Climate change and globalization are increasing the threat of flood and famine to the world’s poor, according to a report released today by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. From the annual World Disasters Report: “Recurrent disasters from floods in Asia to drought in the Horn of Africa to windstorms in Latin America are sweeping away development gains and calling into question the possibility of recovery.” Natural disasters have jumped from 481 in 1998 to 752 last year. Peter Walker, director of the IFRC’s Asia Regional Office, said that urbanization in flood plains was another factor behind the rise in disasters.
