Facts and figures 2007 natural disasters and HIV/AIDS
Worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent disaster statistics
These statistics are based on information received from the field concerning Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency operations, carried out by National Societies, with or without International Federation support.
From 2004 to 2008 (includes April 2008)
Types of disasters
- 28 % of disasters worldwide were floods – 3% flash floods (162 events in 2007)
- 12 % were tropical cyclones (66 events in 2007)
- 11 % were earthquakes (71 events in 2007 alone)
- 9 % were epidemics (55 events in 2007)
Total number of disasters 2004 to 2006: 1062
Annual average number of disasters 2004 to 2006: 354
By region (2004 to 2006)
- 37 % of disasters occurred in Asia and the Pacific region
- 27 % of disasters occurred in Africa
- 22 % of disasters occurred in the Americas
- 9 % of disasters occurred in Europe and
- 5 % of disasters occurred in the Middle East
In 2007
In 2007, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies helped more than 20.8 million people worldwide in emergency operations alone.
Total number of disasters in 2007: 546
(52 % were weather-related)
By region
- 33 % of disasters occurred in Asia and the Pacific region
- 30 % of disasters occurred in Africa
- 25 % of disasters occurred in the Americas
- 8 % of disasters occurred in Europe and
- 4 % of disasters occurred in the Middle East and North Africa
Types of disasters in Asia & the Pacific
- 25 % of disasters were floods (22 %) and flash floods (3 %)
- 17 % were earthquakes
- 12 % were tropical cyclones
- 7 % were severe local storms
Types of disasters in Africa
- 37 % of disasters were floods (35 %) and flash floods (2 %)
- 31 % were epidemics
- 6 % were tropical cyclones
- 6 % were technical disasters
Types of disasters in the Americas
- 30 % of disasters were floods
- 23 % were tropical cyclones
- 18 % were earthquakes
- 9 % were volcanoes
Types of disasters in Europe
- 31 % of disasters were floods (24 %) and flash floods (7 %)
- 24 % were earthquakes
- 20 % were heat waves
- 5 % were technical disasters
Types of disasters in the Middle East and North Africa
- 26 % were population movements
- 26 % were ‘other’ (response to humanitarian crisis in Iraq & bomb blasts)
- 13 % of disasters were floods (9 %) and flash floods (4 %)
- 9 % were tropical cyclones
- 9 % were earthquakes
HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa
The International Federation launched the Global Alliance on HIV on December 1, 2006. Its aim is to double the magnitude of Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV programming by the end of 2010, in low- and middle-income countries. The Federation’s purpose is to scale up its support of national HIV and AIDS programs – by strengthening National Society capacities - to reduce people’s vulnerability to HIV and its impacts through:
- preventing further infection
- expanding HIV treatment, care and support
- reducing HIV stigma and discrimination
By November 2007, some 60 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies had joined the HIV Global Alliance – nearly one third of the Federation’s membership. Most of these are either finalizing their plans or just beginning new programs. The exception is the Southern Africa alliance, which produced the following preliminary results in February 2008.
- In southern Africa, HIV programs have been established in all 10 Red Cross National Societies
- In 2007, the number of people reached by HIV prevention programs - through peer education and communication activities - increased by 37% to more than 6.5 million people
- In 2007, the number of orphans and vulnerable children supported through Red Cross home-based care programs increased by 29%, to more than 143,000
- In 2007, the number of Red Cross volunteers involved in prevention, home-based care and stigma reduction programs rose by 25% to nearly 9,000, representing almost one million hours of work in HIV services
Partnerships
The International Federation is an active member, alongside UNAIDS, WHO, International HIV/AIDS Alliance and GNP+, of the Living Partnership, formed to ensure that the voice of PLHIV is clearly heard in the global HIV response. In addition, the Federation is a signatory and host to the Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS – to date, 204 organizations have endorsed the code.
