Abstract
The present research aims to understand the challenges faced by a Colombian city in the context of multidimensional risk scenarios, given the existing demographic and socio-economic conditions and local perspectives and perceptions regarding socio-environmental risks. The research was undertaken in the city of Barranquilla, northern Colombia. A survey was designed to analyze (1) the general socio-economic and vulnerability conditions of a communities’ sample, (2) information related to hazards and disaster risk in their neighbourhoods, and (3) information on actions to mitigate risk. Three hundred and ninety-one people were surveyed. Likert scale and Pearson's Chi-square test and descriptive, inferential statistical methods, regression models, and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to process the results. Respondents lived, in general, under precarious socio-economic conditions (such as low income or lack of infrastructure and others). Given socio-environmental constraints, the research revealed that hazards such as urban stream flooding and robbery were the most negatively associated with the respondent’s quality of life. Regarding the actions to avoid losses, 84% of respondents had not implemented any preventive action. Respondents also have low awareness of the need to implement risk prevention actions. Social risks and the configuration of anthropic hazards stand out as principal centres for concern.
Highlights
Floods, droughts, extreme temperatures, and storms are of concern to people and institutions (Hardoy and Pandiella 2009) because urban authorities in developing countries are obliged to consider the challenges and contribution of disaster risk to their plans for poverty reduction and economic growth (Choudhary et al 2019)
Sixty-five per cent of the respondents belong to the locality of Riomar Locality (RML), and the remaining 35% to Suroccidente Locality (SOL)
The elements that contribute most to the welfare in the neighbourhoods were those related to access to public goods and services that contribute to the reduction of social vulnerability
Summary
Droughts, extreme temperatures, and storms are of concern to people and institutions (Hardoy and Pandiella 2009) because urban authorities in developing countries are obliged to consider the challenges and contribution of disaster risk to their plans for poverty reduction and economic growth (Choudhary et al 2019). In this context, risk contributes a level of stress for vulnerable cities and populations that must make decisions facing many uncertainties (Hardoy and Pandiella 2009). Urban expansion occurs in areas prone to hazards (Mavromatidi et al 2018) such as landslides or flash floods
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