From Armed Conflict to Disaster Vulnerability

Department

Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis

Additional Department

School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to estimate the effect of armed conflict on the vulnerability to natural hazards. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employ panel estimates of disaster deaths on a lagged indicator of the presence of armed conflict. Findings – Disaster deaths following armed conflict are on average 40 percent higher compared to disasters that are chronologically detached from armed conflict events; a legacy of armed conflict accounts for roughly 14 percent of the approximately five million disaster deaths between 1961 and 2010. Practical implications – A global estimate of the relationship between armed conflict and disaster vulnerability can help disaster management planners identify policy priorities associated with disaster prevention and management. Originality/value – The analysis reinforces the findings in previous qualitative studies of a causal link between armed conflict and increased disaster vulnerability and provides a quantitative estimate of the average magnitude of this relationship.

Journal Title

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal

Journal ISSN

0965-3562

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

53

Last Page

69

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1108/DPM-04-2013-0077

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