Disaster Management

Rohan R Patil

Introduction

• India is one of the most disaster prone countries.

• On an average about 5000 people die• 51 million are affected every year due to

floods.

Definition

• “A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society causing widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses which exceeds the ability of the affected communities or society to cope using its own

resources” -United nation

Types of Disaster

• Sudden onset natural phenomenon-Flood, cyclones

• Slow onset natural phenomenon-Drought

• Sudden onset events -Accidents, civil wars

• Slow onset events-HIV epidemic, occupational

hazard

Why disaster are so important?

• Affect the poor the most.• Absolute level of disaster is increasing.• Pose significant and growing threats to

development.• Globally 25% of the world’s land mass and

75% of its population are at risk.

Relation between poverty and disaster

H V• Disaster= ____________________ C H=Hazard V=Vulnerability C=Capacity

SPHERE standard ‘code of conduct’

• People affected have a right to be supported• Disaster affected people not to be treated as

passive recipients• Humanitarian imperative comes first• Local culture and customs should be respected• Relief aid must strive to reduce vulnerability• Disaster affected should be recognized with

dignity

Disaster management cycledisaster

response

rehabilitation

reconstruction

Development

prevention

mitigation

Disaster preparedness

Common disaster in India

• Drought -meteorological-Agricultural-Hydrological

• Cyclone-refers to an area closed, circular motion rotating

in the same direction as the earth• Earthquake- sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust that

creates seismic waves

• River erosion

Response after flood

• Rescue and evacuation to safer place• Temporary shelter• Food and nutrition• Safe drinking water• Environmental sanitation• Non food items• Hygiene kits(soap, sanitary napkins, ORS)

Temporary shelter

• In extreme condition people forced to live in relief camps

• Ensure security and safety• Shelters should have lessened the impact of

disaster- ‘Disaster Risk Reduction’• Application of ‘Sphere Standard’

Minimum sleeping area 3.5 sq.m

Sphere standard for family 180 sq ft

Food and Nutrition

• Assess the nutrition of children 7-59 months, women and adolescents

• MUAC is the way to assess in emergency • BMI is the most preferred indicator• Application of sphere standard

Food commodity

Daily ration for two adults

Daily ration for three children

Kcal provided(adult)

Kcal provided(Children)

RICE 725 gms 580 gms 2365 1885DAL 035 gms 035 gms 117 117SUB-TOTAL 760 gms 615 gms 2482 2002

Safe drinking water

• Purification of dirty water• Disinfection of drinking sources

- eg. Tube well• Water sanitation and health

-construction of temporary toilet• Non food items

-eg. clothes

Response after cyclone

• Most predictable disaster• Worst affected should be at safe place• Psycho-social counseling of victims• Let victims lead life of ‘Normalcy

-let them to go back to their villages-electricity restored-schools reopen-let them live ‘traditional livelihood’

Response to Drought

• Is a slow impact disaster• Collection of rainfall data• Expertise from key society actors• Provide employment through cash or food

-national rural employment guarantee act

-public distribution system• Create community structures

Response to river erosion

• Vulnerable on geographic location• Most pressing short term needs Rescue and evacuation Shelter Food and water Clothes Sanitation Hygiene kits Protection of young boys and girls

Response after earthquake

• Immediate response-searching for survivors-provide medical attention-meet immediate needs

• ‘Disaster Risk reduction’• ‘Community wisdom’

Response after tsunami

• Address the high risk community• Rescue• Care of injured• Temporary shelter• Removal and disposal of dead• Food and water sanitation• Hygiene kits• Psycho social kits• Care and protection of children

Rehabilitation

• Operational guidelines-• Live with the disaster affected people• Emphasis should not be target oriented• Emphasis on poor and vulnerable• House reconstruction is not the only answer• Be flexible

Community based disaster preparedness

• Key features-community participation-inclusion as governmental policies

Framework-develop village level plan-initiate implementation of plan-documentation of process- integration of plan

Phase wise distinction of community based disaster preparedness plan

• Pre-disaster phase

• On disaster phase(rescue and emergency)

• Post disaster phase(relief and rehabilitation)

• Long term measures( sustainable livelihood)

Other disaster in India

• Bhopal gas tragedy-NGO’s were harassed by government-WHO and UNICEF were absent

• Arsenic in drinking water-First recognized by villagers-Affected 4.5 million people, 2 lakh suffer-Was the biggest public health issue in the

world

Hunger and disaster

• India home of 200 million hungry people• India ranks 66th /88 developing countries

country GHI 2008 GDP per capita

Nigeria 18.4 1977

Cameroon 18.7 2124

Kenya 19.9 1535

Sudan 20.5 2028

India 23.7 2753

reference• Battacharya T, A comprehensive handbook on disaster management, VHAI 2010Suggested Readings:Politics of famineNFHS IIComparison of Hunger across statesIndia disaster report, 1999Oxfam handbook on development and reliefSphere minimum standard in humanitarian responseWhere there is no doctorDocumentation on CBDP

About the author

• Is a geophysicist• Worked on disaster management and

rehabilitation across the nation• Initiated cross border CBDP• Prepared Orissa super cyclone recovery

programme.

Thank you