Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

Characterizing Vulnerability to Disasters

Vulnerability is multi-dimensional and can be categorized into several interconnected types:

1. Physical Vulnerability

This refers to the susceptibility of physical infrastructure and built environment to damage from hazards. Factors include poor construction quality, inadequate infrastructure, and location in hazard-prone areas.

• Example: The 2015 Nepal earthquake demonstrated the high physical vulnerability of buildings constructed with non-engineered designs, leading to widespread collapse and casualties.
• Example: Coastal areas are physically vulnerable to cyclones and tsunamis due to their low elevation and exposure to storm surges.

2. Social Vulnerability

Social vulnerability encompasses the characteristics of a population that make them susceptible to the adverse effects of a hazard. This includes factors like poverty, inequality, lack of access to education and healthcare, social exclusion, and governance issues.

• Example: Marginalized communities, such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, often exhibit higher social vulnerability due to limited access to resources and information during disasters.
• Example: During the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, fishing communities in India were disproportionately affected due to their dependence on coastal resources and limited early warning systems.

3. Economic Vulnerability

Economic vulnerability relates to the dependence on a single livelihood source, lack of economic diversification, poverty, and limited access to financial resources. This can hinder recovery and increase long-term susceptibility to future disasters.

• Example: Agricultural communities heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture are economically vulnerable to droughts and floods, leading to crop failure and food insecurity.
• Example: Small island developing states (SIDS) are economically vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea-level rise and extreme weather events, which can disrupt tourism and fisheries.

4. Environmental Vulnerability

Environmental vulnerability arises from the degradation of ecosystems and natural resources, which reduces their capacity to buffer against hazards. Deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity increase vulnerability to landslides, floods, and droughts.

• Example: Deforestation in the Himalayan region increases the risk of landslides and flash floods during the monsoon season.
• Example: Degradation of mangrove forests along coastlines reduces their ability to protect against storm surges and erosion.

5. Institutional Vulnerability

This refers to the lack of adequate policies, regulations, and institutional capacity to manage disaster risk. Weak governance, corruption, and insufficient investment in disaster preparedness contribute to increased vulnerability.

• Example: Inadequate enforcement of building codes in earthquake-prone zones increases physical vulnerability.
• Example: Lack of coordination between different government agencies can hinder effective disaster response.

Type of Vulnerability	Contributing Factors	Disaster Example
Physical	Poor construction, inadequate infrastructure	Nepal Earthquake (2015)
Social	Poverty, inequality, social exclusion	Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004)
Economic	Dependence on single livelihood, poverty	Droughts in Maharashtra (Recurring)
Environmental	Deforestation, ecosystem degradation	Landslides in Uttarakhand (2013)
Institutional	Weak governance, lack of preparedness	Cyclone preparedness in coastal Odisha (Historically)

It’s important to note that these vulnerabilities are often interconnected and exacerbate each other. For instance, poverty (social vulnerability) can lead to living in hazard-prone areas (physical vulnerability) and limited access to resources for recovery (economic vulnerability).