"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for decisive action to reduce the growing impact of climate change as he launched on Sunday [in Bahrain] a global assessment of ways to minimize the risks from natural disasters.... 'As a result of global climate change, weather-related hazards are on the rise and we must act decisively,' Ban said, urging governments to do more to reduce the risks, which affects most the poor...." [Agence France Presse (5/17)/Factiva]
The NYT adds that "...smaller or poorer countries can be devastated by disasters that are relatively inconsequential in places shielded by size or wealth, said [the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction].... The UN report... offers hints of progress. While the economic cost from disasters has risen, the cost as percentage of the global economy has been flat. The mortality rate has been declining in many areas. But in hot spots combining dense populations with the risk of earthquakes, floods and other hazards, the potential for catastrophic impact is growing...." [The New York Times (5/17)/Factiva]
Gulf Daily News writes that "...last year alone, 236,000 people lost their lives in over 300 disasters, Ban said..... Asia was hit especially hard. Nine of the top 10 countries with the highest number of disaster-related deaths were in Asia.... For example: 75 percent of those who die from floods live in just three countries - Bangladesh, China and India, cited Ban...." [Gulf Daily News (Bahrain, 5/18)/Factiva]
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