While significant progress is being made, these groups of countries continue to experience disproportionate disaster losses due to their limited capacity to address risks and respond when disasters strike. As we have witnessed all too often, a single extreme weather event can erase years of development gains in a matter of hours. At the same time, it is also important to recall that while the major events we often hear about in the news are wreaking havoc in these countries, it is the frequently recurring small-scale disasters which impacts communities year in, year out that constitute a higher percentage of disaster losses. The high economic, social, and environmental costs are leading to complex reconstruction challenges and sluggish growth not only in the short-term but over many years. Losses from disasters are depriving vulnerable countries of scarce resources which could be more usefully spent in areas such as quality education, health and infrastructure; which are vital to eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring more resilient, productive and peaceful societies. Furthermore, the challenges these countries face are being magnified by the growing impacts of climate change. We are witnessing the acute impacts of
While significant progress is being made, these groups of countries continue to experience disproportionate disaster losses due to their limited capacity to address risks and respond when disasters strike. As we have witnessed all too often, a single extreme weather event can erase years of development gains in a matter of hours. At the same time, it is also important to recall that while the major events we often hear about in the news are wreaking havoc in these countries, it is the frequently recurring small-scale disasters which impacts communities year in, year out that constitute a higher percentage of disaster losses. The high economic, social, and environmental costs are leading to complex reconstruction challenges and sluggish growth not only in the short-term but over many years. Losses from disasters are depriving vulnerable countries of scarce resources which could be more usefully spent in areas such as quality education, health and infrastructure; which are vital to eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring more resilient, productive and peaceful societies. Furthermore, the challenges these countries face are being magnified by the growing impacts of climate change. We are witnessing the acute impacts of
OHRLLS%20Statement_GPDRR_Plenary_26%20May%202017.docx