Whenever a calamity occurs the worst affected are the poor????
By sweetswatz
@sweetswatz (82)
India
November 12, 2009 9:54am CST
Hello! Whenever there is a calamity the worst affected are the poor people? If yes then why and if no then why?
I think yes. If a natural hazard strikes like an earthquake or a tsunami, which afterward turns into a disaster, the people who suffer the most are the poor. they are not able to recover soon.Whatever they have is destroyed and they have nothing left at their hands after the disaster or calamity ends. The poor are the most vulnerable to disasters. Due to poverty they don't get education and are not aware how to tackle a hazard or a disaster. Economically or socially underprivileged people live in low-lying areas of a village in a flood prone area, do not have a strong house and do not have equal access to common resources such as self awareness and education material, opportunities for training as they are poor. Their own resources are also limited, restricting immensely, their abilities to respond and cope with disasters.These are my view points. I would like to hear from you.Thank You!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
12 Nov 09
When it comes to the calamities that you are talking about, yes the poor have no way to bounce back as quickly as others. However, when it comes to the economy, the middle class people are the ones it affects the most. The Richer often remain rich with their hords of money that they don't want to give away, and the poor are already getting help. However the middle class have survived merely on their own, and when the economy crashes, they are the ones that have to experience the struggle that they are not always accustomed to.
@mrjburt164 (34)
• United States
12 Nov 09
Bounce back to what? A grass hut they can build in an afternoon?
You'r right about the middle, the loss vis a vis the ability to regain, like most aspects of life it's the poor foolish middle class who takes the biggest hit.
We should just give up and quit altogether, I think. the Powers that be will never do any thing but use us like dirty rags, no matter what.
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
13 Nov 09
I agree with you Sweetchariot that the middle class do get neglected after calamities. On the one hand, while the rich already have their own means to recover, the government, always wanting to boost its image, aim at helping the poor because doing so would be good for its reputation as the poor are perceived by society as the ones who need help the most. The middle class, on the other hand, are left to fend for themselves.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
13 Nov 09
I agree that the poor will suffer the most. I live in Indonesia, and we have had calamities non stop in the last 10 years. Starting from economic recession, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes...wow God must be real angry with us. The rich people here usually invests in properties, so all they have to do is sell one, put in a bank deposit ( our interest here is quite high) and still could live from the interest they get monthly. The poor doesn't have anything. They usually don't even own the land they are living on. That's why we have a lot of charity foundations, and our office is continuously gathering donations in a bag from the employees whenever a big disaster hit somewhere in our country. Giving to the poor has become a habit.
@voldrox (7191)
• India
13 Nov 09
that is the most unfortunate thing sweetswatz 
... when natural calamities occur they are the worst affected, they have no proper shelter, no one to alert them in advance and also no space to hide when things occur suddenly, they don't even have the means to let them no in advance and sometimes no one to bother tell them... that is the most unfortunate thing when such calamities occur.. sad...
... when natural calamities occur they are the worst affected, they have no proper shelter, no one to alert them in advance and also no space to hide when things occur suddenly, they don't even have the means to let them no in advance and sometimes no one to bother tell them... that is the most unfortunate thing when such calamities occur.. sad...
@abhikmjmdr (779)
• India
13 Nov 09
In the face of a natural disaster, the poor are always at the mercy of the government.Resources are mobilised but a sizeable chunk goes to feed the politicians and their aides in various fields and only a frugal amount is left for the actually needy. Therefore the poor are left to fend for themselves after the relief camps built temporarily to provide food and shelter are removed.Unless and until human beings are seen to be other than animals by the powers that be,their lot shall never improve. At least a lion's share of the relief earmarked should reach the needy to make a difference. A huge change of attitude needs to take place for this to happen that does not seem likely.
