Disasters and Development ……. A continuation.

       

                Our second interest is in disaster and development. Well this is one of the strongest relationship so far with a linkage that is hard to miss. For one disasters can both destroy development projects and create opportunities and the fact that development can in its self bring about a increase and decrease in vulnerability. In the history of disaster management you come across an attitude of disasters being acts of god and this had the constricting effects that meant development was not made in a way that ensured they mitigate the effects of disaster management.  This resulted to the reactionary approach of meeting needs and recovery efforts. With the growing research it’s now clear more can be done before and in this case development takes the stage. They are various relationships and arguments that tie disasters and development. They are,

1. Disasters set back development programs and question or destroy years of development.
2. Development programs increase the vulnerability of a community.
3. Rebuilding after a disaster gives opportunities for development initiatives and finally
4. Development initiatives can be designed to increase the safety of a community and reduce the adverse effects of a disaster.

        This brings in the view that public policy plays a role and decision makers must take into account this relationship. With this in light that development needs institutional planning and structures to facilitate economic growth. Disasters can have a devastating effect on long term goals like Kenya’s Vision 2030. They can set it back and since some are unpredictable it could happen over and over again. This means priorities will change to meet the threat to their goals. Where support is needed then the UN and other aid organizations and NGOs can come in. According to the manual am following lets now take a look at the impact of disasters on development programs.

Benson Mutahi Githaiga

Disaster Management Enthusiast

References

Emergency Management: the American Experience,1900-2010. ed. Claire B.Rubin  

 http://www.un-spider.org/about-us/news/en/6627/2013-04-25t154700/odi-report-disaster-risk-management-and-development

http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.col.org%2FSiteCollectionDocuments%2FDisaster_Management_version_1.0.pdf&ei=TU0fUu2pCcPD7AaN5YCwBw&usg=AFQjCNFTu0x4d83emTdP7PeqNce5_tocqw&bvm=bv.51495398,d.ZGU

http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CFkQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gobookee.net%2Fintroduction-to-disaster-management%2F&ei=TU0fUu2pCcPD7AaN5YCwBw&usg=AFQjCNGfJUQc_bdnzhgRaoFoKkVLME69bw&bvm=bv.51495398,d.ZGU