World Disasters Report 2007 - Focus on discrimination

Gender, race, colour, religion, age – there are so many reasons why people can be excluded from their society. Those who are face an uphill struggle for equality, even if they have the strength and wherewithal to take the first steps. However many do not.

What, then, is the reality for these groups when disaster strikes? Hidden, ignored or simply invisible, the most vulnerable – and those potentially in the greatest need – are rarely, if ever, at the forefront of aid operations.

This report turns the spotlight on these groups, examining how and why they face discrimination. It calls on communities, governments and agencies to work harder to identify the most vulnerable and work together to ensure that their specific needs are addressed in an emergency.

The World Disasters Report 2007 features:

Disasters do not discriminate – people do

Overcoming multiple disasters: discriminating against minorities

Older people and discrimination in crises

Disability and disasters: towards an inclusive approach

The urgency of equality: ending discrimination against women and its consequences in emergency situations

Dealing with discrimination in disaster recovery

Disaster data: key databases, trends and statistics

Plus: photos, tables, graphics and index

Published annually since 1993, the World Disasters Report brings together the latest trends, facts and analysis of contemporary crises – whether 'natural' or human-made, quick-onset or chronic.