Floods and Droughts
From 1971 to 1995, floods affected more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, or 100 million people per year, according to experts. This total includes 318,000 killed and more than 81 million left homeless. Major floods that left at least 1,000 people dead and caused $1 billion in damages per episode have been the most destructive.
The number of people affected by floods came to 31 million during the 5-year period from 1983 to 1987. For the 5-year period from 1993 to 1997, it increased to more than 130 million, that is, four times more than during the period from 1983 to 1987.
Economic losses from weather and flood catastrophes have increased ten-fold over the past 50 years, says the World Water Council.
Many parts of the world are seeing more intense rainy seasons, longer dry seasons, stronger storms, shifts in rainfall and rising sea levels. More disastrous floods and droughts have been the most visible manifestation of these changes.
From 1971 to 1995, floods affected more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, or 100 million people per year, according to experts. This total includes 318,000 killed and more than 81 million left homeless. Major floods that left at least 1,000 people dead and caused $1 billion in damages per episode have been the most destructive.
The number of people affected by floods came to 31 million during the 5-year period from 1983 to 1987. For the 5-year period from 1993 to 1997, it increased to more than 130 million, that is, four times more than during the period from 1983 to 1987.
Economic losses from weather and flood catastrophes have increased ten-fold over the past 50 years, says the World Water Council.
Many parts of the world are seeing more intense rainy seasons, longer dry seasons, stronger storms, shifts in rainfall and rising sea levels. More disastrous floods and droughts have been the most visible manifestation of these changes.