Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into community development in the Windward Islands (original) (raw)
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The societal costs of disasters around the world are continuing to increase and Pacific Island countries are considered some of the most vulnerable. This is primarily due to a combination of high hazard exposure coupled with a range of social, economic, physical, and political vul-nerabilities. This article contributes to the growing body of work that aims to understand the causal factors of disaster vulnerability, but with a specific focus on small island developing states. The article first develops a framework for understanding disaster vulnerability, drawing on extensive literature and the well-established Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability in Europe (MOVE) framework, and second, applies this adapted framework using empirically-derived data from fieldwork on Emae Island, Vanuatu to provide a working understanding of the causal elements of disaster vulnerability. Drawn from a significant body of scholarship at the time, the MOVE framework was primarily developed as a heuristic tool in which disaster vulnerability is considered to be a function of exposure, susceptibility (socially, economically, physically , culturally, environmentally, institutionally), and a lack of resilience. We posit that this adapted framework for small islands should also include historical susceptibility, and we prefer livelihood resilience (as capabilities, social capital, knowledge, participation, and human rights) over lack of resilience. We maintain that understanding disaster vulnerability holistically, which is inclusive of both strengths and drawbacks, is crucial to ensure that limited resources can target the causal factors that produce vulnerability and help safeguard and improve livelihoods in both the short and long term.
Capacities in Facing Natural Hazards: A Small Island Perspective
International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2014
Isolated communities on small islands are often characterized as vulnerable and marginalized. We studied the recent history of Laingpatehi, a village on Ruang Island off the north coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia to show that the marginalization-vulnerability nexus can be offset by capacity and social cohesion to enable sustainable livelihoods. The island has been impacted by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and competition for marine resources from mainland-based fishermen. The community has shown a remarkable ability to cope and prosper in the face of a series of external hazards. We used a sustainable livelihoods approach to identify the assets that enabled the villagers to cope. Strong social cohesion was central to the ability to organize the community and confront hazards. A diversified livelihood strategy drawing on the small island environment and its coastal and marine resources, income generating activities in a distant satellite village, and significant remittances from employment in other parts of Indonesia underpinned people's capacities to face hazards. Government assistance played a supporting role. The case of Laingpatehi demonstrates how remoteness, rather than being a source of vulnerability, can provide access to existing resources and facilitate innovation. Disaster risk reduction strategies should focus more on reinforcing these existing capacities to deal with hazards and less on physical protection and postdisaster responses.
Building Vulnerable Islander Resilience to Natural Hazard: A Participatory Approach
In last decade and so, disaster risk reduction community started paying attention on the notions of resilience; therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide an overview of human vulnerability and priority intervention issues based on vulnerability experience by which resilience can be promoted. In the context of natural hazards and disasters, coastal islands of Bangladesh are vulnerable where isolation itself works as an adverse factor regarding vulnerability so that this study chose Sandwip Island as the study area. The data collection methods included geospatial techniques and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) using 0–5 measuring scale followed by weighted matrix index (WMI) and in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. This research explored 8 major vulnerability issues and 17 urgent priority intervention issues for building vulnerable islander resilience. Authors identified that attempts in reducing vulnerability in inhabitation and livelihood is the starting point of being resilient, and it can be promoted further by undertaking interventions such as local infrastructure development and improvement in community facilities, i.e., long-term adaptation at community level, not only the post disaster responses. Finally, this research provides guideline of how resilience of coastal islanders can be promoted one step forward in the face of natural hazards and disasters.
A VOYAGE TO DISASTER RESILIENCE IN SMALL ISLANDS: A GUIDE FOR LOCAL LEADERS
This Guidebook is a product of a participatory, empirical and evidence-based learning process that resulted from the experience of the volcanic island of Rapu-Rapu in Albay, the island province of Marinduque and the coral atoll of Jomalig in Quezon. Efforts to look into developing a pilot resilience model for small island communities began during the successful implementation of the Building Disaster-Resilient Communities (BDRC) Project by Christian Aid and its partners, which published case studies for addressing vulnerabilities in various community contexts nationwide. Partners then saw the need to look into the specific conditions of small islands and develop an approach that would be suitable for such contexts. Thus, the Building Disaster-Resilient Small Island Communities Projectcame about.
Disaster risk reduction on non-sovereign islands: La Réunion and Mayotte, France
Natural Hazards, 2011
The Islands of Réunion and Mayotte are French territories in the Indian Ocean and are prone to numerous and recurrent hazards as well as to increasing vulnerabilities. This paper examines disaster risk reduction on non-sovereign islands through the case studies of Réunion and Mayotte. The approach used is embedded in standard geographical approaches to risk analysis, focusing on place-based vulnerability, in order to understand disaster risk and disaster risk reduction on both islands. In addition to establishing baseline information and visiting both islands for further data, 21 semi-structured individual interviews were completed to understand the people's perceptions of the hazards and of their vulnerabilities. Disaster risk reduction strategies, and attitudes from governing bodies implementing the strategies, tend to assume similar vulnerability contexts as mainland France, despite obvious differences on the islands. Many policies are implemented in a top-down manner by those from mainland France who have little interest in, and who do not fully take into consideration, local realities. This paper contributes new case studies to the literature, especially in comparing two non-Anglophone non-sovereign islands, and reinforces recommendations factoring in local contexts when addressing 'vulnerability of a place' to disasters.
Hazard, Resilience and Development: The Case of Two Maldivian Islands
2021
Due to their geophysical structure, the Maldives face various natural hazards, such as coastal erosion, rising water levels, tsunamis and other climate-related disasters. In 2004, the country was affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, with almost 12,000 displaced persons and a further 8,500 relocated inhabitants. In the context of the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable development and face climate change, disaster risk reduction and resilience capacity are key issues. The Government is working hard to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risks Reduction 2015-2030, linked to Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The paper considers the cases of two islands in Dhaalu Atoll – Meedhoo and Rin’budhoo – both affected by the tsunami, where social and economic resilience produced two different models of development. The tsunami hit Meedhoo hard. The island economy depends on fishing and the main threats are its small size and soil erosion. Thus, in 2006 a large ...
Not if but when : adapting to natural hazards in the Pacific Islands Region - a policy note
2006
Pacific Island communities are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters - ranging from tropical cyclones, drought, floods, storm surges and tsunamis. Each year, these events result in significant loss of life, the destruction of homes, public infrastructure and livelihoods and the reversal of hard-won economic gains. Recently, deadly tsunami and earthquake events in the Indian Ocean region have focused the attention of the world community, particularly those living in small islands and coastal regions, to the need for greater vigilance in disaster prevention and preparedness. This is all the more important as evidence mounts that climate change will exacerbate the incidence of extreme events and potential disasters. The goal of this Policy Note is to influence policy makers and development partners in the Pacific Islands region to undertake risk management of natural hazards and minimize the future impacts of natural disasters, climate change and sea level rise. As a short-term ...
The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
Resources, 2016
In the Small Islands Developing State (SIDS) of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, the most destructive disasters in terms of human casualties have been the multiple eruptions of La Soufrière volcano situated in the north of St Vincent. Despite this major threat, people continue to live close to the volcano and national development plans do not include risk reduction measures for volcanic hazards. This paper examines the development options in volcanic SIDS and presents a number of conundrums for disaster risk management on the island of St Vincent. Improvements in monitoring of volcanic hazards and ongoing programmes to enhance communications systems and encourage community preparedness planning have increased awareness of the risks associated with volcanic hazards, yet this has not translated into more risk-informed development planning decisions. The current physical development plan in fact promotes investment in infrastructure in settlements located within the zone designated very high-hazard. However, this is not an anomaly or an irrational decision: severe space constraints in SIDS, as well as other historical social and economic factors, limit growth and options for low-risk development. Greater attention needs to be placed on developing measures to reduce risk, particularly from low-intensity hazards like ash, limiting where possible exposure to volcanic hazards and building the resilience of communities living in high-risk areas. This requires planning for both short-and longer-term impacts from renewed activity. Volcanic SIDS face multiple hazards because of their geography and topography, so development plans should identify these interconnected risks and options for their reduction, alongside measures aimed at improving personal preparedness plans so communities can learn to live with risk.