Victimization of People by Natural Disasters: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of
Consequences
Saša Mijalković
Vladimir M. Cvetković
This paper is a descriptive statistical analysis of geospatial and temporal
distributions of victimized people (killed, injured, affected and damage) with specific
reference to geophysical, meteorological, climatological, biological and hydrological
disasters that have occurred in the world of from 1900 to 2013 year. In addition, people
affected by the various natural disasters could be classified as invisible victims as they
are not recognized as victims either by the state or society, and consequently they do not
receive adequate protection, assistance and support. Statistical research was conducted on
data from the international database of the Centre for Research on Disaster Epidemiology
Disaster (CRED) in Brussels. Temporal analysis examined the distribution and effects of
natural disasters on people, at intervals of ten years. The same methodology was adopted
for analyses of geospatial distribution of victimized people because of natural disasters by
continent. The aim of the research is to determine the geospatial and temporal distribution
of victimization of people with natural disasters in the world geospace in the period from
1900 to 2013. The survey results clearly indicate an increase in the number and severity
of the consequences of natural disasters.
Keywords: victimization, natural disasters, invisible victims, human and national
security.