Living on the Edge of Disaster
Posted on February 7, 2010
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Growing population density is also a concern. The world is becoming more urbanized. According to the U.N., more than half the world’s population now lives in an urban environment. The flight of rural populations to urban centers has created vast shantytowns in the developing world. With large numbers of people living in crowded conditions and sub-standard dwellings, the casualties and the humanitarian challenges can easily mount when earthquakes, storms and pandemics strike.
Population growth itself is also a challenge. Between now and mid-century, another 2.5 billion people could be added to the planet, and the vast majority will be living in developing countries, many of them in countries where the infrastructure and support services needed to deal with calamities is almost non-existent. Without adequate medical services to care for the wounded, roads for relief convoys, stockpiles of emergency supplies, and search and rescue personnel, the death toll in any natural disaster can easily soar…
more:http: http://www.populationmedia.org/2010/01/30/living-on-the-edge-of-disaster/
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