Do Natural Disasters lead to internal conflict within a country - Essay Example

?Do Natural Disasters lead to internal conflict within a country? Natural disasters occur suddenly and thus the reason that these create the most anarchy within a region. The people are the worst sufferers because their homes have been dismantled and the property that remained within their fore is affected nonetheless (Topkaya, 2011). The natural disasters that have hit the world in recent times are enough to let all and sundry know that these have been catastrophic and have caused immense damage to mankind and property. The fact that natural disasters can have serious impact on the society and the people suggests that these need to be managed in a proper way (Shaw, 2011). If this does not happen, there would be immense problems for the entire civilization and the one that comes about as a result of the natural disasters and calamities existing within the region. The natural disasters are deemed as some of the most significant problems that have come about with the passage of time within this day and age. This is because they can come about suddenly and their drastic effects are something to get worried about (Perry, 2007). What is even more worsening is the fact that the natural disasters lead to an anarchic state and the people feel juxtaposed in terms of loss of property and even the loss of lives within their families and friends. The internal conflict can arise within a country because people might feel that since they have already lost their family members and their homes and property, they might as well claim control upon the property remains intact of others. It gives them the leeway to do whatsoever they feel like and thus exert their influence in more ways than one (Dyi, 2009). The internal conflicts do come about because the people have been hard done by. They have no other means to make both ends meet and the aid and help seem to be a far gone conclusion. What they can think best under these times is to seek refuge somewhere and this is only possible when they can play havoc with the system that exists within the country at that point in time. Similarly, they are also aware that they can create anarchy and mess by loot and plundering at that time because they might get back on their feet but they would not be able to become as rich as the well-off individuals of the society and it is best for them to exploit the ways and means of the people who have seen good days within their lives (Stevens, 2008). Thus loot and plundering becomes the buzzword within such settings and for a number of different reasons, not all of which are based on problematic issues and concerns. The conflicts within a country can also come about in the wake of natural disasters if the select group of people is bent upon finding out where they can gain something or the other, and at any point in time within their lives. They are always waiting for an opportunity that they cash upon, and once they come to know of such concerns that emit from the aegis of the natural disasters, they seem to grab it with both hands, thinking less of the people who are already suffering or will suffer due to the calamity or catastrophe which has hit them (Mulligan, 2011). The earthquakes of Turkey, Haiti, Chile, Indonesia and Pakistan are some of the examples where contrasting features of conflict came about. The catastrophes that took place in these nations shook the basis of the people and their governments came in with drastic steps to take care of the local populace. The conflicts came in when the people realized that they would have to get their respective house in order so that sanity could prevail within their ranks (Rosowsky, 2011). These individuals create anarchy because they want to ransack the property and incur loses on the part of the government, partly in line with the shortcomings that the organizations and institutions, and basically the government has had in the dealing with the masses of the society. The underdeveloped countries are the worst hit – mainly because they have fewer avenues of proper infrastructure and management shortcomings. The manner in which the underdeveloped countries deal with such problems is something that needs to be adequately discussed. These nations have experienced difficulties because there is absence of law and order mechanisms and the people at large do not know whom to obey and when. They are unaware of the difficult circumstances as and when they come up and thus know little about providing relief and rehabilitation to the people around them as well as to their own selves. Thus there is a dire need to understand where the ambiguities come up from and how these need to be resolved in the wake of such catastrophes and calamities (Fernandez, 2011). If the government plays its role well and clears the obstacles that stand between it and the people that exist under its domains, then these issues will not arise in the first place. People will heave sigh of relief and thus know exactly what to do under such natural disasters that happen suddenly and without any warning whatsoever. In the end, it would be fitting to state that these natural disasters need to be analyzed and understood properly before one decides to go ahead with their rectification plans, and more so under the aegis of the underdeveloped nations where emphasis is on getting the rehabilitation under grasps easily and with managed proportions (Paton, 2007). The natural disasters should always be watched out by the government’s different units and institutions so that any anomalies which take place in the name of anarchy and rifts are managed without much difficulty. However, there are bound to be problems left, right and center when the natural disasters come about and these should always be handled with care and a sense of purpose attached with the masses (Siddiqui, 2010). In entirety, it is the people for whom the measures need to be enacted and hence all success under such difficult realms is dependent on the individuals who are sitting at the helm of affairs. Works Cited Dyi, Joanna. Lessons from history: coastal cities and natural disaster. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 20(4), 2009 Fernandez, Glenn. Roles of School in Disaster Education. Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, 7, 2011 Mulligan, Martin. Lessons from Indian Ocean tsunami disaster still to be learnt. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 2(1), 2011 Paton, Douglas. Preparing for natural hazards: the role of community trust. Disaster Prevention and Management, 16(3), 2007 Perry, Marcia. Natural disaster management planning: A study of logistics managers responding to the tsunami. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(5), 2007 Rosowsky, David. Recovery: Rebuilding a Resilient Housing Stock. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 2(2), 2011 Shaw, Rajib. Implementation Tools for Disaster Education. Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, 7, 2011 Siddiqui, Kamal. Resource capability for local government in managing disaster. Disaster Prevention and Management, 19(4), 2010 Stevens, Kim. Natural Disaster Reference Database. Reference Reviews, 22(5), 2008 Topkaya, Yavuz. Earthquake preparedness in schools in seismic hazard regions in the South-East of Turkey. Disaster Prevention and Management, 20(3), 2011 Read More