EM-DAT : the International Disaster Database

In recent years, natural and man-made disasters have been affecting increasing numbers of people throughout the world. Budgets for emergency and humanitarian aid have sky-rocketed.

Efforts to establish better preparedness for and prevention of disasters have been a priority concern of donor agencies, implementing agencies and affected countries. For this reason, demand for complete and verified data on disasters and their human and economic impact, by country and type of disaster has been growing. Planners, policymakers, field agencies engaged in preparedness have all expressed need for data for their work.

The OFDA/CRED initiative responds to this need by making available a specialised, validated database on disasters that facilitates preparedness, thereby reducing vulnerability to disasters and improving disaster management.