Natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2000-2019

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the second most disaster-prone region in the world. Some 152 million people have been affected by 1,205 disasters (2000-2019).

Although many hazards are cyclical in nature, the hazards most likely to trigger a major humanitarian response in the region are sudden onset hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flash floods. The collective impact of recurring climate shocks, most notably protracted droughts followed by seasonal flooding, leads to complex and multidimensional humanitarian needs.