El Salvador - GFDRR
El Salvador - GFDRR
El Salvador - GFDRR
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V. RISK MANAGEMENT<br />
A. PROFILE OF DISASTER RISKS<br />
The number of disasters generated by events of natural origin in <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong> has increased exponentially<br />
in the past decade. During 1997–2007 there were 21 events, representing 53% the disasters that have<br />
occurred in 100 years; of these 21 events, 5 (23%) are of geological origin and 16 (76%) are of hydrometeorological<br />
origin. According to D-SNET, the direct economic losses associated with destructive events<br />
in the last 20 years have meant nearly US$4 billion for the country (with this amount of money, 33,000<br />
basic schools or 298 regional hospitals, or about 25 ports such as that of Cutuco, could have been<br />
constructed); all of this without counting indirect losses, increases in public spending and increases in the<br />
fiscal deficit, which must then be compensated through tough fiscal austerity measures, in addition to<br />
the direct expenses of emergency assistance and the opportunity cost of investing in reconstruction rather<br />
than greater development. Among other things, disasters generate disproportionate losses and damages<br />
to the population, including human lives, family disintegration, and damages to physical, mental and<br />
moral integrity in adults and children. 49<br />
Approximately 41 of each 100 <strong>Salvador</strong>ans reside in high-risk municipalities, that is, those localities<br />
that have been affected by three or four natural threats between 1980 and 2007 (earthquakes, floods,<br />
storms or droughts), and that account for 74% of deaths in <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong> due to some type of disaster.<br />
During this period, there was an average of 1.5 disasters per year. This indicates that the national development<br />
process is affected by the recurrence and impact of adverse natural events on <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong>’s society<br />
and economy, on an ongoing basis. 50<br />
In addition, based on the Disaster Risk Index (DRI), 51 it may be inferred that, of the 100% of nation’s<br />
population exposed to floods, earthquakes and storms, 23.3% risk the likelihood of death. At partial level,<br />
the methodological application of floods shows a DRI result of 4%, which means that, of the exposed<br />
population, for each 100 people, 4 are at risk of death in the threat of a flood. In turn, earthquakes show<br />
a DRI result of 15.5%, which means that, of the exposed population, for each 100 people, nearly 16 are<br />
at risk of death in an earthquake in <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong>.<br />
In the majority of events evaluated in the past, <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong>’s territory, prior to the disaster, was already<br />
in precarious, critical or conflict conditions due to internal or external reasons. Thus, the disasters only<br />
49<br />
Technical report on the impact of the low-pressure system en the Pacific and Tropical Storm Ida, November 2009, Ministry<br />
of Environment and Natural Resources, General Bureau of the National Territorial Studies Service.<br />
50<br />
Draft of the First National Report on the Status of Disaster Risks and Vulnerability in <strong>El</strong> <strong>Salvador</strong> (INER 2009), D-SNET-<br />
UNDP.<br />
51<br />
Carmona, Omar. Disaster Risk and Risk Management Indicators (IDB, 2007).