How Natural Disasters Can Affect Humans

There are many ways natural disasters can affect humans, from death to economic loss. Normally, if the natural disaster is serious, it usually has a great impact on the country that suffers it.

Natural disasters, contrary to what happens with wars (to name just one example, among many possible ones), are very difficult to predict. On the other hand, some countries are more prepared than others.

Some examples of recent natural disasters and their general effects on affected populations

Economic and life losses

In unfortunate events such as the 2011 Japan earthquake, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2005 Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Pakistani floods, the effects on people are devastating and immediate..

Furthermore, and as if tragedies were not enough, in themselves, they have the unfortunate tendency to dimension and exacerbate the social, political and / or economic problems that pre-exist the tragedies themselves..

Another factor that increases the devastation is constituted by the fact that the most vulnerable sectors of the affected populations suffer more.

If one is to understand how natural disasters can affect humans, it is necessary to know that, for example, in the disaster in Japan to which we already alluded, 65% of the people who died were over 60 years of age, which was considers you a vulnerable sector.

Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress

In the specific cases of tsunamis, earthquakes and forest fires (not intentionally caused by any person or group of people), excessive fear of aftershocks is a psychological effect.

It can have repercussions on the mental health of those affected and, even, of the inhabitants who were not harmed.

Inability to lead a normal life

On the other hand, but in the same conceptual direction, the excessive desire to satisfy the most basic needs, generates a large dose of anxiety that, like what happens with the fear of aftershocks, results in a very intense emotional discomfort.

Social tensions

Due to what has been mentioned in the previous paragraph, tensions tend to arise between the population, on the one hand, and the authorities, relief agencies and other people and organizations in charge of helping, on the other hand.

Lack of hygiene and disease transmission

As days go by, bad odors appear, as a result of the decomposition of human and animal corpses and, even, of other organic materials such as food that decomposes and others..

Due to the same circumstances mentioned in the previous numeral, diseases appear or, what is even more serious, uncontrolled and uncontrollable epidemics that can kill an additional number of people..

Lack of water and other basic services

The lack of public services, as in the case of electricity but, above all, water, generates discomfort.

But, the most delicate thing about this situation is that it is not possible to satisfy very basic needs, such as food preparation, thirst and personal hygiene and the facilities that managed to remain standing..

References

1. Futamura, Madoka and others (2011). Natural disaster and human security. United Nations University. Recovered from unu.edu
2. Brozan, Nadine (1983). Emotional effects of natural disasters. The New York Times. Recovered from nytimes.com
3. Mata-Lima, Herlander and others (2013). Impacts of natural disasters on environmental and socio-economic systems: what makes the difference. Recovered from scielo.br
4. Pitzalis, Silvia (2012). LINEAMENTI DI ANTROPOLOGIA DEI DISASTRI: A theoretical inquiry and alcune riflessioni from Sri Lanka to Modenese. Recovered from amsacta.unibo.it
5. Moncada Palafox, Ariadna and others (2005). Natural disasters and their consequences. Recovered from monogramas.com.