When One Disaster becomes Five

Cascading Disasters

1. Hazard

Examples: conflict, drought, flooding, or disruption to shipping.
Icon: lightning bolt or explosion symbol over a globe.
Caption: A sudden or ongoing event that threatens people or systems.

2. Exposure

Icon: map with people, roads, and buildings inside the affected zone.
Caption: People, infrastructure, and businesses are located in the hazard area.

3. Vulnerability

Icon: cracked bridge, weak house, and empty wallet.
Caption: Poverty, damaged infrastructure, and weak services reduce coping ability.

4. Impact

Icon: arrows showing displacement, hunger, and economic loss.
Caption: Lives disrupted — hunger, loss of income, and broken trade links.

5. Response

Icon: aid truck, handshake, and rebuilding crane.
Caption: Humanitarian aid, diplomacy, military action, and reconstruction efforts.

6. Feedback

Icon: circular arrow looping back to “Vulnerability.”
Caption: If the response fails, vulnerability increases — restarting the cycle.