Concept of Vulnerability

LESSON 26
VULNERABILITY
-describes the characteristics and circumstances of
a community, system or asset that make it susceptible
to damaging effects of a hazard.
-capacity of an individual of group to anticipate,
cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a
natural or man-made hazard.
 People differ in their exposure to risk as a result
of their social group gender, ethnic or other
identity, age and other factors. Vulnerability may
also vary in its forms: poverty, for example, may
mean that housing is unable to withstand an
earthquake or a hurricane, or lack of
preparedness may result in a slower response to a
disaster, leading to greater loss of life or
prolonged suffering.
1. To what threat or hazard are they
vulnerable?
2.What makes them vulnerable to that
threat or hazard?
Counteracting vulnerability require:
• Reducing the impact of the hazard itself where
possible (through mitigation, prediction and warming,
preparedness);
• Building capacities to withstand and cope with
hazards;
• Tackling the root causes of vulnerability, such as
poverty, poor governance, discrimination, inequality
and inadequate access to resources and livelihoods
Key Concept of Vulnerability
VULNERABILITY = EXPOSURE + RESISTANCE + RESILIENCE
Exposure: at risk poverty and population
Resistance: Measures taken to prevent, avoid or reduce loss
Resilience: Ability to recover prior state or achieve desired post-disaster
state
Sector of Vulnerability
Physical Vulnerability
• The physical vulnerability of an area also
depends on its geographic proximity to the
source and origin of the disasters e.g. if an
area lies near the coast lines, fault lines, unstable
hills etc. it makes the area more vulnerable to
disasters as compared to an area that is far away
from the origin of the disaster.
Economic Vulnerability
• Economic vulnerability of a community can be
assessed by determining how varied its
sources of income are, the ease of access and
control over means of production (e.g. farmland,
livestock, irrigation, capital etc.), adequacy of
economic fall back mechanisms and the
availability of natural resources in the area.
Social Vulnerability
• A community which has negative attitude towards
change and lacks initiative in life resultantly
become more and more dependent on external
support. They cannot act independently. Their
sources of livelihood do not have variety, lacks
entrepreneurship and do not possess the concept of
collectivism. This brings about disunity and
individualism in the society.
ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY
National resource depletion and resource degration are key
aspects of environmental viulnerability.
Examaple: Wetlands, such as the Caroni Swamp are sensitive to
increasing salinity fr sea water, and pollution from storm water
runoof containing agricultural chemicals, eroded soil, etc.
THANK YOU!