Regional disaster analysis and preparedness strategies

Disasters and Their Management

Disaster Management

Regional Disaster Analysis

Both natural and human caused disasters have been an issue in the safety of human beings all over the world. Fortunately, there are international agencies that are created for the purpose of mitigation purposes and assist in the prevention of disaster effects that would be more adverse. State governments also have the obligation of adopting the right preventive and counter actions to assist in cushioning citizens from the effects of disasters. This paper, therefore, analyzes the types of disasters in Africa, and the theoretical approaches in the management of the disasters. Under management of disasters, different factors are discussed including response, preparedness and recovery and mitigation practices. There is also a review of both the International Agencies and Local Governments, relating to their preparedness in responding to disasters. Finally, there is an analysis on the partnership relationships between public and private agencies to create a stronger defensive force against the adversity of disasters.

Disaster Management

Introduction

For many years now, the globe has experienced a continuous and successive era of disasters, which have had a negative impact on the lives of many, causing diseases and going to extremes of causing deaths. The most common disasters include earthquakes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods and dreadful diseases (Christopher & Tatham, 2011). Currently, most of the disasters have been triggered by human activity. These human activities include inappropriate control of the environment, poor land use planning and lack of legislative and institutional arrangements to curb disasters. The effects of these disasters remain to be a threat to human development.

Disasters in Africa

Across all the continents in the world, Africa is the only continent that has experienced an increase in disasters in the past decade. By the end of 2007, estimated 33 million individuals were infected with HIV AIDS. A large percentage of this population was in Africa. In the developing countries, most of the deaths are caused by AIDS as the fifth major killer. The case in Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan region, is that diseases like AIDS are the third major killer. Similarly, despite the realization of the disease over 25 years ago there has not been any cure and vaccination (Red Cross Red Cresent, 2009). Apart from diseases as if AIDS, the other common disasters in Africa include flooding, which has had adverse effects on the farming in developing countries, droughts and epidemics, earthquakes, civil strife and population movement. The population movement involves refugees and people who are internally displaced due to ethnic clashes and tribal wars/disagreements (Christopher & Tatham, 2011).

Management of disasters in Africa

Preparedness

The disaster that will be focused on in this case is the dreaded disease of AIDS. The disaster was chosen due to its rampant effect on many lives in Africa. Though disaster preparedness has been implemented in most of the developing countries, the adoption of different strategies to aid preparedness has been taken for granted. Preparedness involves the formulation of policies that have to be implemented in case of a disaster, planning of relevant strategies and programs that will educate the public on the best methods to reduce disaster hazards. Preparedness should also entail the training of staff and undertaking the advocacy work in the cases of emergencies (Holden, 2003). There has to be a developing capacity to ensure preparedness of disasters. This has to be done through international agencies and the assistance of the local community to educate the citizens on vulnerability reduction and response strategies. The state governments are obligated to aid the communities financially and ensure the community is educated appropriately (Veenema, 2007).

Response, Recovery and Mitigation from Disasters

Drug supply is one of the most critical response incentives for the African countries that are hard hit by the disease and other hazardous disasters. The UN agency and other charitable organizations including the Red Cross have been responding to the victims of diseases in Africa. A clear example is the supply of Anti-retro Viral drugs (ARV's) to the victims of AIDS. The sub-Saharan region, which is the most affected by the disease, has been receiving considerable amounts of drugs to sustain the ill individuals. This response strategy has been effective in the control of diseases. When the response and recovery strategies seem to be futile in the reduction of the disaster effects, there has to be both short-term and long-term mitigation strategies. The community and government have to implement these mitigation measures. The measures are supposed to reduce or rather minimize the negative implications in case of eventual disaster situations. The most effective measure includes publicity, where both the media and other relevant authorities have to be used to sensitize the public on the preventive measures to reduce risks involved in the disaster. Publicity could also be used to communicate to the masses on the most appropriate methods to grapple with the disasters when they strike unexpected (Oniang'o, 2009).

International Practices to avoid potential losses

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) has assisted embodies the concept of reduction of disasters. The vision of the strategy is to enhance public awareness in case of disasters affecting the African countries. The public awareness is used to provide training to the different communities and the entire society. Training in most situations is on measures to be taken by individuals when disasters strike unexpectedly. Knowledge is provided by the relevant training personnel to individuals, to ensure they have a hint on what to react in case of tragedies. The other strategy includes the initiatives to form work groups that are supposed to assist the victims of disaster. This reaction is determined by the intensity and adversity of the disaster. Other strategies include providing funds to the affected people and allowing for reforms that will assist to mitigate the disasters when they occur.

Local Government and International Agencies

Practices in Disaster Management