Diasaster management
Introduction
Disaster, as defined by the United Nations, is a serious disruption of the
functioning of a community or society, which involve widespread human,
material, economic or environmental impacts that exceed the ability of the
affected community or society to cope using its own resources [1]. Disaster
management is how we deal with the human, material, economic or
environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the process of how we “prepare
for, respond to and learn from the effects of major failures” [2]. Though often
caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. According to
the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies a disaster
occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people. The combination of
hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative
consequences of risk results in disaster [3].
(VULNERABILITY+ HAZARD ) / CAPACITY = DISASTER [3]
Natural disasters and armed conflict have marked human existence
throughout history and have always caused peaks in mortality and morbidity.
This article examines the advances in the humanitarian response to public
health over the past fifty years and the challenges currently faced in managing
natural disasters and armed conflict [4].
Types of Disaster
Natural Disasters
According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent
Societies Natural Disasters are naturally occurring physical phenomena
caused either by rapid or slow onset events that have immediate impacts on
human health and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering.
These disasters can be [5]:
Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic
Activity)
Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and Floods)
Climatological (e.g. Extreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)
Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges)
Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues)
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction characterises Natural
Disasters in relation to their magnitude or intensity, speed of onset, duration
and area of extent e.g. earthquakes are of short duration and usually affect a
relatively small region whereas droughts are slow to develop and fade away
and often affect large regions [1].
Man-Made Disasters
Man-Made Disasters as viewed by the International Federation of Red Cross &
Red Crescent Societies are events that are caused by humans which occur in
or close to human settlements often caused as a results of Environmental or
Technological Emergencies. This can include [3]:
Environmental Degradation
Pollution
Accidents (e.g. Industrial, Technological and Transport usually
involving the production, use or transport of hazardous materials)
Complex Emergencies
Some disasters can result from multiple hazards, or, more often, to a complex
combination of both natural and man-made causes which involve a break-
down of authority, looting and attacks on strategic installations, including
conflict situations and war. These can include [6]:
Food Insecurity
Epidemics
Armed Conflicts
Displaced Populations
According to ICRC these Complex Emergencies are typically characterized
by [6]:
Extensive Violence
Displacements of Populations
Loss of Life
Widespread Damage to both Societies and Economies
Need for Large-scale, Humanitarian Assistance across Multiple
Agencies
Political and Military Constraints which impact or prevent
Humanitarian Assistance
Increased Security Risks for Humanitarian Relief Workers
Pandemic Emergencies
Pandemic (from Greek πᾶν pan "all" and δῆμος demos "people") is an
epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large region, which can
occur to the human population or animal population and may affect health
and disrupt services leading to economic and social costs. It may be
an unusual or unexpected increase in the number of cases of an infectious
disease which already exists in a certain region or population or can also refer
to the appearance of a significant number of cases of an infectious disease in a
region or population that is usually free from that disease. Pandemic
Emergencies may occur as a consequence of natural or man-made disasters.
These have included the following epidemics: [7] [8]
Ebola
Zika
Avian Flu
Cholera
Dengue Fever
Malaria
Yellow Fever
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19 )
Aspects of Disaster Management
The International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent
Societies defines disaster management as the organisation and
management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all the
humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness,
response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters [3].
Disaster Prevention
"The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related
disasters [1]"
UNISDR views Disaster Prevention as the concept of engaging in activities
which intend to prevent or avoid potential adverse impacts through action
taken in advance, activities designed to provide protection from the
occurrence of disasters [1]. WCPT similarly highlight that while not all disasters
can be prevented, good risk management, evacuation plans, environmental
planning and design standards can reduce risk of loss of life and injury
mitigation. The HYOGO Framework was one such Global Plan for natural
Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted in 2005 as a 10 year Global Plan,
signed by agreement with 168 Governments which offered guiding principles,
priorities for action and practical means for achieving disaster resilience for
vulnerable communities [10].
Disaster Preparedness
"The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional
response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to
effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely,
imminent or current hazard events or conditions" [1].
According to ICRC, Disaster Preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare
for and reduce the effects of disasters, be they natural or man-made. This is
achieved through research and planning in order to try to predict areas or
regions that may be at risk of disaster and where possible prevent these from
occurring and/or reduce the impact those disasters on the vulnerable
populations that may be affected so they can effectively cope. Disaster
preparedness activities embedded with risk reduction measures can prevent
disaster situations and also result in saving maximum lives and livelihoods
during any disaster situation, enabling the affected population to get back to
normalcy within a short time period [3].
Minimisation of loss of life and damage to property through facilitation of
effective disaster response and rehabilitation services when required.
Preparedness is the main way of reducing the impact of disasters.
Community-based preparedness and management should be a high priority in
physical therapy practice management [10].
Disaster Response / Relief
"The provision of emergency services and public assistance during or
immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts,
ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people
affected" [1].
Focused predominantly on immediate and short-term needs, the division
between this response/relief stage and the subsequent recovery stage is not
clear-cut. Some response actions, such as the supply of temporary housing
and water supplies, may extend well into the recovery stage. Rescue from
immediate danger and stabilization of the physical and emotional condition of
survivors is the primary aims of disaster response/relief, which go hand in
hand with the recovery of the dead and the restoration of essential services
such as water and power [3][10].
Coordinated multi-agency response is vital to this stage of Disaster
Management in order to reduce the impact of a disaster and its long-term
results with relief activities including [3]:
Rescue
Relocation
Provision Food and Water
Provision Emergency Health Care
Prevention of Disease and Disability
Repairing Vital Services e.g. Telecommunications, Transport
Provision Temporary Shelter
Disaster Recovery
Vulnerability of communities often continues for long after the initial crisis is
over. Disaster Recovery refers to those programmes which go beyond the
provision of immediate relief to assist those who have suffered the full impact
of a disaster and include the following activities [3] [10]:
Rebuilding Infrastructure e.g. Homes, Schools, Hospitals, Roads
Health Care and Rehabilitation
Development Activities e.g. building human resources for health
Development Policies and Practices to avoid or mitigate similar
situations in future