Implications in the light of the experiences and perspectives of Mukhtars as local community leaders in the scope of disaster management

Abstract

Involving local actors in disaster management practices is crucial to the transition to community-based disaster management (CBDM). This study, which includes the perspectives of mukhtars who have a say in local policy and planning decisions but are not sufficiently included in the local disaster management system, aims to give policymakers a new perspective on the roles and responsibilities that mukhtars can take in disasters and emergencies. In this descriptive study, thematic analysis of the data obtained by the semi-structured interview technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was carried out. Within the scope of the study, using a purposeful sampling method, interviews were conducted with 22 village mukhtars who had experienced landslides, rockfalls, avalanches, and floods in the past. In the analyses, the themes of preparedness, service continuity, response, organization, communication, and capacity building, which include the roles and responsibilities of mukhtars in disaster management, were revealed. In addition, the study results showed that the most significant shortcomings of local disaster organizations are education, infrastructure, and equipment, and the points that the mukhtars consider disadvantageous are incompetence, non-participatory disaster policies, and cumbersome bureaucratic structure. Organizing the local people, who have a high level of volunteerism and a spirit of solidarity, and who currently support disaster response with simple equipment to solve the stated deficiencies and disadvantages and to guide them effectively in disaster situations, offers unique opportunities for CBDM.