Natural disaster prevention and preparedness in Africa

Abstract

In terms of economic loss and human suffering, drought and desertification are undoubtedly the greatest natural hazards faced by the African countries. However, a significant toll of life and property is taken each year by other natural disasters which are the subject of the present paper. Tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently in various parts of the continent and cause serious disruption to social and economic activity, sometimes with consequences which endure long after the event. In purely economic terms, the losses that they inflict may represent a significant percentage of the gross national products of the countries affected. They often occur with little or no warning.