ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the historical trends and impact of disasters and the status of disaster risk in Southeast Asia. It discusses the importance of reducing that risk by tackling the underlying drivers of exposure and vulnerability generated inside development as well as pursuing equitable outcomes in resilience processes. Significant risk reduction in the region could be achieved by transforming developmental processes that have historically created risk toward processes driven by equity, resilience and sustainability. Disaster risk varies greatly across Southeast Asia due to the geographical, environmental, climatological, social, economic and political diversity of the region. The implementation of various economic growth and development policies across the region has greatly contributed to reductions in poverty levels in several countries, but not necessarily to reducing levels of inequality. The intense and unsustainable use of natural resources and degradation of vital ecosystems, especially in catchment and coastal areas, is a significant disaster risk driver in Southeast Asia.
