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

Vulnerability is the measure of the proneness of people to succumbing under the adverse effect of disasters. In the absence of robust disaster preparedness, the vulnerability increases.

Vulnerability can be characterised through the following factors:

1. Exposure & physical susceptibility: This is due to poor design and construction of buildings, unregulated land use planning, etc.

2. Social fragilities: Poverty and inequality, marginalisation, social exclusion, disability and age are some of the factors.

3. Economic factors: These include the uninsured informal sector, vulnerable rural livelihoods, dependence on single industries, globalisation of business etc.

Different types of vulnerabilities:

1. Physical vulnerability: Due to Population density, Remoteness of place etc.

2. Economic Vulnerability: According to the World Meteorological Organisation, India lost $87 billion last year due to natural disasters.

3. Environmental Vulnerability: Due to natural resource depletion and resource degradation. E.g.: Glacial Lake outburst flood Uttarakhand.

4. Anthropological Vulnerability: That is caused by human beings. E.g.: Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

Vulnerability analysis is the part of Disaster preparedness. Assessing the vulnerability helps in assessing potential consequences of an event and for mainstreaming the disaster risk reduction process.