MANILA, Philippines–Countries in Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines, sustained considerable economic losses from disasters in 2014, a year that was considered “atypical” and free of extreme catastrophes.
According to the Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pacific (Escap), 119 disasters exacted a toll of $56.9 billion on the region last year—88 percent of which was attributed to floods and storms.
While there were no extreme disasters in 2014 like Supertyphoon “Haiyan” or “Yolanda” that ravaged the Philippines in 2013, last year’s toll was just about P3 billion less than the $62.9 billion recorded the previous year.
“The highest reported economic losses came from India and China, with India incurring $27 billion (or 45 percent of the region’s total losses) while China reported losses of $23 billion (or 39 percent),” the United Nations agency said in a report released Feb. 25.
In “Disasters in Asia and the Pacific: 2014 Year in Review,” Escap said the most notable events in the Philippines were Typhoons “Rammasun” and “Hagupit”—locally known as “Glenda” and “Ruby,” respectively.
Escap data show that Glenda laid waste to $170 million or P7.5 billion worth of assets and left 94 people killed.
Ruby, on the other hand, accounted for $74.7 million or P3.3 billion in damage and 18 dead.
“While Hagupit was weaker than the 2013 Supertyphoon Haiyan (responsible for 6,293 deaths), authorities were also much more prepared, successfully evacuating approximately 165,000 people before Hagupit hit, resulting in the much lower death toll of 18 people,” the agency said.
“The success of… [preparations for] Hagupit lies not only in the ability to precisely predict the movement and intensity of storms, but also in the capacity to engage and mobilize vulnerable communities in the disaster preparedness process,” it added.
According to Escap, an “unforgettable lesson” from Hagupit was the value of effective, end-to-end early warning systems that—along with enhanced preparedness, as well as timely evacuation of communities at risk—ultimately saved lives.
“The disasters also show, as the countr(y) grows rapidly, their assets, and especially their critical infrastructure, are increasingly exposed to disasters,” Escap said. “Reducing exposure to disasters should be given due consideration during both the planning and construction phases.”
Escap said building resilience remained a key priority in the region. For this, the agency noted four areas that needed urgent attention.
First is the need to strengthen regional cooperation when it comes to typhoon warnings with focus on under-served high-risk and low capacity countries.
Second is establishing regional cooperation mechanisms for transboundary floods and landslides.
Third is using innovative technologies such as satellite imaging for disaster assessment.
And fourth is communicating the risk of slow-onset disasters through scientific analyses, early warning and impact outlooks to highlight their less-publicized impact across various sectors.
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