Risk Returns

[

] 63

Hazardscape: community

preparedness in Brunei Darussalam

Yahya Haji Abdul Rahman, National Disaster Management Centre, Brunei Darussalam

he climate in Brunei Darussalam is generally hot and wet

throughout the year. The wettest months are between

December and March, when the north-east monsoon

winds bring torrential rains. There is also rain from May to

July, when lowland regions, especially in flood plain areas,

are regularly inundated with water for several days. Brunei

Darussalam also experiences dry spells between the monsoons,

during which time bush and forest fires and regional trans-

boundary haze are common.

Because of climate change, the country is experiencing more

frequent and intense rainfall that leads to floods in areas normally

not affected. This has also triggered more landslides and other

secondary hazards, which have an adverse impact on Government

and public infrastructure and socioeconomic activities.

Government-led initiatives

In response to these threats, the government of Brunei Darussalam

has increased its efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its popu-

lation. Since the establishment of the National Disaster

Management Centre (NDMC) Brunei Darussalam in

2006, serious measures have been implemented to

ensure that all aspects of disaster management – miti-

gation and prevention, preparedness, response and

recovery – are considered.

The NDMC has developed strategies for response and

preparedness with the main objective of building disaster-

resilient communities. In parallel to enhancing the disaster

response mechanism by using an Incident Command

System, the NDMC has embarked on a campaign to

increase public awareness through Community-Based

Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). This shift from

reactive to proactive strategies is part of the NDMC’s

efforts to build the nation’s disaster resilience.

The CBDRM approach encourages active community

engagement in the identification, analysis, treatment,

monitoring and evaluation of risks in order to reduce

vulnerabilities and enhance capacity. Basic life saving

2014

Minister of Home Affairs leads multi-agency coordination with

communities to build resilience

Trainers from Government agencies use historical data to

conduct risk assesments

Image: NDMC