ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is listed as one of the countries with the highest exposure to both conflict and disaster risk, according to the World Risk Index 2024 report released on Monday. The report, published by Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum — Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), ranks Pakistan among the top 15 nations at highest risk from disasters, and in the top 10 for conflict exposure.
Pakistan, which fell out of the top 10 last year, now surpasses China in the latest rankings. The report shows a shifting landscape with Afghanistan rejoining the group of highly vulnerable nations, a list that was previously dominated by African countries.
Countries with the highest exposure to conflict include Colombia, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, and Israel. The 15 nations at highest disaster risk are the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Colombia, Mexico, Myanmar, Mozambique, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Somalia, and Yemen.
The 2024 report emphasizes that crises and risks are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. Extreme weather events, conflicts, and pandemics are overlapping and amplifying each other, driven by global trends such as climate change, population growth, and political polarization.
The report highlights that current risk hotspots remain in the Americas and Asia, but a significant shift towards countries with high climate-sensitive exposure and vulnerability is anticipated. These regions are expected to face more frequent and intense extreme natural events in the future.
The World Risk Index assesses disaster risks for 193 countries based on their exposure to natural hazards, population susceptibility, and societal coping and adaptive capacities. It underscores the persistence of disaster risks linked to poverty and inequality, which often exacerbates the impact of extreme events.
