ABSTRACT
Water-related disasters—floods, droughts, tropical storms—are still a large challenge for sustainable human development. Water-related hazards are not completely controllable, and they are leading to large socioeconomic losses. Disaster management needs to emphasize risk management initiatives that are far more economic and more humanitarian than emergency relief and post-disaster recovery. And it needs to be integrated into socio-economic development and poverty alleviation strategies, promoting stronger coordination and solidarity among all concerned.
Global warming and associated climate change will further increase the frequency and intensity of water-related disasters, adding to the problems of countries unprepared to face such events. But by taking measures to cope with the effects of the climate variability of today, water and disaster managers can develop resilient institutions and communities better prepared to deal with the effects of the climate change of tomorrow.
