Natural disasters more destructive than wars
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SINGAPORE, Aug 28 (AFP) Aug 28, 2007

Natural disasters are far more destructive than wars, and the damage
will only worsen unless drastic change is taken to address global
climate change, a former UN humanitarian chief said Tuesday.

"Already seven times more livelihoods are devastated by natural
disasters than by war worldwide, at the moment, and this is going to be
much worse, the way the climate is developing," Jan Egeland told AFP
after addressing the top governing body of the Christian aid
organisation World Vision.

"Climate change, it's happening. It's not a threat. It's happening today
and those who suffer the most are the poorest in Africa. Where there was
already drought, the droughts are getting worse. Where there was already
flooding the floodings are getting worse, as we speak," said Egeland,
the United Nations head of humanitarian affairs from 2003-2006.

He called for dramatic changes in lifestyles "if we are to avoid having
disasters virtually every month in large parts of the world."

Speaking in a hotel meeting room where the air conditioning had been set
to a chilly 18 C (64 F), he said hotels will have to raise their
temperatures and in cold countries, heating will have to be reduced,
while international travel cannot continue as it is.

Carbon dioxide from energy use is a major contributor to the greenhouse
gases that scientists blame for the earth's warming.

A key UN report released earlier this year warned that billions would
face a higher risk of water scarcity and millions more would likely go
hungry as damage to the Earth's weather systems from greenhouse gases
changed rainfall patterns, powered up storms and increased the risk of
drought, flooding and water stress.

In March, Egeland was named special adviser on conflict prevention to UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Egeland, a Norwegian, is to assist Ban on matters relating to the
prevention and resolution of conflicts and will help bolster UN capacity
for peacemaking and good offices, a UN spokesperson said at the time.