How Natural Disasters How Natural Disasters Affect PovertyAffect Poverty

Agronomy 342Agronomy 342Garrett BoedingGarrett Boeding

Natural DisastersNatural Disasters

Many types of natural disastersMany types of natural disasters• Floods, Drought, Earthquakes, Floods, Drought, Earthquakes,

Volcanoes, Hurricanes, etc.Volcanoes, Hurricanes, etc.

Disaster FactsDisaster Facts

Over 90% of deaths caused by natural Over 90% of deaths caused by natural disasters occur in poor countries.disasters occur in poor countries.

Poor have more difficulty recoveringPoor have more difficulty recovering• Usually have less money saved up if crops are Usually have less money saved up if crops are

destroyed.destroyed.• Cannot afford to buy food.Cannot afford to buy food.• Become vulnerable to disease.Become vulnerable to disease.

More FactsMore Facts

Poor areas most affectedPoor areas most affected• Usually located in more dangerous areasUsually located in more dangerous areas

Hillsides, Flood Plains, etc.Hillsides, Flood Plains, etc.

• Homes usually made of lower qualityHomes usually made of lower quality More susceptible to diseaseMore susceptible to disease

• Less access to clean water and toilet facilitiesLess access to clean water and toilet facilities• Fewer doctors and health care workers live in/Fewer doctors and health care workers live in/

near these areasnear these areas

Ethical ArgumentEthical Argument

Rights TheoryRights Theory• Everybody has a right to core needsEverybody has a right to core needs

Food, shelter, waterFood, shelter, water

• Other countries should come to aid of Other countries should come to aid of affected countries to provide these affected countries to provide these needsneeds

Ethical ArgumentEthical Argument

Utilitarian TheoryUtilitarian Theory• Greatest good for greatest number of Greatest good for greatest number of

peoplepeople• Number of people affected vs. number Number of people affected vs. number

of people who suffer trying to helpof people who suffer trying to help• Smaller disasters would receive less Smaller disasters would receive less

help according to this theoryhelp according to this theory

ReferencesReferences

Scholarly ReferencesScholarly ReferencesKreimer, A., Arnold, M. Managing Disaster Risk in Emerging Economies p55, 2009Kreimer, A., Arnold, M. Managing Disaster Risk in Emerging Economies p55, 2009

Action Against Hunger, The Geopolitics of Hunger. 334 pages. 2000-2001Action Against Hunger, The Geopolitics of Hunger. 334 pages. 2000-2001

Other SourcesOther Sources

UNFPA. State of World Population 2007. UN Report. 2007UNFPA. State of World Population 2007. UN Report. 2007http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2007/english/chapter_5/poverty.htmlhttp://www.unfpa.org/swp/2007/english/chapter_5/poverty.html

FAMVIN. Poverty and Natural Disasters. Oct 15, 2005. FAMVIN. Poverty and Natural Disasters. Oct 15, 2005.

http://famvin.org/en/archive/poverty-and-natural-disasters