What COVID-19 tells us about the changing nature of disaster risk.

• Position: Essay

All over the world, life as we know it has unravelled faster than we could ever have imagined.

In a few countries, the spread of COVID-19 itself is slowing, offering a glimmer of hope. But the socio-economic impact on the world's most vulnerable people continues to worsen. The outlook is grim for millions who live hand-to-mouth, in slum-like conditions or in crowded refugee camps.

Given the scale of the challenge, what do we need to do now?

First, we must recognize that the nature of risk in our society has changed dramatically. Human activity has become the dominant influence on the environment and climate, in what is known as the age of the Anthropocene.

Risk has become systemic. It cannot be divided into categories that are then assigned to health authorities, disaster management agencies or early warning centres. If governments continue to operate in this way, the bigger picture as a disaster unfolds will remain unseen and the solutions will not be fit for purpose.

Risk reduction solutions are needed across sectors such as water, sanitation and hygiene; education; health and nutrition; livelihoods; child and social protection; shelter and housing; and public open spaces.

To make things worse, several hazards may strike at once. Disasters have already coincided with the COVID-19 crisis: two weeks ago, Croatia experienced a 5.5 Richter earthquake, and Vanuatu has been hit by a category 5 cyclone.

Viruses do not respect the timelines of other disasters. They do not respect borders or politics. This is why we need global solutions that will still work when we decide to re-open our borders.

Second, these solutions must prioritize aid to the most vulnerable. Most of the world's poor live in countries where public health infrastructure and services are not fit for purpose at the best of times.

The United Nations Secretary-General has called the current situation a human crisis, emphasising that we need to focus on people and the most vulnerable communities. Solutions must cover the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as the need to respond to the extensive socio-economic impact on people.

Third, the world's richest nations must recognize that they have ignored the risk of a pandemic for far too long. This disaster has been foretold - many times - and now threatens the health of everyone on this planet.

Only six months ago, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the...