A world safe from natural disasters : the journey of Latin America and the Caribbean / Pan American Health Organization, Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office of the World Health Organization ; International Decade for Natural disaster Reduction Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bibliography: p. 107-110

The principal purpose of this publication is to remind policy makers and the international community that a modest but sustained investment in disaster reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean has saved, and will continue to save, in a non-dramatic but effective way, a large number of lives and avoid tragedies which would otherwise drain resources for humanitarian assistance. A second purpose is to share the optimism and enthusiasm of disaster professionals at witnessing a slow but steady evolution in the Region - from the fatalistic acceptance of disasters to the determination to take steps to avoid them whenever possible or minimise their effects through long-term disaster reduction planning