Hazards Common in Swaziland

NATURAL HAZARDS

Natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a damaging event. Natural hazards can be classified according to their hydro metrological, geological, or biological origins.

Hydro meteorological Hazards

These are natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature and are experienced in Swaziland.

• Droughts, desertification

Areas within the country have been affected by the drought continuously due to lack of seasonal rains in those areas such as the Lubombo region and Shiselweni region. The present drought in the country has been declared an emergency because the whole country has been affected due to the El Nino induced drought at varying levels. The national disaster management agency has categorized the areas affected based on the levels of vulnerability of households affected within those areas. Lubombo and Shiselweni again were on the top priority list with high numbers of vulnerable households.

Drought occurrence table:

Year / Population affected
2015/16 / 300 000
2011 / 88 511
2010 / 170 000
2009 / 256 283
2008 / 287 634
2007 / 410 000
2001 / 347 000

Reporting and Management Framework for Drought Event

•Floods.

The last recorded major floods experienced by the country were in 1984 when the country experienced severe flooding caused by a heavy cyclone that saw torrential rains hit the country over a period of two days. The death rate was reported at 52 a month after the flooding. Major damage was on infrastructures, roads, telecommunications and many people were left homeless as it was reported to the United Nations when the country requested assistance in responding to the floods. The country has mechanism indicated below on how to respond in a flood emergency.

Responding to a flood event

• Tropical cyclones, storm surges, wind, severe storms, lighting

Type / Year / Population Affected
Strong winds / March 2010 / 1000
August 2006 / 6535
Jan 2005 / 1150
Jan 1984 / 632 500
Hailstorms ,thunder and lightning / 2011 / +/_20 families

Biological hazards

Processes of organic origin or those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms, toxins and bioactive substances

•Outbreaks of epidemic diseases, plant or animal contagion and extensive infestations

Epidemiological outbreak chart

TYPE / YEAR / POPULATION
Foot and mouth / Jan 1992 / 2228
Jan 1996 / -
A/H1N1 / 2009 / 95
Avian Influenza / 2009 / -
Cholera / 2009 / 20

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Processes induced by human behavior and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resource base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems. Potential effects are varied and may contribute to an increase in vulnerability and the frequency and intensity of natural hazards. Examples include land degradation, deforestation, bushfires/ wildfires, loss of biodiversity, land, water and air pollution, climate change, sea level rise and ozone depletion.