This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/6107872.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| World 'lacks will' on disasters | World 'lacks will' on disasters |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| There is a global lack of political will on preparing for natural disasters, according to a report by British MPs. | There is a global lack of political will on preparing for natural disasters, according to a report by British MPs. |
| The International Development Committee says donors are unwilling to fund preventative and protective measures. | The International Development Committee says donors are unwilling to fund preventative and protective measures. |
| And it says the government's aim of spending 10% of disaster response funds on preventing future damage should be extended to all humanitarian budgets. | And it says the government's aim of spending 10% of disaster response funds on preventing future damage should be extended to all humanitarian budgets. |
| The report says two-thirds of natural disasters relate to climatic changes. | The report says two-thirds of natural disasters relate to climatic changes. |
| It also urges the UK to lobby international partners to spend more on prevention. | It also urges the UK to lobby international partners to spend more on prevention. |
| Lives saved through risk reduction are invisible to the media, whereas people pulled from the rubble are highly visible International Development Committee | Lives saved through risk reduction are invisible to the media, whereas people pulled from the rubble are highly visible International Development Committee |
| But, the committee says, there is a reluctance at international level to link disasters with the changing climate. | But, the committee says, there is a reluctance at international level to link disasters with the changing climate. |
| "More and more people are being afflicted by natural disasters and the impact of climate change will increase the number of disasters exponentially," said committee chair Malcolm Bruce. | "More and more people are being afflicted by natural disasters and the impact of climate change will increase the number of disasters exponentially," said committee chair Malcolm Bruce. |
| "Yet, political decision-makers are failing to make responsible preparations." | |
| Rising tide | Rising tide |
| The number of natural disasters is rising, the report finds, and so is the money allocated globally to humanitarian programmes, which almost tripled between 1995 and 2005. | The number of natural disasters is rising, the report finds, and so is the money allocated globally to humanitarian programmes, which almost tripled between 1995 and 2005. |
| In its White Paper, published in July, Britain's Department for International Development (DfID) pledged to spend 10% of funds allocated for any natural disaster on measures aimed at reducing the risk of future events. | In its White Paper, published in July, Britain's Department for International Development (DfID) pledged to spend 10% of funds allocated for any natural disaster on measures aimed at reducing the risk of future events. |
| Climate change 'harms poor' | Climate change 'harms poor' |
| Now, says the committee, DfID should go further, extending the 10% figure for disaster risk reduction (DRR) to its overall humanitarian budget and persuading other donors to adopt the same strategy. | Now, says the committee, DfID should go further, extending the 10% figure for disaster risk reduction (DRR) to its overall humanitarian budget and persuading other donors to adopt the same strategy. |
| "We are calling for the UK, EU, World Bank and other donors to devote at least 10% of their total humanitarian budgets to reducing the impact of potential disasters," said Mr Bruce. | "We are calling for the UK, EU, World Bank and other donors to devote at least 10% of their total humanitarian budgets to reducing the impact of potential disasters," said Mr Bruce. |
| But, the report says, donors have historically been resistant. It says: "Lives saved through DRR are invisible to the media, whereas people pulled from the rubble by search and rescue teams are highly visible." | But, the report says, donors have historically been resistant. It says: "Lives saved through DRR are invisible to the media, whereas people pulled from the rubble by search and rescue teams are highly visible." |
| The United Nations, which co-ordinates and funds much of the global response to large disasters, is not immune from criticism. | The United Nations, which co-ordinates and funds much of the global response to large disasters, is not immune from criticism. |
| But, says the report, failings within the UN are largely the fault of national governments. | But, says the report, failings within the UN are largely the fault of national governments. |
| "The international humanitarian system will only ever be as effective as political decision-makers will allow," it concludes. | "The international humanitarian system will only ever be as effective as political decision-makers will allow," it concludes. |