Disaster Management and Humanitarian Action

Introduction

Disasters can occur at any time, with or without warning, and in any place. When a disaster strikes, national infrastructures and social systems often collapse and thousands of people are left amongst the ruins desperately trying to piece their lives back together. In 2010, mega-disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti or the floods in Pakistan were strong reminders of this level of destruction. The death toll for Haiti reached over 200,000 with an estimated 1 million people being displaced from their homes (Reuters, 2010). In Pakistan, the number of affected people reached a staggering 17.2 million with a death toll of more than 1500 people (US AID, 2010). Especially in mega-disasters such as these, alongside the loss of life (including the people who would deliver services), government buildings, schools, hospitals, clinics, markets, businesses as well as other community structures are destroyed, together with transport and communication systems. international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) converge on the disaster zone in an effort to deliver life-sustaining services.

The World Disaster Report: Focus on Public Health (2000) indicated that 96 percent of deaths from natural disasters have occurred in developing countries. It suggests that some of the root causes of deaths from natural disasters are lack of resources, deforestation, global capitalism, global warming, and political agendas (IFRC, 2000). Given the immense loss of family, friends, livelihoods and communities, psychological and social (or psychosocial) interventions have to be included in international organizations’ programming. How a community has handled disasters in the past, as well as the actors, are key issues. People who have been involved either in a disaster or in disaster management are essential to any discussion on how better to address disasters.

This chapter emphasizes the social worker's role in humanitarian action in conjunction with disaster management strategies needed during preparedness, relief, and recovery stages. Actors and organizations in [Page 295]the field of disaster management, particularly the United Nations (UN) and its work through national governments, intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental agencies, and civil society organizations, are discussed. A framework for disaster management that emphasizes both pre- and post-disaster periods is presented, including reference to essential stages of disaster management, such as assessment, mitigation, preparedness, relief, and recovery. The chapter draws on examples from different locations to illustrate the vulnerability of particular communities and possible responses to human-caused and natural disasters.1

Challenges Resulting from Human-Caused and Natural Disasters

The number of disasters globally is increasing, as is the number of disaster victims (Zakour, 2010). Gillespie and Danso (2010) suggest that the increasing occurrence of disasters around the world, with their impact on the environment, property and services as well as populations, makes it imperative that social work educators, researchers, and practitioners become knowledgeable about disasters. Challenges resulting from recent human-caused and natural disasters, from terrorist attacks to tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, have demonstrated the need for specialized training so that effective responses can be offered to those affected. Calls for more coordinated emergency planning to mitigate the devastating humanitarian catastrophes that follow naturally occurring disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes) are not new (e.g. Banerjee and Gillespie, 1994); and some scientists consider that the impact of natural disasters can be addressed and reduced with rigorous planning and the coordination of efforts among local, national, and international organizations (Soliman, 2010: 237). However, stronger local, national, regional, and international partnerships for effective interventions in disaster situations, both in the long and short terms, are still to be developed.

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