Disasters trap the poor in a vicous circle of poverty

94% of people killed by natural hazards between 1975-2000 were on low incomes or lower middle incomes; half of all disaster deaths for the last decade occur in low human development countries. Climate change is likely to exacerbate the current situation. Poorer people are already more exposed and more vulnerable to hazards, suffer greater loss of assets, and have a lower capacity to cope and recover from disasters.