Comoros
The main island has one of the most active volcanoes in the region. The Karthala volcano on the island of Grande Comore is quite active, its most recent eruption being in April 2005, forcing 10,000 inhabitants to flee their homes.
|
Life expectancy |
62.3 years |
|
Unemployment |
20% |
|
Population living below poverty level |
60% |
|
Infant mortality rate |
52 deaths per 1000 births |
|
Literacy |
56.5 years |
|
Major infectious diseases risk |
N/A |
Sources; Wikipedia, Cia World Gactbook, UNICEF UN Statistics division
While there was limited loss of life the impact was significant as volcanic ash contaminated local water tanks which are the only source of water for the community.
The local Red Cross helped the communities to empty and clean their tanks during this time.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) are now working on a community based risk reduction programme in the areas closest to the volcano, in conjunction with the government and various UN bodies on the ground. This involves community disaster preparedness education, the identification of evacuation routes, and the preparation of eventual refuges.
