Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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🌍 Earthquakes, storms, floods — we often call them “natural disasters.” But that’s not quite true.

Nature creates hazards.
Disasters happen when those hazards hit vulnerable people and systems.

Where and how we build, who is protected, and who is left exposed all shape the outcome. The same earthquake can cause minor damage in one country — and destroy entire neighbourhoods in another. The difference? Planning, preparedness and human choices.

🏗️ Strong building codes.
⚠️ Early warnings.
🏘️ Safe land-use planning.

These decisions determine whether a hazard becomes a disaster.

Language matters. When we say “natural disaster,” we ignore the choices that increase — or reduce — risk. And when we change how we speak, we can change how we act.

👉 There are no natural disasters. Only natural hazards — and human-made risk.

#NoNaturalDisasters
undrr.org/our-impact/campaigns/no-natural-disasters