Africa’s most disaster prone country – and it’s not one you may expect | World | News
Several African countries face high disaster risks due to a combination of natural hazards and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. In a continent already facing high levels of poverty and inequality, natural disasters leave Africans at a greater risk of facing food insecurity, water shortages, displacement, and increased disease burden.
Africa is also disproportionately affected by climate change, which is causing a rise in temperatures, a change in rainfall patterns, and an increased frequency of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves. Somalia, Madagascar, Egypt, and Tanzania are among the most at-risk nations. These countries experience frequent floods, droughts, and storms, with some also facing earthquake risks. However, the country that finds itself the most vulnerable – is Mozambique.
According to the World population review, Mozambique has a World Risk Index Total (WRI) of 34.4. This is calculated by the geometric mean of a country’s exposure to natural hazards and its vulnerability.
Mozambique is highly susceptible to natural disasters due to a combination of geographical, climatic, and socio-economic factors.
Mozambique has been actively working on disaster risk reduction since 2006. This has led to various initiatives , including policy innovation, institutional strengthening, community engagement, and financial preparedness.
The National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGC) is mandated to coordinate emergencies and promote disaster prevention. Roles across government ministries have been clarified, with key ministries embedding DRR actions into their planning.
The government is also working on operationalising the DMF and exploring options for sovereign catastrophe insurance coverage for cyclones and drought.
