Page 71 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

Food distribution by Reliance Foundation volunteers during the Uttarakhand flash floods Response Disaster

Disaster Backed by a unique topography and geographical location, Key highlights of FY 2020-21

India is highly susceptible to natural disasters. Floods,
10+ lakh
cyclones and earthquakes have a devastating impact on
people, community infrastructure and the local economy.
Response In the midst of a raging COVID-19 pandemic in Provided early warning/post
FY 2020-21, India was affected by natural disasters that
disaster advisories across seven
ranged from supercyclones to floods. With a coastline
states and two Union Territories
of 8,041 kilometres, India is exposed to nearly 10% of the
world’s tropical cyclones. Frequent landslides, together with
avalanches, are among the major hydro-geological hazards
that affect 15% of the landmass.

The Disaster Risk Reduction in India Status Report 2020,
says that between 1991 and 2005, repeated disasters
reduced India’s GDP by 2%. Disasters leave a longer-term
UN SDGs IMPACTED impact because they impair lives and livelihoods apart from
affecting people’s ability to sustain themselves and their
families. Given these factors, it is extremely important to
reach the affected and rehabilitate displaced populations
so that the long-term effects of disasters can be minimised.