Challenges Of Disaster Management

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Disasters, especially natural hazards are a major problem worldwide and a serious threat to sustainable development. Their impacts are diverse; as well as loss of life, injury and disease and the destruction of property and other assets. Disasters can also cause social and economic disruption, loss of infrastructure and other services and damage to the environment. The 20th century witnessed an increase in disaster losses and this has continued its upward trend to the current century. This necessitated for a comprehensive management tool to reduce the damage caused by these hazards on humankind. The evolution of disaster management field in the Southern African region over the past few years has seen a progressively wider and deeper understanding …show more content…

Other studies have been conducted studying one variable like floods or fire focusing mostly on communities living in the informal settlements. These studies have concluded that in the event of any disaster the communities especially the poor communities suffer the greatest impact, most therefore strategies like intensive training should be done so that they (communities) are empowered to prevent disasters before they occur. “……..Disasters have inflicted a huge cost on human, materials and physical resources, and degradation to the environment. Furthermore, disasters have negative physical impacts (which include casualties and property damage) and social impacts (which include psycho-social, socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and socio-political). A study review of literature has revealed that the development of disaster risk management strategies ought to be undertaken before the event strikes. Moreover, disaster management requires effective community-based strategies which will include programmes and measures to prevent, prepare, mitigate and recover from the impacts of disasters (Ngcamu 2011: …show more content…

van Niekerk (2011:16) on a study whether disaster management is an academic rhetoric or practical reality concluded that it is a practical reality, and should be used as a “vehicle” to reduce disaster risks to all spheres of government, and not only to one government entity. Disaster reduction policies and measures need to be implemented, with a twofold aim: to enable societies to be resilient to hazards while ensuring that development efforts do not increase vulnerability to these

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