Why is disaster risk reduction Important?

It helps us identify and map local capacities to cope with these hazards. Ultimately, the
DRR approach helps us conduct effective disaster response while reducing risks that
similar disasters will reoccur. It also ensures that our emergency response does no
harm by replacing or reinstating critical vulnerabilities.

1.4 WHY DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IS

IMPORTANT DURING AND AFTER
EMERGENCIES
A disaster risk reduction approach helps us consider our emergency response activities in light of
existing and new disaster risks. This enables us to design or adjust our activities so that people and
communities become safer and more disaster-resilient, as well as safeguarding efforts to create and
expand enabling conditions for sustainable poverty alleviation and development.

DRR approaches and tools will prevent relief work from rebuilding the vulnerabilities that made
people prone to similar disasters. DRR provides valuable insights into the underlying factors of
vulnerability to hazards and the features of those hazards. It helps us identify and map local
capacities to cope with these hazards. Ultimately, the DRR approach helps us conduct effective
disaster response while reducing risks that similar disasters will reoccur. It also ensures that our
emergency response does no harm by replacing or reinstating critical vulnerabilities. Some practical
examples of DRR issues are outlined in the case study in section 3.2.

A disaster is a natural or man-made (or technological) hazard resulting in an event of substantial extent
causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment. A
disaster can be ostensively defined as any tragic event stemming from events such as earthquakes,
floods, catastrophic accidents, fires, or explosions. It is a phenomenon that can cause damage to life and
property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of people.

The ethical principles applied during disasters: (i) Humanitarian assistance; (ii) Information

and participation during disasters; (iii) Compulsory evacuation of populations; (iv) Respect of
dignity; (v) Respect of persons; (vi) Emergency assistance for the most vulnerable persons; (vii)
The importance of rescue ...

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a term used for reducing and preventing disaster risks. It is
founded on the principle that while hazards are inevitable, its adverse effects like lost lives
and/or destruction of property are not. There are steps that we can do to ensure reduction of
risks. DRR actions can be political, technical, social and economic.
Disasters are often described as a result of the combination of several things: the exposure to a
hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences.

DISASTER IMPACTS
  loss of life
 injury
 disease
 other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being,
 damage to property
 destruction of assets
 loss of services, social
 economic disruption and environmental degradation

The word “risk” has two connotations:

 General Usage- the emphasis is usually placed on the concept of
chance or possibility on an event and its negative consequence, such
as in “the risk of an accident”
 Technical Settings- the emphasis is usually placed on the
consequences, in terms of “potential losses” for some particular
cause, place and period.
The term disaster risk therefore refers to
the potential (not actual) disaster losses,
in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets
and services, which could occur in a
particular community or society over
some specified future time period.

HAZARD
Defined as a “dangerous phenomenon,
substance, human activity or condition
that may cause:
 loss of life
 injury or other health impacts
 property damage
 loss of livelihoods and services
 social and economic disruption
 environmental damage

Hazards can be single, sequential or combined in their origin and effects. Each hazard is
characterized by its location, intensity, probability and likely frequency.

The hazards of concern to disaster risk reduction are hazards that arise from a variety of
geological, meteorological, hydrological, oceanic, biological, and technological sources,
sometimes acting in combination.
 VULNERABILITY
Defined as the characteristics and
circumstances of a community, system
or asset that make it susceptible to the
damaging effects of a hazard.
Vulnerability is a set of prevailing or consequential conditions arising from various
physical, social, economic and environmental factors which increase the susceptibility of
a community to the impact of hazards Vulnerability also comprise various physical, social,
economic, political and environmental factors that affect the ability of communities to
respond to events.

CAPACITY
Defined as the combination of all the
strengths, attributes and resources
available within a community, society or
organization that can be used to achieve
agreed goals.
Capacity may include:

 infrastructure and physical means

 institutions
 societal coping abilities
 human knowledge
 skills
 collective attributes such as social relationships
 leadership
 management
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks
through analysis and management of the causal factors of disasters.

It leads to

 reduced exposure to hazards

 lessening of vulnerability of people and assets
 effective management of land and the environment
 improved preparedness for adverse events

Disaster risk reduction usually requires long-term planning across sectors and must be
integrated into general national and regional development strategies. DRR strategies
usually begin with plans for assessing:

(a) the hazards and risks that threaten the target area,

(b) the extent of harm that would occur to communities and infrastructure, and

(c) the vulnerable people’s capacities to cope with and recover from possible disasters.

Components of DRRR and

Management
POST EVENT

response

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. Disaster response is predominantly
focused on immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief”.

recovery

The restoration, and improvement where appropriate, of facilities, livelihoods and living
conditions of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors. The
recovery task of rehabilitation and reconstruction begins soon after the emergency phase has
ended, and should be based on pre-existing strategies and policies that facilitate clear
institutional responsibilities for recovery action and enable public participation.

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management
Community based disaster risk management (CBDRM) is a process, which leads to a
locally appropriate and locally ‘owned’ strategy for disaster preparedness and risk
reduction.

It calls the involvement of the members of at-risk communities in the entire disaster risk
management cycle.

Cddrm basic frame work

 Community as main actor

 Capacity building of the community
 Utilization of local resources
 Involvement of all stakeholders
 Sensitivity to gender and cultural differences
 Clear responsibilities and accountability
 Linked to the development process
 Sustainability