global natural disasters exacerbate the global homelessness problem february 2012 walter hays,...
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GLOBAL NATURAL DISASTERS EXACERBATE THE GLOBAL HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM
February 2012
Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of
North Carolina, USA
NATURAL DISASTERS EXACERBATE HOMELESSNESS
A natural disaster can cause an abrupt change in the local state of homelessness that can linger for years to decades to generations
THE HOMELESS: A NOT-SO- INVISIBLE GLOBAL PROBLEM
At present, exacerbated by poverty, war, terrorism, and natural disasters, an estimated 100 million people (1.4 % of the “world community” ) are homeless.
THE HOMELESS: A NOT-SO- INVISIBLE PROBLEM IN INDIA
An estimated 2 million are homeless in India, some of whom are 5th and 6th generation.
THE HOMELESS: A NOT-SO- INVISIBLE PROBLEM IN THE USA
An estimated 560,000 people are homeless in the USA.
A HOMELESS PERSON IS MORE LIKELY---
• To die in their 40’s,---2-3 decades earlier than others
• To be psychotic
• To be homocidal
• To be addicted to drugs and/or alcohol
• To be diabetic
DECEMBER 26, 2004 INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE-TSUNAMI DISASTER
• MILLIONS DISPLACED FROM HOMES
• BILLIONS OF DOLLARS NEEDED FOR RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND RECONSTRUCTION
INFUSION OF “STAPLE” AND “HOPE”
DURING RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SICHUAN PROVINCE
MAY 12, 2008: THE BEGINNING OF A GLOBAL PROCESS TO
CREATE TURNING POINTS FOR EARTHQUAKE SUSTAINABILITY
According to the State Council Information Office, about 5,461,900 houses collapsed, 5,932,500 houses were seriously damaged, and another 21 million may need repairs.
• The official death toll stood at 69,197 as of Wednesday , July 9th, according to the State Council Information Office .• The number of injured and missing stood at 374,176 and 18,379 respectively
SOCIETAL IMPACTS
• The lives of 3 million+ Haitians were adversely impacted by the collapse of thousands of buildings and a corresponding abrupt increase in homelessness.
REALITY CHECK
Haiti still needs everything: Robust shelters and housing,
Infrastructure, A port, An airfield, …
PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE
8:50 AM OCTOBER 8, 2005M7.6
10 KM (6 MI) DEPTHAT LEAST 30,000 DEAD
COLLAPSED SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS
2.5 MILLION HOMELESS
LONG-TERM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED DURING RECOVERY
• NEED: 2 TO 3 MILLION NEW DWELLINGS THAT ARE EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT.
• NEED: NEW SCHOOLS THAT ARE EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT.
• NEED: NEW HOSPITALS THAT ARE EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT.
• NEED: NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT.
RIVERS BURST BANKS AND BREACH DAMS IN CENTRAL EUROPE AFTER WEEKS OF
RAIN
POLAND, HUNGARY, GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC, …
MAY – JUNE, 2010
The heaviest rains in over a decade forced thousands along rain-
swollen rivers in Poland, Germany, and Hungary to evacuate from their
homes, breached dikes and sand bag dams, damaging homes, and
infrastructure, and leaving thousands homeless
NORTHWEST PAKISTAN (AND AFGHANISTAN) HIT BY
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING AFTER PROLONGED
MONSOON RAINS
JULY 28-AUGUST 23, 2010