Disaster risk reduction and violent conflict in Africa and Arab states: Implications for the Sendai Framework priorities

This paper examines the role of violent conflict in disaster vulnerability and its impact on the Sendai Framework priorities in Africa and the Arab region. 

While there is longstanding experience and an extensive literature on humanitarian responses to disasters in conditions of conflict, little attention has been given to how to effectively adapt DRR policies, programmes and strategies to such contexts. Given the prevalence of violent conflict across Africa and the Arab region, this is not a marginal concern.

The paper calls for a more critical approach to ensure that DRR measures do not inadvertently reinforce vulnerability to disaster and conflict risk, taking into account the inherently political nature of disaster risk