Disasters by numbers
- 308 disasters triggered by natural hazards affected 97.6 million people in 2019.
- 24,396 people were killed in these disasters.
- Over 100 disasters occurred during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. These affected over 50 million people.
- The number of climate and weather-related disasters has been increasing since the 1960s, and has risen almost 35% since the 1990s.
What does the World Disasters Report say?
COVID-19 demonstrated that humanity has the capacity to recognize and respond to a global crisis, finding resources where none seemed available, and taking unprecedented and rapid steps to respond. Climate change is as significant a challenge to humanity as the coronavirus, and we need to act with the same effort and determination.
The report highlights how people who are already poor and marginalised are often those hit first and hardest by climate-related disasters.
Within Australia:
The report highlights the unprecedented 2019-2020 bushfire season, the increase in category 4 and 5 storms, and the exposure of First Nations communities in the Northern Territory to some of Australia’s most severe climate challenges.