Learning from the World Bank's experience of natural disaster related assistance.

At head of title: Disaster management facility

Includes references

At any one time, some natural disaster has just struck or is about to strike somewhere in the world, taking a toll of human lives and material losses. Extreme natural events like floods, earthquakes, and droughts have always been part of the natural cycle; virtually all parts of the world are exposed to them. What makes the event a disaster is its impact on vulnerable structures like buildings and infrastructures. Thus, natural disasters are human, social and economic disasters. Accelerated changes in demographic and economic trends has disturbed the balance between ecosystems, increasing the risk of human suffering and losses. Today's populated areas - cities and agricultural zones - constitute an increasingly valuable asset base. Potential human, social and economic losses from natural disasters grow year by year, independently of nature's forces. Increased vulnerability requires that natural disaster management be at the heart of the economic and social development policy of disaster prone countries. This report aims to provide an overview of the World Bank's experience in providing assistance for natural disasters, and in so doing, aims to lay the foundation for a new paradigm of natural disaster management, one that involves a shift away from a primarily reactice stance to a more proactive approach