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Nearly a quarter of the world's population at risk from flooding, study finds

2022-06-29T10:14:32.322Z


Nearly a quarter of the world's population is at risk from major flooding, with poor countries at the forefront, study finds...


Nearly a quarter of the world's population is at risk from major floods, with poor countries at the forefront, according to a study published on Tuesday (June 28th).

Read alsoBangladesh: 3.5 million children lack drinking water after floods, according to the UN

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, cross-referenced data on flood risk from rivers, rainfall and the sea, with World Bank data on population distribution and poverty.

It shows that about 1.81 billion people, or 23% of the world's population, are directly exposed to 100-year floods of more than 15 centimeters.

Of these, 780 million live on less than $5.50 a day.

East and South Asia, including China and India, concentrate 1.24 billion people affected by this threat.

This poses major risks to lives and livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable populations

,” according to the study.

Nearly 90% of those exposed live in poor or middle-income countries.

12% of global GDP in risk areas

According to the researchers, around 12% of the world's 2020 GDP is in risk areas.

But considering only the monetary aspect can create a bias by focusing attention on rich countries and economic centers, they warn.

Low-income countries are disproportionately exposed to flood risk and are more vulnerable to disastrous long-term impacts

,” finds the study by Jun Rentschler of the World Bank and colleagues.

Read alsoChina: record floods threaten the Canton region

This study provides "

the first global assessment between exposure to flood risk and poverty

", notes Thomas McDermott, of the National University of Galway in Ireland, in a commentary published in Nature Communications.

Climate change and poorly designed urbanization are expected to compound these risks in coming years, the researchers warn.

Unprecedented floods hit China in June, with more than 500,000 people preemptively displaced.

Heavy monsoon rains killed more than 100 people in Bangladesh the same month and led to floods that left more than seven million people in dire straits.

According to scientists, climate change is making sudden downpours more frequent and intense across the globe.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-06-29

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