Managing disasters |08 February 2010

 The severity of the earthquake’s impact in Haiti results from a cruel combination of the shallow nature of the quake, its proximity to a densely populated area and the poverty stricken nature of the country.

The international emergency response is further hindered, however, by the logistics involved in delivering supplies to an island location and critically one whose port has been disabled by the impact of the quake.

The management of disasters is typically divided up in to four components in what is termed the Disaster Management Cycle (see diagram):

Phase 1: Response.  This is the ongoing phase in Haiti and whilst the search and rescue component is now officially over, the provision of emergency aid and medical care will likely continue for many months if not years.

Phase 2: Recovery.  Planning has commenced for the recovery phase with the international community pledging funds for reconstruction. Haiti has also been an issue on the agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos which now has this emergency situation to add to its consideration of the general global economic malaise.

Phase 3:  Mitigation. This will work hand in hand with the reconstruction as infrastructure will have to be planned in order to minimise the impact of a possible future earthquake. This will mean measures such as improved building codes, promotion of different building designs and the avoidance, as much as possible, of dense development in high risk areas such as steep hillside etc... One method to reduce the impact of earthquakes, particularly in residential areas, is to focus on single storey buildings and the utilisation of much lighter weight materials. Haiti unfortunately lies within the cyclone belt and building also therefore needs to be designed to withstand such forces and that typically means heavier duty structures. Finally all such measures will involve a considerable increase in costs and this in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It appears clear that if the resilience of Haiti to such disasters is to be increased that international aid will have to be significant and long term.

Phase 4: Preparedness. Here the focus is on learning lessons and establishing mechanisms and protocols such that a future response to a disaster scenario in Haiti would be better managed and the impact minimised.

The management cycle illustrated is often perceived to start with a disaster event but this is not necessarily the case. A precautionary approach is of course preferable and in such instances the cycle can be seen to start at the mitigation phase.  In this approach various disaster scenarios are envisaged and measures put in place to lower the vulnerability of communities and country to such events and provide for enhanced response capacity.

The Government of Seychelles, through the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM), in partnership with the World Bank, will be initiating a project this year to address this precautionary approach and enhance Seychelles’ resilience at community and national level to disaster events.

In the coming months programmes addressing the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and the enabling of response capacity will be rolled out. To facilitate information exchange and enhance public awareness in this regard DRDM has initiated a weblog which will carry regular updates on the project, its progress and related matters. The blog can be accessed at the following address: http://drdm-drdm.blogspot.com
The Department of Risk and Disaster Management is based at the MS Complex on Revolution Avenue and can be contacted by phoning 322979.

Submitted by the Project Management Unit, DRDM