scholarly journals First to Respond Last To Leave: The Role of Para-Military Agencies in Disaster Management: Evidence from Nigeria

Author(s):  
Raimi Morufu Olalekan ◽  
Ayinla Lateefat Olajumoke ◽  
Ogah Alima

Shortly after the recent fire’s disaster in Lagos, Kano, Katsina and Oyo market in Nigeria, an account of the activities and initiatives of para-military agencies in disaster management was conducted. A review of these inventories shows some significant changes in both the types of activities being undertaken by para-military agencies. The inventories document a rapid increase in the number of roles played in recovery. In building resilience to all hazards, it is necessary to better understand the roles that different para-military agencies played, not only in recovery, but across all levels of disaster risk reduction. These roles range from leading first aid through to co-producing knowledge underpinning risk management strategies and actions. Every para-military agency has the capacity to weave disaster readiness, response and recovery, and risk reduction into their core organization mandate, and therefore represent a valuable, though often underestimated and poorly understood resource. Hence, it is therefore recommended that there is need to build the collaboration of the various agencies of government and partner international organizations and also build the capacities of the implementation agencies and regulatory bodies, their influence over the lifecycle be increased and public awareness increasing around issues related to disaster risk, while promoting public participation in the processes of development. This view provides much needed guidance to decision makers to take action towards a more resilient future.

Author(s):  
Reidar Staupe-Delgado ◽  
Olivier Rubin

AbstractIn this article, we set out to reconcile a general conceptualization of disaster temporalities by drawing on the epitome example of a creeping disaster, namely famine. Our argument is driven by the recognition that slowly manifesting disaster impacts pose distinct challenges for decision makers and researchers while there is a tendency for the disaster literature to overlook the role of disaster onset dynamics. More specifically and as a starting point, we identify four key themes that merit particular attention when dealing with creeping disasters: (1) our understanding of disaster as a phenomenon; (2) measurement and operationalization; (3) early warning and response; and (4) disaster management and termination. By integrating conceptual discussions of disaster with famine scholarship—a phenomenon often excluded from mainstream disaster research—this article provides fresh perspectives on disaster science as well as a number of implications for how we think about disaster risk reduction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.38) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Vladimir N. Lukin ◽  
Alexander V. Matveev ◽  
Tamara V. Musienko ◽  
Eduard N. Chizhikov ◽  
Yuri E. Aktersky

The main content and problems of implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Eurasian geopolitical and geoeconomic space, and the formation of framework platforms in various Eurasian regions are actualized in the article. The legal and economic basics of the Russian platform are revealed through the example of the integrated security system in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The place and role of the EMERCOM of Russia in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, its contribution to the development of indicators, and terminology related to disaster risk reduction are shown.   


Author(s):  
Tigere Chagutah

Southern Africa has frequently been struck by damaging climate hazards which increasingly continue to threaten sustainable development efforts. Ominously, climate models predict that the incidence of major ‘wet’ events, such as floods and cyclones will increase in frequency against the background of a changing climate. Unfortunately, local mechanisms for communicating and raising public awareness of the consequent risks and appropriate risk reduction options remain weak. At the core of policy responses to the threat posed by climate related hazards, the South African government has adopted a disaster risk reduction approach to disaster management. This article details how, among many other measures to limit the adverse impacts of natural hazards, South Africa’s National Disaster Management Framework calls for the implementation of effective public awareness activities to increase the knowledge among communities of the risks they face and what risk-minimising actions they can take. Emphasis is laid on the importance of information provision and knowledge building among at-risk communities. Citing established theories and strategies, the author proposes a participatory development communication approach through Development Support Communication strategies for the provision of disaster risk reduction public awareness activities by government and other disaster risk reduction role-players in South Africa. By way of a review of completed studies and literature, the article provides guidance on the planning and execution of successful public communication campaigns and also discusses the constraints of communication campaigns as an intervention for comprehensive disaster risk reduction.


Author(s):  
Y. Eker ◽  
M. Yılmabaşar

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The loss of lives, injuries and the damage on economies that occur as a result of disasters is increasing due to the changing nature. People need to adopt themselves to be able to resist against disasters. Nevertheless, minimizing the costs of disasters can achieved not individually but rather by a well-organized social system. This requires a decentralized disaster management system that would allow participation of not only central authorities but also widespread volunteers. Also, pre-emptive cautions to raise public awareness and capabilities about how to struggle against disasters are very important component of being well organized. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Civil Defence Organization has constituted the “Disaster Resilient Society with Youth Project” to reduce number of loss of life, injuries and economic loss as global targets envisaged in Sendai Framework for Action. This project is being implemented in line with the objects of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which is inspired from the principle of “Disaster risk reduction requires an all-of-society engagement and partnership. While the project is managed by Civil Defence Organization, it is implemented by the participation of volunteers. The project is the last phase of a series of projects which have been realized for 35 years in line with the same goal of reducing loss of lives, injuries and economic loss while various concepts targeted to address different levels of the society. The objective of the Project is to firstly choose some individuals and then train them to have disaster consciousness and awareness about disaster management cycle in society. These people would potentially provide support to responding official teams in case of an unexpected disaster. For this reason, the project also involves practical training and practices as complementary to the theoretical education phase. In the first place, a four year road map is determined to improve the project by identifying disruptions and weaknesses compared to similar projects around the world. The establishment of target groups of the Project within youth is important not only to improve the effectiveness of responding phase, but also to maintain a sustainable system for the progression of the Project. In order to encourage and increase the participation of volunteers to the Project, it is planned to issue certificates, badges and prize for those who would be successful during the training phase. In order to achieve the goals of the Project, the project managers seek collaboration of universities, local authorities, central authorities and nongovernmental organizations which are seen as stakeholders.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nonhlanhla A. Zamisa ◽  
Sybert Mutereko

Section 151(2) of the Constitution empowers municipalities in South Africa to pass disaster management-related by-laws. Such by-laws should be specific on the role of traditional leaders, owing to their authority and proximity to the people coupled with their constitutional mandate to preserve customs and traditions. However, their role is often not maximised because of vague and inadequate policies. There has been little or no scholarly attention to the role of traditional leadership and the policy and legal framework that guide their participation in disaster risk management. Employing a comprehensive content analysis of Ugu District Municipality Disaster Management By-law, this article assesses the adequacy of these by-laws on disaster risk governance in the context of collaboration disaster risk reduction. While the Ugu District Municipality Disaster Management By-law provides for the participation of traditional leadership, this study reveals that it is fraught with ambiguities and seemingly vague clauses. For instance, although in Article 5.1.1 the word ‘authorities’ is used, it is not clear whether this refers to traditional leadership or other entities at the local level. In addition, the composition of the Disaster Management Advisory Forum in Ugu does not explicitly include AmaKhosi. While these results add to the rapidly expanding field of disaster risk management, they also suggest several courses of action for policymakers at local government. Such actions might include, but not limited to, a review of the by-laws to address the lack of collaborative essence relative to traditional leaders for optimal disaster risk reduction initiatives targeting traditional communities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syadza Alifa ◽  
Arif Wibowo

This research discusses about the role of vulnerable groups who are being Task Force in disaster management and disaster risk reduction efforts in Gunung Geulis Village, Bogor Region. This study examine the process of formation of the Task Force, the role of vulnerable groups into the Task Force, and the supporting factors and inhibiting factors of the vulnerable groups into the Task Force. This study is a descriptive study with qualitative methods. The methods used are observation, in-depth interviews, and the study of literature. The end results show that the involvement of vulnerable groups as Task Force has been suitable with the regulation, the Task Force from vulnerable groups are active in disaster management and disaster risk reduction efforts, and supporting factors are likely more as long as their needs are accommodated and customize the tasks according to their capacity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 5209-5245
Author(s):  
S. Mossoux ◽  
A. Delcamp ◽  
S. Poppe ◽  
C. Michellier ◽  
F. Canters ◽  
...  

Abstract. Natural disasters are too often presented as resulting from extreme natural phenomena affecting helpless populations, with people being insufficiently aware of the factors leading to disasters and of the existing strategies to mitigate their impacts. We developed a board game aimed at raising awareness about geohazards and disaster risk reduction strategies. The target groups are (1) secondary school students and citizens, and (2) scientists and stakeholders involved in risk management activities. For the first group, the aim is to induce a better understanding of geohazards and disasters they are confronted with in the media or in their daily life; for the second, the objective is to generate discussion about risk management strategies. The game was tested with students in Belgium and with citizens, earth scientists and risk managers in several African countries. Based on the game strategies analysis, the players' reactions during the game and their answers to a short questionnaire, we analyzed the main learning outcomes conveyed by this game. The Hazagora game appears to positively enhance the players' insight in processes involved in disasters. As such, the game is an effective playful learning tool to introduce participants to the concept of geohazard and disaster and to generate discussion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mossoux ◽  
A. Delcamp ◽  
S. Poppe ◽  
C. Michellier ◽  
F. Canters ◽  
...  

Abstract. Natural disasters are too often presented as resulting from extreme natural phenomena affecting helpless populations, with people being insufficiently aware of the factors leading to disasters and of the existing strategies to mitigate their impacts. We developed a board game aimed at raising awareness about geohazards and disaster risk reduction strategies. The target groups are (1) secondary school students and citizens and (2) scientists and stakeholders involved in risk management activities. For the first group, the aim is to induce a better understanding of the geohazards and disasters they are confronted with in the media or in their daily lives; for the second, the objective is to generate discussion about risk management strategies. The game was tested with students in Belgium and with citizens, earth scientists, and risk managers in several African countries. Based on analysis of the most common game strategies observed, the players' reactions during the game, and their answers to a short questionnaire, we analyzed the main learning outcomes conveyed by this game. The game Hazagora appears to positively enhance the players' insights into processes involved in disasters. As such, the game is an effective, fun learning tool to introduce participants to the concepts of geohazards and disasters and to generate discussion.


Author(s):  
Ratnanik Ratnanik ◽  
Yulinda Erma Suryani

<em><span lang="EN-US">Indonesia is a country that has two (2) seasons, namely the rainy season and the dry season. Klaten Regency is close to Mount Merapi, east of the Klaten area close to the Dengkeng River and its tributaries. Disaster management law No. 4 of 2007 article 4 paragraph c states that ensuring the implementation of disaster management in a planned, integrated, coordinated and comprehensive manner and respecting local culture. This study discusses the higher vulnerability of women compared to men, so that it requires handling that requires more active roles of women residents or volunteers. The aim of this research is to see how active women's roles are in disaster disasters and what roles women play in the context of disasters. From the results of the study it can be concluded that the active role of women in disaster-prone areas in Klaten Regency has begun to be trained. Evidenced by joining the Disaster Risk Reduction Organization (OPRB) in Klaten</span></em>


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