Taiwan Vulnerability Analysis: A Comparative Study with Japan, China, U.S.A., U.K., France, and the Netherlands

Abstract

<p>Taiwan has performed well economically during the past four decades. However, economic development can be profoundly hampered by natural disasters. Sustainable economic development requires environmental resilience. With 23 million people occupying only 13,974 square miles of land, Taiwan is both densely populated and highly exposed to natural disasters: 73.1% of the total population lives in vulnerable areas, and Taiwan is ranked as the country most exposed to multiple hazards (The World Bank, 2005). Storms and floods damage Taiwan frequently, with an average of six typhoons hitting Taiwan annually for the past four decades. Taiwan had the highest occurrence and highest death toll on the natural disaster density indicator (NDDI) in comparison with China, Japan, U.S.A, U.K., France, and the Netherlands from 1985 to 2014. Also, Taiwan’s economic losses during the past thirty years are estimated at $650, 000 per km². This is approximately 5 times that of the Netherlands’ $134,362 and the U.K.’s $135,292, 8 times that of the U.S.A.’s $78,186 losses, and 9 times that of France’s $70,599. Research finds that every dollar invested into disaster preparedness would save $4 to $7 dollars in post-disaster damages (Multihazard Mitigation Council, 2005; The National Academy of Sciences, 2012). Hence, promoting urban resilience policies for disaster risk reduction should become a priority in Taiwan and other Asian nations in the future. Most important is the need of a strong political commitment and leadership to initiate and implement spatial policies toward resilience.</p>

Nurse Participation in Continuing Education in Disaster Nursing in Taiwan

“…A global risk analysis of natural disaster hot spots identified Taiwan as the number one country with the greatest risk of exposure to at least 4 natural disasters, and it ranks among the top 10 countries at relatively high mortality risk from multiple hazards as well. 1 In the past 2 decades alone, the country has experienced a number of devastating disasters including earthquakes, typhoons, floods, infectious diseases outbreaks, and aircraft accidents. Nurses constitute the largest number of health care providers playing decisive roles in all 4 phases of disasters management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.…”

Managing Risk in Dynamic Conditions: Emerging Crises, Changing Technologies, and the Collective Capacity to Learn

“…As an island of 13,892 square miles with more than 23 million residents, most of Taiwan's population is at the risk of three or more types of natural hazards, including cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and landslides (World Bank, 2005). The high population density leads to higher vulnerability and an increase in disaster casualties (Su, 2015). According to official statistics, between 1999 and 2019, Taiwan experienced 21 major earthquakes, 57 flooding events, and 105 typhoons that caused more than 3,800 deaths, 18,000 injuries, and 2,100 building collapses (National Fire Agency, 2021).…”

Analysis on the willingness and influencing factors of choosing hospice care service institutions among among older people in Wuhu, China: a cross-sectional study

“…From the perspective of ownership and the nature of institutional settings, hospice institutions in China are divided into three levels: the first is an independent hospice, the second is a separate ward or hospital attached to a general hospital or research institution and the third is family wards in the community healthcare system. 15 This study aims to address the pressing need for improved end-of-life care options for the elderly population in China. This study employed the Anderson behavioural model as a theoretical framework to assess the desire and determinants influencing the selection of hospice facilities among the elderly population in China, with the aim of providing recommendations for further enhancing the growth of hospice care institutions.…”

“…After 34 years of development, China’s hospice medical practice has started, and the basic institutional settings and operation models have been established. From the perspective of ownership and the nature of institutional settings, hospice institutions in China are divided into three levels: the first is an independent hospice, the second is a separate ward or hospital attached to a general hospital or research institution and the third is family wards in the community healthcare system 15…”