Rapidly growing cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to disasters in the East Asia-Pacific region due to poor planning, with economic losses increasing dramatically as the region grows wealthier, says a new World Bank report.

Policymakers can make a significant difference to ensure that progress in development and poverty reduction are not lost by acting now to build resilience, said the report entitled “Strong, Safe and Resilient - A Strategic Policy Guide for Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific”.

Investing in disaster preparedness from strengthening hazard forecast services to restoring natural ecosystems, can be surprisingly cost-effective, it added.

“East Asia-Pacific is the region that is most affected by cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. To confront these disaster challenges, governments need to be prepared for the unexpected and undertake major investments in disaster risk management and resilience,” the WB’s press release on June 3 quoted WB East Asia and Pacific Vice President Axel van Trotsenburg as saying.

More needs to be done to improve catastrophe risk modelling tools to help governments assess budgetary impacts of disasters, and to develop disaster risk financing strategies, he said.

The WB has suggested short, medium and long-term solutions for the countries in the region to minimise the impact of disasters, focusing on forecasting and investing in early warning systems, strengthening cooperation, improving infrastructure and urban planning.

(Source: VNA)