Category:

Disaster & Management

270 million people face starvation, says WFP as it receives Nobel Peace Prize

“Because of so many wars, climate change, the widespread use of hunger as a political and military weapon, and a global health pandemic that makes all of that exponentially worse — 270 million people are marching toward starvation,” David Beasley said from the WFP headquarters in Rome, upon receiving the Nobel medal and diploma.

“Failure to address their needs will cause a hunger pandemic which will dwarf the impact of COVID. And if that’s not bad enough, out of that 270 million, 30 million depend on us 100% for their survival,” he added.

read more

Prudence Foundation launches 2nd edition of its Tech Awards to find life-saving technologies for disaster resilience

Winners will have access to financial support, coaching and networking opportunities to help scale their innovative technology solutions
Since 2000, more than 40 per cent of global disaster events have taken place in the Asia Pacific region, resulting in around 800,000 deaths and affecting 3.2 billion people. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected more than 11 million people and expected to result in over $2.7 trillion in economic losses[ has magnified the importance of disaster preparedness and collaboration across all sectors in reducing the threat and impact of natural disaster events.

read more

4 of 5 cyclones this year were in severe cyclonic storms category and above

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said since 1990 four cyclones have formed every year in the seas along the eastern and western coasts (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) of the country.

“It is normal to have five cyclones a year,” he said.

read more

Cyclone Burevi slams into eastern Sri Lanka

The cyclone is likely to damage coastal buildings and power lines and unleash flash floods, the island’s disaster management center said, advising those living near its path to stay indoors.Those evacuated, from the Trincomalee district expected to be hit the hardest, have been moved into 237 relief centers until the cyclone passes, disaster officials said.

read more

Swiss Re to set up new fund for institutional and designated investors to access Nat Cat biz

Martin Bisping, CEO of Swiss Re Insurance-Linked Investment Management  said: “This new fund will open a unique opportunity for investors to invest in the same book of business as Swiss Re, benefitting from Swiss Re’s global reach, client access, risk knowledge and underwriting.“

read more

In the hands of God:’ Central America bears brunt of powerful hurricane Iota

About 40,000 people in Nicaragua have been evacuated to shelters, authorities said. Many coastal areas are at risk of storm surges of as much as 20 feet (6 meters) above normal tides. In Honduras, 80,000 people were moved to safety.

“It’s the strongest hurricane that has touched Nicaraguan soil since records began,” said Marcio Baca, director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Earth Studies.

This is the first time two major hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin in November since records began in 1851.

read more