Previous Disasters in Asia - Case Study Example

PREVIOUS DISASTERS IN ASIA Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City (State) Date Word Count = 2,050 words Previous Disasters in Asia Table of Content Abstract 3 1.0 Introduction 3 2.0 Disasters in Asia 4 2.1 Bangladesh Case Study 5 2.2 Indonesia Case Study 7 2.3 Pakistan Case Study 8 3.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 9 Reference List 10 Abstract Asia is one of the regions that are most prone to natural disasters. The region experiences disasters such as tsunamis, nuclear crisis, cyclones, and earthquakes. However, due to their poor economic situation, in most of the scenarios the impact of the disasters has been greater. Since the natural disasters cannot be prevented easily, the countries often lack resources to mitigate the impacts of the disasters. As a result, Asia has experienced 80 percent of the total global deaths relating to disasters. Various of the countries that have been hit most by disasters include Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia. It is, therefore, important that these countries focus more efforts in prevention of the disasters as opposed to responding to them. 1.0 Introduction Most of the previous disasters in Asia are natural. For instance, in December 2014 there was an earthquake in China while on 11 March 2011; Japan experienced a triple disaster that entailed a nuclear crisis, tsunami, and an earthquake. Natural disasters are universal, and no country is immune to their harsh wreaking havoc that destroys without discrimination. The impact that Asia has experienced courtesy of disasters include loss of lives, livelihoods, and homes that have been associated with negative economic impacts of the countries involved. Asia is defined as the region that is most prone to disasters (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific [ESCAP] 2015). In explanation, it is not only frequently hit by the disasters but also lack the resources to mitigate the impacts thus making the population more vulnerable. Even though natural disasters might strike any part of the world, the poor people suffer the most. In addition, weak economies and governance are mostly affected compared to their counterparts. The poor usually live in areas that are more exposed yet have few resources and vulnerable livelihoods to mitigate their losses. 2.0 Disasters in Asia Disasters have been a major threat for the development of Asia. Even though the continent occupies only 30 percent of the global land mass, 40 percent of the disasters that have happened in the world in the last decade have occurred in the region (Asian Century Institute 2014). As a result, Asia has experienced 80 percent of the total global deaths relating to disasters. For instance, 2.7 percent of China’s annual gross domestic product is lost courtesy of disasters while some of the poorer countries, more so those located in the small islands, can experience a 10 to 15 decline in their gross domestic product due to a single disaster since their economy relies in single sectors such as tourism or a particular crop growth. Approximately half of the deaths caused by natural disasters in Asia in the past decade have been due to tsunamis and earthquakes. However, the tsunamis and earthquakes in the region during the past decade accounted for only 12 of the natural disasters. A third of the deaths in the region were caused by food insecurity and drought. More than two thousand natural disasters that struck Asia in the past two decades have claimed almost a million lives. However, there are six main disasters that accounted for 5 percent of the fatalities caused by the disasters. First is the Japan’s earthquake and tsunami of 2011 that kills approximately 20,000 people (Asian Century Institute 2014). Second is the tsunami that occurred in the Indian Ocean in 2004 killed more than 200,000 people while the third one is the Cyclone Nargis of 2008 in Myanmar took away 140,000 lives. In 1991, there was a Cyclone Gorky in Bangladesh that took 140,000 lives and the China’s 2008 earthquake that killed 90,000 people. Lastly is the Pakistan’s earthquake of 2005 that killed 75,000 people. Disasters related to weather have been increasing gradually in the global context. In explanation, in the 1990s there were approximately 200 weather-related disasters per year and the number has increased to 350 (Asian Century Institute 2014). Global warming might have been one of the factors increasing the rate of natural disasters. The value of world economy at risk of the flood has increased by 50 percent since 1990 with Asia being the host of three-quarters of the population at risk. Even though the natural disasters cannot be physically reduced, the risks associated with the occurrence can be reduced. The international humanitarian assistance in 2008 was about $ 16.9 billion with $12.8 billion and $ 4.1 billion coming from the governments and private sectors respectively (Asian Century Institute 2014). However, only 0.7 percent of the funds were used for prevention despite the argument that a dollar used in the prevention of risk could save $ 7 regarding economic losses. The sub-sections below are some of the case studies on disasters in Asia. 2.1 Bangladesh Case Study In Bangladesh, most of the population lives in high mortality rate areas (Asia Development Bank [ADB] 2013). Despite being a poor developing country, it has made impressive scales in dealing with disasters. For instance, after the Cyclone Bhola killed 300,000 people in November 1970, Bangladesh has put up measures in mitigating the effects of disasters despite the limited resources. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society initiated a Cyclone Preparedness Programme in 1972. The society managed the program jointly with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. A team was developed that disseminated cyclone information and carried rescue operations in the prone coastal areas. The government also improved the capacity of the relevant organizations so as to improve the early warning systems. Bangladesh has invested above $ 10 billion in the last 30 years so as to become less vulnerable and more climate-resilient (ADB 2013). It has a tripartite model that helps guide the emergency response and disaster risk management. Two of the components focus on risk reduction while the other responds to natural hazards. The Bangladesh government has developed reforms to implement and support the non-structural and structural measures in the infrastructural projects. In 1992, the government created the Disaster Management Bureau and the National Plan for Disaster Management 2010-2015 that provided the strategic framework to which the disaster was to be managed (ADB 2013). The main goal of the framework was to ensure emergency disaster preparedness and risk reduction. The government also acknowledged the relations between poverty and disaster management. However, the Bangladesh successes have not been free from other challenges such as climate change. In explanation, climate change has increased the vulnerability of the locals. The government, therefore, need to integrating risk reduction and disasters into institutional practices and cultures. In addition, the disaster risk reduction should be integrated into all the ministries. Efforts should also be put in place to accelerate and strengthen awareness creation and decentralization process (Alexander 2003). The nation also needs to improve the vulnerability and flood forecasting and the early warning systems. Furthermore, it needs to initiate innovative sustainable schemes for social protection, increase the rate of social investment, and identify alternative sources of finance. Focus also should be put more on prevention as opposed to recovery to avoid impacts on health. 2.2 Indonesia Case Study The Indonesian archipelago is made of approximately 18,000 islands that experience all types of natural hazards thus making the most vulnerable countries in the world. It has, therefore, been difficult to enhance inclusive economic development and human development of the country. The disaster with most health impact was that of 26 December 2004 in the coastal part of Sumatra after a hit by a tsunami and earthquake. The catastrophe says approximately 230,000 people lose their lives with Indonesia having about 160,000 casualties (ADB 2013). The disaster destroyed the infrastructure of the most hit communities rendering 20 percent of the people living in Aceh Province homeless. It also damaged 20 percent of the Nais Island’s land area. After three months, there was another earthquake off Sumatra that killed 850 people and injured almost 6,000 on Nais. In response to the disaster, Indonesia presented to the development community how to handle such misfortunes. The presentation gave an exemplary case study on the importance of bottom-top decision making and decentralization of the risk management systems. For instance, to react to the disasters, Indonesia established authority in Banda Aceh province instead of its capital Jakarta. It is the province that experienced the greatest hit thus was suitable to be the capital base for addressing the problem. Since the country was highly centralized, the government decided to develop the Agency for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Aceh and Nais (ADB 2013). The agency delegated power to the locals to develop a comprehensive community response mechanism. As a result, a more permanent agency for overseeing the management of disaster management was developed. However, the vulnerability of the country due to floods will continue to increase due to the increase in the frequency of the hydro-meteorological cases (ADB 2013). Even though the climatic changes might be universal, Asia is suffering due to it. The region also suffers from large forest fires that are often initiated by the slash-and-burn farming system. As a result, forest fires have been a perennial environmental threat to Indonesia and its neighbors. Indonesia has invested much on prevention of the disasters contrary to Bangladesh. The investment on prevention mechanism has been significantly improving since the 1990s. Since the mid-1990s, the disaster support programs have focused more on addressing the perennial flooding in the area (ADB 2013). Focus also has been on addressing the climate change-related impacts such as drought due to El Nino. 2.3 Pakistan Case Study Pakistan is vulnerable to natural hazards due to deserts and floodplains in its southern part and its northern mountains. As a result, disaster risk management in the area has been more complicated compared to Bangladesh and Indonesia. The Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains expose the northern region of the country to floods, avalanches, and winter storms. On the other hand, floods and droughts affect the floodplains while earthquakes have been detrimental to the whole nation. An earthquake with a magnitude more than 7.5 has hit Pakistan three times leading to above 120,000 deaths. Pakistan has shown inadequate political commitment in the management of disaster risks. It has focused more on the disasters response mechanism as opposed to prevention thus causing more difficulties (Lazarte 2011). However, the government has progressed in coordinating disaster response mechanisms after the 2005 earthquake. In explanation, the government established a comprehensive national disaster management framework that focuses on prevention mechanisms. The legal framework now needs a political good will, coordination, human resources, and funding for successful implementation. Development communities can, therefore, be of more help in these areas. 3.0 Conclusion and Recommendations Asia is the region that is most hit by the natural disasters. The disasters have not only affected the economic development of the countries but also the social aspects including health. Some of the areas in the region that are most hit by the disasters include Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan. After a series of the disasters in these countries, efforts have been put in place to ensure that disasters are managed. Focus has switched and today the countries focus on preventing the disasters as opposed to response. As a recommendation, the Asian countries should invest more in the management of disasters. First, the countries need to minimize the number of people exposed to natural disasters. This can be made possible through enhancing the infrastructural improvements; issuing realistic alternatives to the people living in disaster prone areas, and restoring and protecting the ecosystems that caution the natural disasters' impacts. Second, Asian countries should exploit the early warning systems. In explanation, it should ensure that the individuals get the warnings; flexible systems are developed, and method and warning customized to the local communities cultures and beliefs. Third, the countries need to strengthen their resilience. This can be made possible through expanding the income options of the rural communities including minimizing the reliance on a particular crop; promoting regional cooperation to help the hit economies to recover; and restoring and protecting ecosystems that enhance and provide the livelihoods of the people living in rural areas. In addition, the local communities should be strengthened and funded more since they are the people that provide the immediate assistance that is vital in case of a disaster. Greater priority should, therefore, be given to strengthening the preparedness of the local communities as opposed to the national or international ones. Reference List Alexander, D 2003, ‘Towards the development of standards in emergency management training and education’, Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, pp.113-123. Asia Development Bank 2013, The rise of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific, Asia Development Bank, Metro Manila. Asian Century Institute 2014, Natural disasters in Asia. Available from: < http://www.asiancenturyinstitute.com/environment/40-natural-disasters-in-asia >. [8 September 2016]. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 2015, Overview of natural disasters and their impacts in Asia and the Pacific 1970-2014. Available from: < http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Technical%20paper- Overview%20of%20natural%20hazards%20and%20their%20impacts_final.pdf >. [8 September 2016]. Lazarte, M 2011, New ISO standard for emergency management. Available from: < http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index/news_archive/news.htm?refid=Ref1496 >. [8 September 2016]. Read More