Vulnerability

Slovak term: Slovenský termín

1. Vulnerability is the degree to which a population, individual or organization is unable to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impacts of disasters (Blaikie et al. 1994).
2. The susceptibility to physical injury, harm, damage, or economic loss (WHO 2009).

Explanation

Vulnerable populations often include children, women (e.g. pregnant women, mothers), and the elderly, and/or people with pre-existing severe physical or mental disorder and/or disability. These populations might be vulnerable to exposure (e.g. children playing on contaminated grounds) or vulnerable to the effects because of their development stage (e.g, children) or because of pre-existing health conditions (e.g. asthmatics and air pollution).

Some disasters may involve extreme events that affect a vulnerable population directly, such that their livelihoods and lifelines that support their basic needs are disrupted for a significant period of time. However the disruption of livelihoods may also be indirect and, even though an emergency situation may not develop, people's vulnerability to future disasters can be increased.

Vulnerable groups are people who, due to factors outside their control, do not have the same opportunities as other groups in society, or who are disproportionately exposed to health risks, often in efforts to meet their basic needs (WHO 2009). Systems, for example hazardous installations, might be vulnerable to natural events such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes etc. because of their location (e.g. by rivers) or construction codes.

Example

Children are specifically vulnerable to the effects related to lead and mercury exposure. They are often also vulnerable to exposure related to these substances (e.g. lead containing toys).

The susceptibility or likelyhood that a public water system or source water would be contaminated or otherwise adversely affected by an activity, practice, or unexpected emergency situation.

The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity and its adaptive capacity (WHO, WMO and UNEP 2003).

Some occupations carry a heightened susceptibility to certain extreme events. For instance, those employed in forest industries (in both the formal and informal sectors) may be more susceptible to large fires. Populations that rely on fishing may be more susceptible to storms. Landless and land-poor people are sometimes forced by circumstances to inhabit hazardous zones in order to find arable land, as in Bangladesh.

References

• Blaikie P et al. (1994). At risk: natural hazards, people's vulnerability and disasters.
• WHO (2002). Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: A practical guide
• WHO,WMO and UNEP (2003) Climate change and human health: risks and responses
• Who(2009) Health impact assessment glossary: E-learning modules.

Links

• WHO — The Health and Environment Lexicon
• WHO, WMO and Health Canada (2003) Methods of assessing human health vulnerability and public health adaptation to climate change
• Environmental health in emergencies