THE Philippines topped the list of 193 countries at risk of natural disasters, the 2024 World Risk Report revealed. According to the report, the country has a WorldRiskIndex score of 46.71, which is "very high," with exposure scoring 39.99 (very high), vulnerability at 55.03 (very high), susceptibility at 51.16 (very high), lack of coping capabilities at 58.07 (very high) and lack of adaptive capacities at 56.10 (high). Also, the WorldRiskIndex showed that the country was among 10 hotspots in Asia and the Americas, along with Indonesia (WorldRiskIndex score of 41.13), India (40.96), Colombia (37.81), Mexico (35.93), Myanmar (35.85), Mozambique (34.44), Russia (28.12), Bangladesh (27.73), and Pakistan (27.02). The German-based report said the country was hit with 22 tropical cyclones during the Covid-19 pandemic, among them being Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), which hit Catanduanes and killed 32 people. "During the coronavirus pandemic, psychosocial and economic stress increased worldwide. In countries that were affected by extreme natural events at the same time, these burdens intensified. One example is the Philippines, which was hit by 22 tropical cyclones during the Covid-19 pandemic, including Typhoon Goni [Rolly], one of the strongest storms ever recorded. Hundreds of thousands of destroyed homes, overcrowded evacuation centers, and the resulting increase in Covid-19 cases not only led to a dramatic increase in humanitarian needs but also had a negative impact on the mental health of the population," the report said. The report also mentioned that the country was home to many low-income families, many of which live in "vulnerable" coastal areas. "The [Covid-19] pandemic exacerbated their vulnerability. As many evacuation centers were overcrowded and compliance with social distancing measures was difficult to maintain, the pandemic increased the risk to people affected by the typhoon," the report read. The World Risk Report also said global disaster risks are linked to poverty and inequality in their respective countries. "In recent years, the WorldRiskIndex has shown that global disaster risks are not only very heterogeneously distributed but are also closely linked to poverty and inequality. This persistence often results from robust interactions between increasing vulnerability and damage caused by extreme events," the report read. "Countries with climate-sensitive exposure and high to very high vulnerability are particularly at risk. These countries can expect more frequent and more intense extreme natural events and damage in the future. A significant shift in global risk hotspots can therefore be expected in the long term," it added. "At present, however, the hotspots remain in the Americas and Asia, as can be seen in the group of 10 countries with the highest risk scores: the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Colombia, Mexico, Myanmar, Mozambique, Russia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. These countries have very complex risk profiles due to the combination of diverse exposures and high intensities, as well as higher vulnerabilities," the risk report continued. With a score of 39.99, the Philippines also ranked fourth in terms of exposure to earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, drought and rising sea levels, behind Japan (43.67), Mexico (50.08) and China (64.59), who topped that list. The WorldRiskIndex was crafted by the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft in Berlin, Germany, and, according to its website, indicates the disaster risk from extreme natural events and negative climate change impacts for 193 countries around the world. It is also developed jointly with the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security.
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