2.7. Understanding Development and Disaster Interaction

When we talk about development, how can we define the development? In my research, I looked at the development aspect. My context is on one side the usual development process, which is before the disaster.

Development refers to the processes and actions taken to improve the well-being of a community, such as providing groceries, improving infrastructure, and ensuring public services. This usually happens before a disaster occurs. Understanding development in this context is crucial because it sets the foundation for how communities can respond to future disasters.

Consider a community that builds strong roads and reliable electricity before a flood. This preparation is akin to a family installing a smoke detector before a fire occurs. It doesn’t prevent the disaster, but it helps mitigate the damage when it happens.

When disaster strikes, different NGOs come forward for a helping hand. They work on various funding mechanisms and different stages of recovery.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a key role during and after disasters. They provide resources, care, and support throughout different stages: from immediate relief to long-term recovery efforts. This includes financial assistance, food and shelter, and rebuilding infrastructure to restore normalcy in affected communities.

Think of NGOs like the emergency services that arrive after a fire. They assess damages, offer medical assistance, and help families find temporary housing. Just as these services are crucial in managing immediate issues, NGOs are vital in the context of disasters.

First, I started looking at hazard and disaster. A hazard is simply a natural phenomenon, but what makes it a disaster is the vulnerability of the people.

A hazard is an event like an earthquake or flood that can potentially cause harm. However, the impact of these hazards becomes a disaster when the communities involved lack the means to cope with them, due to factors like poverty, lack of infrastructure, and social inequality, which increase their vulnerability. Essentially, it’s the interplay of hazards and vulnerabilities that lead to disasters.

Imagine a strong community that experiences a flood. If they have strong houses and a good warning system, they might only experience minor damages. In contrast, if another community lacks these resources, even a smaller flood could lead to significant destruction, illustrating how vulnerability can amplify disaster effects.

The post-disaster development process works on the visible land feasibility and appropriate NGO coordination.

After disasters, the development process shifts focus to rebuilding and improving infrastructure, understanding land use, and ensuring that recovery efforts are well-coordinated among NGOs and government agencies. This phase is critical because it sets up the community for better resilience against future disasters.

Think of it like renovating a house after a fire. The owner would want to ensure that materials used are fire-resistant, and they might also want to change the layout to make it safer. Similarly, communities look to enhance their infrastructure and services after experiencing a disaster.

When we talk about vulnerability, there are four different types of vulnerability analysis: techno-centric analysis, social vulnerability, situational analysis, and community-based analysis.

Each type of vulnerability analysis helps identify and assess different aspects of a community's risk. Techno-centric analysis focuses on physical structures, social vulnerability looks at how specific groups are affected, situational analysis considers daily life changes, and community-based analysis emphasizes community engagement in identifying their vulnerabilities.

It’s like performing a health check-up. A doctor does physical exams (techno-centric), asks about family history (social vulnerability), considers a patient’s lifestyle changes (situational), and engages with the patient to understand their experiences (community-based). Each approach gives a fuller picture of health—the same applies to vulnerability assessments.

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