CHAPTER 11

Disaster Risk Management

What Have We Learned from the South Asian Experience?

Sanjeev Kumar Mahajan

Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India

Huong Ha

School of Business, Singapore University of Singapore, Singapore

R. Lalitha S. Fernando

Department of Public Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Introduction

Natural disasters are global incidents that can significantly change South Asia’s economic development and people’s livelihoods by prolonging and intensifying poverty and resource constraints. There are many causes of natural disasters (US Environmental Protection Agency 2016), and there is no “one-shoe-fits” solution to prevent natural disasters. What we can do is to prepare for disasters and mitigate their negative impacts. The main objective of this volume was to examine issues and challenges associated with disaster risk management in the context of South Asia and discuss how to strengthen the disaster risk management capacities at the regional, national, and international levels. An attempt was made to explore this central theme. The reality nonetheless has emerged contrary to the system in place, in the research studies. Apart from this, the damages resulting out of the natural disasters had strained the development opportunities. In the process, the outcomes of the chapters included in this book reflect the policy initiatives, policy implications in its implementation, and recommendations based on their experiences to tackle issues related to the disaster risk management.

This book consists of nine chapters comprising mostly case studies representing different countries in South Asia. These case studies can be broadly categorized into three themes, namely (i) the process of disaster management at different levels; (ii) psychological and physical impacts of disasters; and (iii) mitigating disaster risk through education and technology, that is, information technology (IT).

This book is an outcome of research carried out by the eminent scholars of South Asian countries in the field of Disaster Risk Management. This book presents the facts of how the different countries manage the disasters. The case studies presented in this book reflect Reality vs. Myth. In quest to improve the ground-level situations, it is pertinent to understand the interdisciplinary nature of the approaches to tackling the aftermath of disasters. This book provides a framework for making the administration effective—for making the mitigation and rehabilitation program better and securing better life for the citizens.

Lessons Learned—The Way Forward

In spite of all debates, discussions, and statistics presented in different chapters related to disaster risks and events, the focus on people is still not established, leaving them displaced and in utter poverty. Sustainable and inclusive development is a failure in disaster-stricken areas and the affected victims. Hence, a few lessons can be drawn from these chapters. Broadly speaking, first, it can be observed from the outcome of different chapters in this volume that risk disaster management policies, plans, and frameworks of different countries are in place. However, the problem in the South Asian region pertains to the implementation and enforcement of policies and regulations. This is one of the common features in South Asia resulting in persistent challenges to entice coordination and collaboration in disaster risk management among different stakeholders. This is especially true among the marginalized sectors since they might not be able to protect their homes, which increase the risk of their livelihoods of being adversely affected by a hazard (Misomali and McEntire 2008). For example, Chapter 5 by Neena Joseph deals with the perennial problem of sea incursion leading to formidable cleaning challenges and health hazards/threats to the community. Vinay Sharma, Parmod Chandra and Rajat Agrawal authored Chapter 8, dealing with the impact of different disasters on the diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants in a hilly state of India and its consequences on society, economy, livelihood, and ecosystem. Along this line, Chapter 2, contributed by Md. Nurul Momen, maintains that situational awareness is one of the most significant challenges for the protection and safety of people. Therefore, community-based adoption, dependent on communities’ priorities, needs, knowledge, and capacities, that seeks to empower people should be on top of the agenda of any debate and discussion regarding disaster risk management. The focus should be on environmental governance, which should be transparent and pro-people.

Second, many authors looked at the impact of disasters on health, especially that of women. Disasters can lead to physical as well as psychological trauma, which has a long-lasting effect on the psycho-physical health of the victims. The experience of going through a natural disaster can bring about psychological disorder, such as past traumatic stress disorder (Mason, Andrews, and Upton 2010). For instance, Chapter 4 by Evelyn Gay, focused on the psychological impact of disasters in India, deals with the factors resulting in psychological distress following a disaster among the survivors and those who assisted them, for example, social workers. This component, especially the mental health of disaster relief workers, seems to be a forgotten aspect of disaster management. Mst. Marzina Begum, in Chapter 6, identified the impact of climate change on women’s health in Bangladesh. According to Article 4.f. of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC 2014), before proposing any new adaptation or mitigation initiatives, every country must assess its impact of health considering together with environmental and economic factors and issues, whereas the United Nations also focuses on the importance of protecting “human health and welfare” (Khan 2002). Generally, the issue of women and disaster management deserves a more in-depth research as it involves mental health.

Third, the world has recognized that in the present day, disaster risk management cannot take place effectively without employing technology (United Nations 2008). Technology enables countries to formulate mitigation strategies for preparedness responses to disasters in a more effective manner. IT is an efficient way to mobilize the limited resources in a transparent manner at all levels; thus, reducing the gap between and among various groups of stakeholders. In this context, Chapter 9 by Md. Zahir, Akbaruddin Ahmad and Oli Ahmed explore how practical knowledge on climate change and disaster risk management has been included in the high-school textbook and students’ perception thereof. In the last chapter by Sarfraz Khawaja, Huong Ha and Ayesha Akbar, it is found that the relevance and significance of IT can lead to better development of risk assessment and developing mitigation strategies. However, with the increase of IT adoption in countries in South Asia and around the world, it has resulted into some challenges too. One of the major challenges is electronic waste (e-waste), which is hazardous and problematic to humankind and the environment as discussed in Chapter 7 (Perkins et al. 2014). This chapter, written by Nahilan Nabila Hoque, is related to how e-waste contains the hazardous substances that can damage public health and the environment. Therefore, good e-waste management practice should be adopted by all countries.

Lastly, clear and well-designed strategies and policies are required to address the challenges of disasters. Such strategies and policies must include “directions (toward sustainability), distribution (inclusiveness), and diversity (multiple approaches, methods, and solutions)” (Herath and Ha 2018, p. 167). Mahfuzal Haque has elaborated the paradigm shift in disaster risk management from traditional relief and rehabilitation to disaster risk reduction in Chapter 3, that is, a new direction in disaster risk management.

Limitations

One of the major limitations of this volume is that not all aspects related to disaster risk management have been dealt by the authors since the scope of disaster risk management is too wide. The second limitation of this volume is that not all countries in the South Asia region have been represented because of many constraints, such as connecting to the experts of the unrepresented countries, lack of time and resources. However, the selected chapters contained in this volume represent and explain a wide range of significant issues associated with disaster risk management. It is expected that the present volume, apart from certain limitations, will encourage the researchers around the globe to carry out further research on the issues dealing with disaster risk management in the South Asian context. Lastly, implementation of policy initiatives needs to be addressed at both the macro and micro levels in future research.

Conclusion

This chapter has identified the main themes presented in the book and lessons learned related to disaster management governance. South Asia is prone to a different range of hazards due to geo-climatic characteristics of the region. Hazards exposure is primarily due to two geographic features of the region: the Himalayan mountain belt and the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean, including Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea (The World Bank 2012). One of the major problems faced by the developing countries is to strike a balance between development and destruction of the environment. It is common to understand that no development can take place without paying a price for environmental damages. It is evident from the chapters that unbalanced development is one of the significant causes of the national disasters. A trade-off between development and environmental protection would lead to an imbalance in the name of development. A balance between development and environment is integral to keeping our “Planet Safe” (United Nations 2015). Apart from this, exposure to natural disasters is driven by numbers from socioeconomic dynamics, including: (i) population growth and density in hazard-prone areas, (ii) economic expansion, and (iii) the focus of economic assets in metropolitan cities and fast growing second-tier cities (World Bank 2012). Hence, mismatched development and environmental factors including climate change are the major factors responsible for the disasters.

Finally, sustainable development is the only key left to all the nations and especially developing countries to grow economically and socially while keeping our earth safe from environmental disasters. The ecological balance of the planet is at the edge and we cannot wait for it to topple. We need to listen to what our “Mother Earth” is telling us with anger now after failed in cautioning us in whispers. Let us move toward a change, at least as it is and not worse than today, for our next generations. Accordingly, all future research should focus on disaster risk management, especially focusing on both natural and man-made disaster risk.

References

Herath, G., and H. Ha. 2018. “Climate Change Management: What Have We Learnt from the Asian Experience?” In Climate Change Management: Special Topics in the Context of Asia, ed. H. Ha, pp. 157–76. New York, NY: Business Expert Press.

Khan, S. 2002. Human Development, Health and Education: Dialogues at the Economic and Social Council. New York, NY: United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Mason, V., H. Andrews, and D. Upton. 2010. “The Psychological Impact of Exposure to Floods.” Psychology, Health & Medicine 15, no. 1, pp. 61–73.

Misomali, R., and D. McEntire. 2008. “Rising Disasters and Their Reversal: An Identification of Vulnerability and Ways to Reduce It.” In Disaster Management Handbook, ed. J. Pinkowski, Chapter 2, pp. 20–34. Boca Raton, FL: Public Administration and Public Policy/138 (A Comprehensive Publication Program), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.

Perkins, D. N., M. B. Drisse, T. Nxele, and P. D. Sly. 2014. “E-Waste: A Global Hazard.” Annals of Global Health 80, no. 4, pp. 286–95.

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). 2014. Kyoto Protocol. http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php

United Nations. 2008. Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response: Guidance and Indicator Package for Implementing Priority Five of the Hyogo Framework. New York, NY: United Nations.

United Nations. 2015. Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015 - Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York, NY: United Nations.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2016. Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases. Washington, D.C.: US Environmental Protection Agency.

World Bank. 2012. Disaster Risk Management in South Asia: A Regional Overview. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.