scholarly journals Constructing a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction: the significance of focusing on vulnerability reduction

Disasters ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshani Palliyaguru ◽  
Dilanthi Amaratunga ◽  
David Baldry
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 877-891
Author(s):  
Oluwadunsin Moromoke Ajulo ◽  
Jason von Meding ◽  
Patrick Tang

PurposeVulnerability is understood as susceptibility to hazards born out of the complex interaction within the system scales. The current global economic system focuses on persistent growth and a top-down approach to wealth distribution, which not only puts a strain on the Earth's resources but also on communities by increasing vulnerability. Localised economy, on the other hand, uses a bottom-up approach to wealth distribution, whereby local resources are harnessed for sustainability of the local economy. Localising economies facilitate degrowth by shifting our focus to the quality of economies and the redefinition of growth and prosperity. The purpose of this study is to highlight the potentials of localisation and degrowth for vulnerability reduction.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors conducted a case study of the Lyttelton community in New Zealand, their local initiatives and how these efforts have been used to build capacities and reduce vulnerabilities in the community. Data were sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through observation of the day-to-day running of the community and interviews with community members, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature on the community and related concepts.FindingsLyttelton community provides a good example of a community where bottom-up initiatives are particularly felt, and there is very limited dependence on the conventional economic system to solve their problems. The study shows that degrowth initiatives within the community have gained momentum because initiators see the value in their coming together as a community and doing what is right for themselves and the environment. Furthermore, localisation fosters innovation, personal growth and development and care for the environment.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing knowledge by discussing some local initiatives that serve an underlying purpose for degrowth based on a study carried out in Lyttelton, New Zealand. The study findings established that there is need for more focus on sensitisation about the risks of growth mania and the potential for degrowth in bringing about actual prosperity, for saving the environment and disaster risk reduction. Also, the encouragement of local production and existing institutions like the timebank, which give members access to the needed resources and skills contribute to vulnerability reduction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 685-700
Author(s):  
Roshani Palliyaguru ◽  
Dilanthi Amaratunga ◽  
Richard Haigh

Major impacts on infrastructures due to natural and man-made hazards could result in secondary and additional impacts, compounding the problem for those communities already affected by the hazard. Integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) philosophies into infrastructure projects has been an important solution to mitigate and prevent such disaster risks, as well as for a speedy recovery after disasters. “Vulnerability reduction” is defined by the research community as an enabler which facilitates the process of DRR. However, there is a research need to identify the most beneficial DRR strategies that would result in vulnerability reduction in an effective way. As part of this main aim, this paper seeks to explore the nature of various vulnerabilities within infrastructure reconstruction projects and their respective communities and to evaluate the DRR practises within these projects. Finally the paper attempts to map the effects of integration of DRR into infrastructure reconstruction on vulnerability reduction of infrastructure reconstruction projects and the communities which benefited from such projects. This study adopts the case study approach and the paper is entirely based on data collated from semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey conducted within one case study (a water supply and sanitation reconstruction project) in Sri Lanka and expert interviews conducted in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Results reveal that emergency preparedness strategies are the most important group of DRR strategies, while physical/technical strategies are also very important. However, none of the emergency preparedness strategies are satisfactorily implemented, while most of the physical/technical strategies are adequately implemented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wisyanto

Landslides have occurred in various places in Indonesia. Likewise with West Java, there were many regions that has experienced repeated landslides. Having many experience of occurrences of landslides, we should have had a good landslide risk reduction program. Indeed, the incidence of landslides depends on many variables. Due to that condition, it may that a region would have different variable with another region. So it is impossible to generalize the implementation of a mitigation technology for all areas prone to landslides. Research of the Cililin's landslide is to anticipate the next disasters that may happen in around the area of 2013 Cililin Landslide. Through observation lithological conditions, water condition, land cover and landscape, as well as consideration of wide dimension of the building footing, the distance of building to the slopes and so forth, it has been determined some efforts of disaster risk reduction in the area around the landslide against the occurrence of potential landslide in the future.Bencana tanah longsor telah terjadi di berbagai tempat di Indonesia. Demikian halnya dengan Jawa Barat, tidak sedikit daerahnya telah berulang kali mengalami longsor. Seharusnya dengan telah banyaknya kejadian longsor, kita mampu mengupayakan program penurunan risiko longsor secara baik. Memang kejadian longsor bergantung pada banyak variabel, dimana dari satu daerah dengan daerah yang lain akan sangat memungkinkan mempunyai variabel yang berbeda, sehingga tidak mungkin kita membuat generalisasi penerapan suatu teknologi mitigasinya untuk semua daerah rawan longsor. Penelitian longsor di Cililin dilakukan untuk mengantisipasi terjadinya bencana di sekitar daerah Longsor Cililin 2013 yang lalu. Melalui pengamatan kondisi litologi, keairan, tutupan lahan dan bentang alam yang ada, serta pertimbangan akan dimensi luas pijakan bangunan, jarak batas bangunan dengan lereng dan lain sebagainya, telah ditentukan beberapa upaya penurunan risiko bencana di daerah sekitar longsor terhadap potensi kejadian longsor dimasa mendatang.Keywords: Landslide, risk reduction, footing of building, Cililin


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document