1.2. Introduction to Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster Recovery and Build Back Better Prof. Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti Department of Architecture and Planning Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee Lecture – 15 Frameworks Welcome to the course disaster recovery and build back better. I am Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti, assistant professor, department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee. Today I am going to discuss with you about a few of the frameworks which are relevant to the DRR which is disaster risk reduction, and it covers both from a theoretical understanding to the project and the implementation aspects and also with the kind of community management process as well.

This chunk introduces the course on disaster recovery and highlights the importance of disaster risk reduction (DRR). It is aimed at providing students with a comprehensive understanding that includes theoretical perspectives, project implementation, and community management processes. Prof. Pasupuleti sets the stage for discussing various frameworks related to DRR.

Think of disaster risk reduction like preparing for a big exam. Just as students study various subjects (theoretical understanding), practice with past papers (project implementation), and seek advice from teachers (community management), disaster risk reduction involves understanding risks, applying strategies, and working together to minimize impact.

And whatever the frameworks which I am going to talk to you about, it is based on a huge compilation of various frameworks and understandings by John Twigg, especially on the disaster risk reduction. And it is published in the global practice review in volume 9 and Humanitarian Practice Network which has been commissioned by the humanitarian practitioner.

This chunk emphasizes that the frameworks discussed in the course are based on research and compilations by John Twigg. His work is noted for bringing together various concepts and frameworks related to DRR into a cohesive document, which highlights the importance of synthesizing different approaches to enhance understanding.

Imagine a chef creating a new recipe by combining the best elements of different dishes. Just like the chef uses various techniques and ingredients to make something unique, Twigg combines various frameworks to develop a comprehensive understanding of disaster risk reduction.

First of all, we have to understand with the especially from the disaster risk context and also with the developing countries context. Countries like India which are more to do with the poverty because India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal so we have along with the disaster risk reduction we also have a challenge of the poverty reduction. So let us see how this whole process is going to work. First of all, it starts from the global drivers.

This section discusses the necessity to understand disaster risk in the context of developing countries, where poverty is a major concern. It points out that disaster risk reduction needs to be addressed alongside poverty reduction, as disasters often exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in these regions.

Consider a tree whose roots are in poor soil; when strong winds (disasters) hit, it’s likely to fall more easily. Just like that, when people in poverty face disasters, they are less equipped to recover, resulting in a greater overall impact.

When we talk about underlying risk drivers, we talk about the poor and urban local governance and the vulnerable rural livelihoods because especially with the climate change.

This chunk focuses on the underlying risk drivers of disasters, highlighting issues such as poor governance and vulnerable livelihoods, particularly in rural areas affected by climate change. Understanding these drivers is crucial for developing effective risk reduction strategies.

Think of a house that is not properly built (poor governance) and is sitting on a floodplain (vulnerable livelihoods). When heavy rains come, the house is much more likely to be damaged or destroyed. Just like this, communities need proper governance and resources to withstand shocks.

They tried to classify into intensive risk when you say intensive risk major concentrations of the vulnerable populations and economic asserts exposed to the extreme hazard. Whereas the extensive risk, when he talks about the extensive risk, he talks about the geographically dispersed exposure of vulnerable people and economic assets to low or moderate-intensity hazard.

This section explains the classification of risks into intensive and extensive categories. Intensive risks refer to areas with concentrated vulnerable populations facing severe hazards, while extensive risks involve dispersed vulnerabilities facing milder hazards. This distinction helps in tailoring disaster preparedness and response plans effectively.

Imagine a crowded city in a flood zone (intensive risk) versus a scattered village prone to drought (extensive risk). The city’s large population could face catastrophic outcomes in a flood, while the village might face gradual challenges due to insufficient water over time.

Everyday risk, so when we say everyday risk, we are talking about households and communities exposed to foods, insecurity, disease, crime, accidents, pollution, lack of sanitation and clean water.

This chunk highlights everyday risks that communities face regularly, such as food insecurity, pollution, and lack of clean water, which significantly affect their quality of life and resilience against disasters. Recognizing these risks is essential for comprehensive disaster risk management.

Think of a person who lives in a city with heavy traffic pollution (everyday risks). Regular exposure may not seem catastrophic at first, but over time it can lead to health problems and make that person more vulnerable to any additional stressors.

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