Urban Risks - Nicaragua

Strengthening Seismic disaster risk preparedness and response capacities in urban Managua.

Managua cathedral, partially destroyed in the 1972 earthquake, has never been restored.

Between 3,000 and 7,000 people were killed in the 1972 earthquake in Managua; more than 20,000 were injured and 250,000 left homeless.

Nicaragua is a country especially vulnerable to natural hazards; periodically affected by hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods and droughts.
Rapidly increasing urban population and unplanned urban growth has increased exposure and vulnerability to adverse natural events.

Elevated water levels of Lake Managua, rising nearly four meters (13 feet) during Hurricane Mitch in 1998, poses a continued risk of flash flooding.

Over 79% of the house and buildings in Managua are of bad or mediocre quality, 18% are in need of complete renovation (World Disaster Report, IFRC, 2010)

The Nicaraguan population's vulnerability to hazard is aggravated by a dire socio-economic situation and high levels of poverty.

Nicaragua remains the second poorest country in Latin America, after Haiti. Increasing social risk include growing expressions of urban violence amongst urban youth.

María Lidia Torrez and her family are beneficiaries of the EU-DIPECHO finance project on Strengthening Earthquake Preparation and Response Capacities in twelve vulnerable neighbourhoods of Managua. The project is implemented by the Nicaraguan Red Cross with support of the Spanish, Italian and Dutch Red Cross Societies, since the end of 2010.

The target population of 40,452 beneficiaries is highly vulnerable to seismic risk, due to the type of constructions and the location of the settlements over a series of geological surface faults.

The beneficiaries are also exposed to several social problems including crime, domestic violence, and violence among youth gangs, vehicle accidents, drug addiction and unemployment.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Nicaragua
• Urban Area
• Risk
• Red Cross
• Disaster
• Preparedness
• violence

[MsBickle76]

The motherland keeps getting worse.