2011 saw major disaster events occurring in several countries including Australia,
Bangladesh, China, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu. Many societies across the zone continue to maintain a high level of programming in several new disaster response operations and continued comprehensive post-disaster recovery activities, while others have started reviewing their development activities in line with IFRC’s newly adopted Strategy 2020.

Introduction