Other than preparation for the UNISDR conference, one of my tasks here include a weekly bulletin sent out to a subscription list that involves those interested in global hazards. This bulletin includes natural disasters around the world that has made significant impact both to human lives and in a public health perspective.
During the research for this bulletin, it was humbling to come across so many neglected incidents happening around the world. Most of these stories do not make headlines as they do not make a significant enough impact on human lives to raise attention, but nonetheless make sufficient impact on the affected population. Although these events seem trivial compared to larger world events, the lives of the affected are significantly destructed and even destroyed. The bulletin is useful as small impact disasters should merits attention too.
While it is understandable that media attention can lead to increased public attention and hence support, it is also worrying about the events that do not even make it onto the news due to remote geography or social isolation of the populations. How can we effectively reach all these populations? How would we even know about these disasters?
Whilst there are numerous non-governmental organisations trying to reach such communities, they often act on a needs based and only react after emergencies happen. Although there are various organisations that engage in bottom-up resilience building work, a full coverage is impossible. Hong Kong is a relatively small place, but even at this age and technology, many settlements in the countryside and ethnic minorities (such as the large domestic helper populations) are still often neglected in policy making and services. There needs to be a bridge to reach the forgotten populations.
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