Urbanisation and Natural Disaster: A Systematic Review

In recent decades the rate and extent of urbanisation has increased markedly and the majority of the world’s people now live in urban areas. These trends are clearly apparent in low and middle income countries, particularly those in South and East Asia (World Bank recent list of LMIC by region). Much of this urban growth is relatively unplanned and has increased the vulnerability of the urban population to the increasing risk of natural disasters and extreme weather events. In addition, vulnerability is further aggravated by other risk factors such as widespread poverty and illiteracy, population migration, increased population density, poor access to services, inadequate nutrition, and poor water and sanitation.
Major gaps exist in information on the interface between urbanisation and natural disasters, especially if the added dimensions of risk, vulnerability and resilience are considered. The concept that the impact of disasters is an outcome of ongoing risk processes interacting with hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities is comparatively recent. It is suggested that there are valuable lessons to be learnt from local level initiatives, people’s participation or adaptation of suitable and applicable legislations in the face of such hazards and disasters happening in these cities, countries and regions.