African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

African Water Development Report 2006Table 10.2:Potential natural hazards in AfricaCountryPotential Natural Disasters38. Ethiopia geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts39. Seychelles lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible40. Angola locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau41. Senegal lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts42. Bassas da Indiamaritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodiccyclones43. Morocco Northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts44. Indian Ocean occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches45. Juan de Nova Island Periodic cyclones46. Madagascar Periodic cyclones47. Glorioso Islands Periodic cyclones48. South Africa prolonged droughts, floods49. Namibia prolonged periods of drought50. Kenya recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons51 Mozambique? Floods?Source: CIA World Factbook 2002 www.natiomaster.comof the arid parts of West Africa. Natural disastersand human-made disasters are often linked.A natural disaster such as drought is often aggravatedby certain food policies, or alternatively,a human-made disaster such as armed conflictcould again wreak havoc on the environment andcontribute to a natural disaster.Disasters Triggered by Natural HazardsThe majority of disaster incidents to whichthe Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance(OFDA) has responded in sub-Saharan Africasince 1970 were triggered by natural hazards.While natural disasters are responsible for only28 per cent of disaster-caused deaths, they accountedfor 57 per cent of all those affected bydisaster and 66 per cent of all disaster-causedhomelessness. The most common natural disastersin Africa are: drought, floods, cyclones, foodshortage, and pest infestations.Drought is the deadliest natural disaster. It accountsfor over three quarters of all those affectedby natural disasters and 98 per cent of disaster-relatedmortality. During the past ten years,three quarters of the droughts in the world haveoccurred in Africa. Drought is a condition of lifefor many residents of Africa, especially those ofthe Greater Horn region. The countries in Africareporting the highest frequency of drought include:Ethiopia, Chad, Botswana, Burkina Faso,Kenya, Mozambique and Mauritania.Other natural disasters in Africa such as infestations,floods and cyclones contribute to theoverall disaster burden in Africa. Of the greatestnumber of infestation incidents in the world,87 per cent have occurred in sub-Saharan Africasince 1970 but little mortality has resulted fromthem. Drought and infestation-caused crop failuresresult in weakened food security conditionsfor millions. As a result, from 1970 to 1994, nearly28 million Africans were recorded by OFDAas having experienced food shortages requiringinternational response. Floods also have affectedmillions of people, as have cyclones, storms andfires, but again, they account for a small numberof those affected and almost none of those wholost their lives. Natural disaster threats thereforeremain frequent in the region but are beingmuch more effectively managed by African peopleand the international community. They havebeen included in this discussion because so muchhas been learned about their management. The236