Disasters of Natural Origin - Affected People

Affected: People requiring immediate assistance during a period of emergency, i.e. requiring basic survival needs such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and immediate medical assistance (included in the field "total affected"); Appearance of a significant number of cases of an infectious disease introduced in a region or a population that is usually free from that disease. (100 or more people affected). Disaster: Situation or event, which overwhelms local capacity, necessitating a request to national or international level for external assistance; An unforeseen and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction and human suffering.

Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. Wars and civil disturbances that destroy homelands and displace people are included among the causes of disasters. Other causes can be: building collapse, blizzard, drought, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, fire, flood, hazardous material or transportation incident (such as a chemical spill), hurricane, nuclear incident, tornado, or volcano.