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R
esilience
and
disaster
preparedness
Development of a nation and DPRR initiatives must run simul-
taneously. But what mechanisms should be put in place? Which
sectors require priority focus? And how much should be invested in
these initiatives? All of these call for an integrated approach incor-
porating adaptation and effective advocacy plans with extensive
research and careful planning for effective cooperation and commu-
nication within communities, to address prevailing and unique sets
of challenges and constraints. This must be accompanied by master
prevention plans and robust crisis management systems.
Focus on communities
Effective DPRR requires an integrated stakeholders’ approach where
strategies and policies are appropriately adapted at all levels. There
must be greater and immediate focus – in terms of attention and
resources – on communities where prevailing and unique chal-
lenges and the threat of disasters are imminent.
Adaptation of DPRR must be in consultation with local commu-
nities, enabling them to share their experiences, concerns and
knowledge of the local terrains, culture and history with planners
and policymakers. Local governments should invest more in vulner-
ability assessments based on geographical, cultural and awareness
levels as part of capacity-building initiatives. For central govern-
ments, adaptive DPRR activities should be set as development
criteria to allocate funds to local governments for area development.
Development agencies should incorporate adaptive DPRR activities
in their development and capacity-building programmes, and disas-
ter relief agencies should include longer-term development and risk
reduction goals in relief and reconstruction programmes.
There is also a need for critical supply chain management of acute
disaster relief items, including optimized stockpiling of survival essen-
tials. Coupling community-based DPRR and development
projects will aid the sustainability of disaster-resilient
communities as economic development is directly linked
to structural resilience measures, and investment in
non-structural DPRR measures would be beneficial.
International donors should share their expertise and
provide funding for appropriate DPRR adaptation activities
through development projects, setting them as a priority.
Forward-looking measures
Budgeting for DPRR is generally less popular as the
benefits are less visible and only seem useful to the local
population upon realization of the anticipated risks. On
the contrary, the willingness and ability to implement
forward-looking measures by local governments and
communities to prevent, and secure their area from,
menaces to peace, stability and security may lead to
increased confidence from domestic and foreign inves-
tors. This in turn would lead to resources being injected
into local economies. Sustainable development hinges
on proper planning and real resources.
As climate change creates more uncertainty in weather
prediction, there needs to be a change of mindset from
government agencies, decision makers and the public.
Nature is a powerful force and there are limits to engi-
neering solutions. Hence, community resilience is
crucial. More focus and effort must be channelled to
strengthen public awareness and a culture of prepared-
ness. Communities must not only try to overcome the
power of nature, but also learn to cope with it.
Case Study 3: Mount Merapi eruptions – Central Java, Indonesia
Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, started erupting in
October 2010 with continuous eruptions thereafter.
The eruptions took 386 lives and displaced more than 300,000 people
as thick ashes, boulders and rivers of hot mud destroyed farmlands
as far as 20 kilometres from the volcano, causing US$781 million in
financial losses.
MR was on site within 48 hours of the first eruption, supporting the
evacuation of tens of thousands of villagers, setting up a central kitchen
to feed the survivors and providing respiratory care equipment at local
medical centres. The ensuing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts
included a comprehensive disaster risk mitigation programme focusing
on structural and non-structural components, and developmental
projects including the rehabilitation of community water systems and
provision of further respiratory care equipment for three health centres
where medical personnel were trained on first response and respiratory
care management. Merapi tends to erupt every four to five years, hence
two large multipurpose halls were constructed at schools in the Dukun
and Muntilan sub-districts, for conversion into relief evacuation centres
in future emergencies. An early warning system was established and
educational workshops and disaster preparedness drills were held to
prepare communities for future eruptions.
MR partnered with the local government and community to introduce
adaptive DPRR activities through a full-scale disaster preparedness
exercise for the Magelang district, involving an emergency response
specialist agency, Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Although there was an existing framework for disaster management
within the villages near Mount Merapi, it was found to be insufficient
during the response as allocated evacuation centres did not have
adequate water and sanitation facilities, and the scale of eruption was
more severe than anticipated.
MR’s integrated DPRR programme included activities with longer-term
development goals and the strengthening of core public institutions
during peace time. It emphasized the need to customize DPRR based
on geographical, cultural and awareness aspects with alternative
contingencies and complex emergency crisis management planning,
and the sharing of experience and expertise by specialized international
organizations. DPRR adaptation in both structural and non-structural
components is critical to effective emergency responses, including
cultivating community resilience. Its effects await discovery at the next
eruption of Merapi.