Cities at risk: making cities safer ... before disaster strikes ...

This publication highlights the future threats from natural, environmental, and technological hazards in urban settlements and cities. It further demonstrates the potentials to combat the threats effectively.

Data are based on primary and secondary sources, including interviews, books, articles, conference proceedings, videos, research papers, statistics, letters and memoranda.

Divided in three parts, the first section focuses on the cities at risk and the vulnerable people affected by disasters. Some of the specified reasons why cities are at risk include rapid growth and inadequate planning; population density; ecological imbalance; dependency on infrastructure and services; concentrated political, economic and other resources; and inappropriate construction. The second section presents case examples of community interventions in preventing and protecting themselves from the effects of disasters. These case examples are taken from the countries of Ecuador, Pap New Guinea, South Africa, Australia, Paraguay, Antigua, the Netherlands, Colombia, Japan, Philippines, and Sudan. Finally, the third section provides policy guidelines, networking contacts, references, and a copy of a poster detailing solutions for cities at risk.