ABSTRACT
From the analysis of the costs of natural hazards and the related work on social and economic benefits of risk reduction, it is possible to identify the key findings and the factors that influence risk reduction in relation to natural hazards:
• Disasters are complex problems, which demand complex responses. Since risk reduction goes to the heart of the development process, the challenge is well beyond the capacity of disaster managers alone. It requires co-operation between development agencies, governments, NGOs, businesses, scientists and vulnerable communities.
