Natural disasters have significant socio-economic impacts that vary depending on whether they occur in a less economically developed country (LEDC) or more economically developed country (MEDC). In LEDCs, disasters can have more severe consequences due to factors like lower GDP, weaker infrastructure, lack of resources, and unstable governments. This hinders recovery efforts. Major international aid organizations like the UN and Red Cross provide relief in disasters worldwide, but their assistance is also more crucial in LEDCs with limited response capacities. The wealth and development level of a nation therefore influences the scale of damage and recovery from natural hazards.

1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF NATURAL
DISASTERS
toolbox

2. What we will be studying today?
 What is an LEDC? What is an MEDC? How
are they different?
 Gross Domestic/National Product ie Wealth of
a country
 Human development Index
 What impact does this have on disaster
recovery?
 Impact of Charitable/Aid organisations in
LEDC’s v MEDC’s
 Impact on economy

3. MEDC and LEDC
 LEDC = Less Economically Developed Country
 Often a third world country
 Haiti, India, Pakistan, Thailand
 Over population (lots of people)
 Poor economy
 Little or no access to education.
 Little or no access to medical facilities
 Widespread malnutrition and disease
 High infant mortality rates (babies don’t live long)
 Low life expectancy (people don’t live a long time)
 Contaminated water
 Unstable Government ie, civil war, no democratic rights

4. MEDC and LEDC
 MEDC= More economically developed country
 Usually first world country (Australia, America, Canada,
Russia, Europe)
 Access to food, shelter, water. (basic needs) Access to any
wants (technology, computers, cars, phones etc)
 Access to Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
 Access to government and private medical facilities
 Stable economy, Stable government
 Govt provide Welfare
 No wars
 No over population
 Low birth rates (fewer babies being born), low death rates
(live longer)

5. Disasters in MEDC and LEDC
Tsunamis Bushfires
MEDC: Japan MEDC: Australia (black
LEDC: Boxing day tsunamis Saturday)
LEDC: Greece
Floods
Volcanoes
MEDC: Queensland, Victoria
MEDC: Etna (Italy), Hawaii,
LEDC: Bangladesh, Pakistan
Iceland
LEDC: Indonesia, PNG, South
Earthquakes East Asia
MEDC: Christchurch, Japan,
LA
Cyclones/hurricanes
LEDC: Haiti, China 2008 MEDC: Katrina, Yasi, Larry,
Tracey
LEDC: Central America

7. What is GDP/GNP
GDP is Gross domestic product. For
a region, the GDP is "the market
value of all the goods and services
produced by an economy in year.
Minus money going out of the country
from investors.
The Gross National Product (GNP) is
the value of all the goods and services
produced in an economy, plus the
value of the goods and services
imported (brought in), less the goods
and services exported (sent out).
This determines how wealthy
a country is. If a country is
wealthy then the impact of a
disaster will be less and if they
are poor than the impact will
be far more.

8. Human Development Index
 The Human Development list takes into
account the more than just the countries
GDP/GNP. It takes into account factors like
education, government, poverty, access to
food, medical supplies etc.
 Currently sitting at no.1 is Norway and no.2
Australia
 Sitting last is Zimbabwe. This is because they
have poverty, overpopulation, unstable
government, war etc.

9. Impacts of Disaster
 Deaths
 Injuries Economy recovery
 Destruction of houses Loss of income
 Damaged buildings Disease spread
like: schools, hospitals,
aged care, universities, Government has to
shops, skyscrapers, rebuild
hotels, fire stations,
police stations Government has to
 Roads are cracked supply money to people
 Water, sewage and Other areas of the
storm pipes are
damaged economy suffer
 Electricity and Businesses cannot run
Reception poles/cables
are damaged

10. Lets look at your disaster!
 The wealth and development of a country
affects the impact of a disaster.
 In a LEDC it is worse because they don’t have
the ability to respond quick enough to the
devastation.
 In an MEDC response time is quick, as they
have the money and support (fire brigade,
police, ambulance, doctors) to do so.
 On your graphic organiser brainstorm the
economic impacts of your chosen disaster on
an LEDC and MEDC

11. Types of Charities: UN
 United Nations Office for the
coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA).
 Food, shelter, water,
temporary housing, medical
supplies and materials to
rebuild buildings and houses.
 World Food Programme

12. Red Cross
 Red Cross Australia:
 Provide aid in disasters
 Clothes, food, shelter,
money, ongoing
support for families,
counselling, medical
supplies.

13. Salvation Army
 The Salvation Army provides food, shelter,
relief and counselling to victims of natural
disasters.
 They are usually one of the first organisations
on the scene.

14. World Vision
 World Vision provide food, shelter, water and
immediate medical aid to victims.
 They help rebuild houses, towns and buildings
 Provide economic assistance

15. A letter, first hand account and
some photos from my Aunt from
Pakistan.
 In July 2010 Pakistan experienced horrible
floods. This natural disaster occurred in an
LECD with the recovery process still ongoing
today. Here are some first hand accounts and
photos of the destruction.

18. HOMEWORK
 Using the information you have gained about
charitable organisations and the letter from my
aunt. Create an action plan to help victims of
your chosen natural disaster.