A Gallup survey reveals that Southeast Asia, one of the most disaster-prone regions, is also among the best prepared to handle natural disasters.
David Rising reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Southeast Asia has high disaster preparedness despite frequent exposure to natural hazards like earthquakes and typhoons.
- The region's success is linked to effective early-warning systems, community approaches, regional cooperation and access to disaster finance.
- Wealth is not the key factor in preparedness, as Southeast Asia, with lower-middle-income countries, surpasses wealthier regions.
Key quote:
Southeast Asia is "a region that clearly has much to teach the world in terms of preparing for disasters.”
— Ed Morrow, senior campaigns manager for Lloyd’s Register Foundation
Why this matters:
Southeast Asia’s effective disaster preparedness strategies could serve as a model for other regions. Learning from these practices could help save lives and reduce damage globally.
Related EHN coverage:
