Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Education Institute

Natural Disasters and Their Impact on People’s Livelihoods.

Full name: Julieta Daniel. Code: 708221642.

Course: Teaching Biology;

Subject: Cellular and Molecular Biology;
Year of attendance: 1st year.

Nampula, October, 2022

Index
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................3
2. Natural disasters and their impact on people’s livelihoods .......................................................4
2.1. Concepts of natural disaster ..................................................................................................4
2.2. Impact of natural disasters ....................................................................................................4
2.3. Types of natural disasters .....................................................................................................5
2.4. Cyclone in Mozambique .......................................................................................................5
2.4.1. Concepts............................................................................................................................5
2.4.2. Features .............................................................................................................................5
2.4.3. Causes ...............................................................................................................................5
2.4.4. Types ................................................................................................................................6
2.4.5. Cyclone impact on the life of the Mozambican population .................................................6
3. Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................7
4. Bibliographic reference ...........................................................................................................8

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1. Introduction
Nowadays the environment receives several situations that human can be the one who causes or
not. Withal, when we talking about natural disaster we are dealing with an unfortunate or fatal
event that occurs due to the action of the forces of nature, without the human being being directly
responsible for them.

The present research and evaluative work is entitled “natural disasters and their impact on
people's lives”. It fits into the English subject and has the general objective to analyse the impact
of natural disasters on people´s lives. The way in which the main concepts are defined as general
objectives initially defined, which are considered the main objectives, namely: to present the
fundamental concepts; identify a predominant natural disaster in Mozambique; and life to assess
the impact of the natural disaster on the Mozambican population. In methodological terms,
regarding the objectives, it is exploratory research, regarding the technical procedures, it is
bibliographic research and regarding the approach, it is qualitative research. Regarding a
structure, this research work presents the following elements: pre-textual, textual, and post-
textual elements.

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2. Natural disasters and their impact on people’s livelihoods
First of all, it is important to mention that a natural disasters happen when a community is not
appropriately resourced or organized to withstand the impact, and whose population is
vulnerable because of poverty, exclusion or socially disadvantaged in some way (Mizutori,
2020). However, disasters therefore can and should be prevented. We can prevent hazards from
leading to disasters by helping communities to be prepared, reduce their risks and become more
resilient. These efforts are becoming more and more urgent in the context of the climate crisis.
The impacts of global warming are already killing people and devastating lives and livelihoods
every year, and they will only get worse without immediate and determined action.

2.1. Concepts of natural disaster

According to Mizutori (2020), a natural disaster is the negative impact following an actual
occurrence of natural. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically
leaves some economic damage in its wake.

A natural disaster is a catastrophic event caused by severe weather. Natural disasters can cause
severe damage to structures and natural environments, posing a threat to both human and animal
life (Bernardo, 2019).1

Based on the authors mentioned above, it can be said that natural disaster refers to an unfortunate
or fatal event that occurs due to the action of the forces of nature, without the human being being
directly responsible for them.

2.2. Impact of natural disasters

A natural disaster has several impacts, including: loss of life, injury or other health impacts;
property damage; loss of livelihoods and services; social and economic disruption and
environmental damage. Likewise, these effects can lead to a loss of personal and professional
identity, loss of social support structures, loss of a sense of control and autonomy, in addition to
fuelling feelings of helplessness, fear and fatalism. In addition to the impacts on people´s lives,
environmental damage also stands out, among which we can mention: air, soil and water
pollution, in addition to the destruction of native flora and fauna and residences (Sousa, 2022).

1
Https://study.com/learn/lesson/natural-disasters-list-types.html
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2.3. Types of natural disasters
Natural disasters do not include disasters that are caused by man-made activities. For example, a
nuclear meltdown or arson (an intentional fire started by a person) do not constitute natural
disasters. However, there are many types of natural disasters that do occur without human
initiation. These include: tsunamis; hurricanes; earthquakes; tornadoes; wildfires; volcanic
eruptions; blizzards; hailstorms; floods and their accompanying events and cyclone.

2.4. Cyclone in Mozambique

2.4.1. Concepts
A cyclone is a large air mass that circulates around an atmospheric depression. This tropical
storm typically produces high winds and heavy rain. Air flows from areas of high pressure to a
centre of low pressure and is deflected by the so-called Coriolis force.

Cyclones are tropical storms that form in centres of low pressure, areas associated with cloud
formation, humidity, and thunderstorms. The instability in these areas causes an intense
movement of the air converging in its centre, concentrating humidity and heat (Sousa, 2022).

2.4.2. Features
Cyclones, or low-pressure area systems, according to the National Institute of Meteorology, are
an area that has lower atmospheric pressure than neighbouring areas and has a closed circulation
centre, whose winds blow inward, around this centre. Cyclone circulation differs in the two
hemispheres: in the Northern Hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise, and in the Southern
Hemisphere, clockwise. According to the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies,
cyclones usually appear in the oceans, can last several days and travel a long way, with great
intensity.

2.4.3. Causes
Cyclones are caused by the movement of air in a zone of low atmospheric pressure: warm and
humid air rises to the upper layers of the atmosphere, while cold, drier and denser air descends to
the surface, causing the atmospheric pressure reduction. Thus, there is a large release of heat
caused by condensation, when hot and humid air rises and condenses, consequently heating the
air mass. This causes the convection process and creates an area of instability, initiating the
cyclone phenomenon.
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2.4.4. Types
Cyclones can be classified according to Sousa (2022):
a) Tropical
Low pressure system that presents closed circulation of winds, high humidity, and high
temperature, associated with intense storms and high-speed winds. It has no associated cold front
and is characterized by presenting itself in the form of a rounded cloud mass. This type of
cyclone can vary in size and is measured from the limiting distance from the centre, known as
the “maximum wind radius”. It usually forms at latitude between 20º south and 20º north, that is,
around the tropics.
b) Subtropical
Low pressure system, like tropical cyclones, does not have a cold front associated with its
formation and also presents itself as a rounded cloud mass. The centre of this type of cyclone has
a higher temperature than the surrounding atmosphere. It has a smaller horizontal size than
extratropical cyclones and causes a large volume of rain and higher intensity winds. It forms
between the tropics.
c) Extratropical
Low pressure system characterized by being formed in medium and high latitudes, that is,
outside the tropics. It differs from tropical and subtropical cyclones in that it is associated with
cold fronts. Its shape resembles a spiral, and its centre has a low temperature in relation to the
surrounding atmosphere. This system favours the formation of moderate rains and strong winds.

2.4.5. Cyclone impact on the life of the Mozambican population

In recent years, Mozambique has been hit by cyclones, such is the case of Idai and Kenneth in
2019, which affected the central and northern provinces of the country. Cyclones Idai and
Kenneth in 2019 had the following impacts on people's lives in Mozambique, namely: 2.5
million people need humanitarian aid; 1.3 million children need humanitarian aid; 603 dead;
1,641 injured; five affected provinces (Zambézia, Sofala, Manica, Tete and Inhambane); 223,947
houses destroyed; 160,927 displaced persons; 6,768 confirmed cholera cases; 715,378 ha of
crops destroyed; 3,504 classrooms and 93 health centres damaged.

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3. Conclusion
A natural disaster is the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the
event that it significantly harms a community. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage
property, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake. Disasters happen when a
community is “not appropriately resourced or organized to withstand the impact, and whose
population is vulnerable because of poverty, exclusion or socially disadvantaged in some way.
Disasters therefore can and should be prevented. We can prevent hazards from leading to
disasters by helping communities to be prepared, reduce their risks and become more resilient.
These efforts are becoming more and more urgent in the context of the climate crisis. The
impacts of global warming are already killing people and devastating lives and livelihoods every
year, and they will only get worse without immediate and determined action. Read more in our
latest World Disasters Report.

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4. Bibliographic reference
Sousa, R. (2022). Hurricane. Brazil School.
Available at: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/ciclone.htm. Accessed on October 16,
2022.

Https://study.com/learn/lesson/natural-disasters-list-types.html

Https://www.ifrc.org/our-work/disasters-climate-and-crises/what-disaster

Https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/ciclone.htm