A matter of development: how to reduce vulnerability in the face of natural disasters

Latin America and the Caribbean region are highly exposed to potentially destructive natural phenomena - meteorological, seismic, vulcanological and others. Together with this high degree of exposure to potentially destructive natural phenomena, the region’s great vulnerability - social, economic, physical, environmental and political and institutional- means that it is affected by a high and growing number of natural disasters.

A vulnerability reduction strategy as a basis for sustainable development must follow several basic action lines the most important of which are comprehensive risk management, the strengthening of macroeconomic capacity, active policies to reduce the most acute distortions, the coordination of regional and subregional policies, the strengthening of the democratic system and the increase, reorientation and coordination of international aid.