Introduction

This introduction offers a summary of critical issues reflected in the following chapters of this book. It explores the magnitude and complexity of the problem of natural hazard, vulnerability, resilience and disaster in South Asia. Disaster vulnerability in this region is not merely a consequence of geographical and climatic conditions; rather, it arises from a complex interplay of socio-economic, historical and political processes. This chapter sets the stage for an examination of how vulnerability is constructed and understood in South Asia. It seeks to unravel how historical, sociopolitical and economic issues contributed to contemporary vulnerabilities, while also addressing the ongoing socio-economic inequalities within and among communities. Through a vulnerability approach, we can accomplish a deeper understanding of the complicated dynamics that define the susceptibility of people in a region continually confronting natural disasters.