When disaster and conflicts collide

The problem is that the evidence for how conflict and disasters interrelate is fractured, highly context-specific and poorly understood (see Annex 1 for an assessment of the evidence base). Do conflicts necessarily predispose countries to vulnerability to natural disasters? And if so, how? Do natural disasters exacerbate or ameliorate conflicts? What evidence exists about efforts to tackle the causes of natural disasters and conflicts jointly? What does the evidence mean for the way stakeholders seek to achieve progress towards peace, stability and development in such contexts? This study seeks to answer these questions through a detailed review of the available evidence. In doing so, it summarises lessons, highlights complexity where it emerges, and details recommendations for strengthening resilience.