Disaster-affected Communities Research Articles

Risk Epistemologies and Aesthetic Reflexivity of a Disaster-Affected Community: Findings from Vietnam

Scholars and policymakers often use their expert knowledge to define the risk that laypeople face. Nonetheless, they have frequently overlooked how laypeople describe and explain the risks they face on a daily basis. Moreover, an emphasis on individualisation and reflexivity in Western societies has led to little understanding of how a non-Western community constructs its shared risk culture and how this culture associates aesthetic reflexivity and risk epistemologies. The purpose of this research is to fill these gaps by exploring how Vietnamese farmers reflexively define risk in their everyday lives, which in turn informs their risk-taking attitude and action. Drawing on a case study of disaster-prone farmers in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, this research reveals a distinct set of farmers’ risk epistemologies through a process of hermeneutic reflexivity situated in their risk culture and a shared identity. They do not view risk as wholly negative but rather as an opportunity to attain the aim of surviving and profiting. They see cultivating a risky crop as a collective action of risking their lives, sharing with their community both the challenges and the opportunities that risk might offer. My article makes a case for sociological research into non-Western civilizations, where late modernity and reflexivity might not be accompanied by individualisation but rather with collectivism and tradition.

Unravelling the challenges for long-term planning post-disaster resettlement in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Typhoon Washi hit the southern Philippine city of Cagayan de Oro in December 2011, causing massive destruction and displacing 40 per cent of the city’s population, 85 per cent of whom were informal settlers of highly vulnerable areas on the riverbanks. Informal settlers considered by the government as the most vulnerable residents were forcibly resettled in relocation sites in the peri-urban areas. The new settlements and houses fulfilled minimum Philippine standards for emergency housing with limited understanding of local conditions and creating gaps in the residents’ needs. In the following years, residents proactively modified their houses to fill initial housing gaps. The impacts of the residents’ self-help initiatives related to construction safety and the creation of new risks associated with low construction quality, materials and increased density in the houses are major concerns for the government which is responsible for policies to guide the urban development of these sites. This paper aims to assess the impacts of policies in the urban development of the resettlement sites for low-income disaster-affected communities. To do so, this paper analyses interviews with local government officials, analysing residents’ self-help housing construction seven years after the disaster and how these were considered in the local planning policies. Furthermore, the country’s post-disaster recovery planning changes will be analysed. The findings will provide insights into government-related challenges to guarantee the technical performance of the houses and the advances and crucial remaining governance challenges for implementing urban development policies.

Community Members as Fieldwork Guides in Disaster Settings: Ethics of Care Through a Relational Methodology of Empathy and Trust

This reflexive account of fieldwork with disaster-affected communities in Kerala, India, recounts the researcher’s engagement with positionality and ethics. A participatory method was adopted—enlisting local field guides who mediated the researcher’s interactions with participants. Apart from offering pragmatic solutions for accessing participants, the method enhanced the researcher’s contextual/cultural insight, and facilitated a relationship of trust. The researcher-guide dynamic is explored as a co-constructing and relational method that minimizes harm and maximizes benefit for participants. Ethics of care is elucidated as a practicable ethical framework for thinking and doing disaster research, illustrated with reference to the present method.

Optimalisasi Dengan Metode Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) dan Reliability Centered Spares (RCS)

Disasters are a series of events that threaten and disrupt people's lives and livelihoods caused by both natural and non-natural and human factors, resulting in human casualties, environmental damage, property losses and psychological impacts. From the losses caused, alertness is needed in order to reduce the side effects that will occur. The social service is one of the government institutions that has an important role in being involved in the distribution of social assistance needed by disaster-affected communities. This role is also a form of alertness carried out by the Social Service in the implementation of disaster response. South Sulawesi Province is one of the large provinces with a high level of fire potential. This study examines the role and efforts of the social services of the South Sulawesi province in disaster response to overcome problems that occur in disaster-affected communities, for example by providing logistical assistance in the form of fulfilling needs that are lacking such as fast food, temporary tents, and the needs of women and children. This study was studied using descriptive qualitative research methods in its preparation in producing conclusions.

Optimalisasi Dengan Metode Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) dan Reliability Centered Spares (RCS)

Disasters are a series of events that threaten and disrupt people's lives and livelihoods caused by both natural and non-natural and human factors, resulting in human casualties, environmental damage, property losses and psychological impacts. From the losses caused, alertness is needed in order to reduce the side effects that will occur. The social service is one of the government institutions that has an important role in being involved in the distribution of social assistance needed by disaster-affected communities. This role is also a form of alertness carried out by the Social Service in the implementation of disaster response. South Sulawesi Province is one of the large provinces with a high level of fire potential. This study examines the role and efforts of the social services of the South Sulawesi province in disaster response to overcome problems that occur in disaster-affected communities, for example by providing logistical assistance in the form of fulfilling needs that are lacking such as fast food, temporary tents, and the needs of women and children. This study was studied using descriptive qualitative research methods in its preparation in producing conclusions.

Peran Serta Dinas Sosial Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan dalam Bantuan Kebencanaan

Disasters are a series of events that threaten and disrupt people's lives and livelihoods caused by both natural and non-natural and human factors, resulting in human casualties, environmental damage, property losses and psychological impacts. From the losses caused, alertness is needed in order to reduce the side effects that will occur. The social service is one of the government institutions that has an important role in being involved in the distribution of social assistance needed by disaster-affected communities. This role is also a form of alertness carried out by the Social Service in the implementation of disaster response. South Sulawesi Province is one of the large provinces with a high level of fire potential. This study examines the role and efforts of the social services of the South Sulawesi province in disaster response to overcome problems that occur in disaster-affected communities, for example by providing logistical assistance in the form of fulfilling needs that are lacking such as fast food, temporary tents, and the needs of women and children. This study was studied using descriptive qualitative research methods in its preparation in producing conclusions.

Peran Serta Dinas Sosial Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan dalam Bantuan Kebencanaan

Disasters are a series of events that threaten and disrupt people's lives and livelihoods caused by both natural and non-natural and human factors, resulting in human casualties, environmental damage, property losses and psychological impacts. From the losses caused, alertness is needed in order to reduce the side effects that will occur. The social service is one of the government institutions that has an important role in being involved in the distribution of social assistance needed by disaster-affected communities. This role is also a form of alertness carried out by the Social Service in the implementation of disaster response. South Sulawesi Province is one of the large provinces with a high level of fire potential. This study examines the role and efforts of the social services of the South Sulawesi province in disaster response to overcome problems that occur in disaster-affected communities, for example by providing logistical assistance in the form of fulfilling needs that are lacking such as fast food, temporary tents, and the needs of women and children. This study was studied using descriptive qualitative research methods in its preparation in producing conclusions.

Psychometric evaluation of community advancing resilience toolkit assessment survey Indonesian version

This study aimed to conduct a psychometric evaluation of the Indonesian version of the Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit Assessment Survey (CART-AS) instrument with validity and reliability testing. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 respondents. The translation was done using the Beaton method. The psychometric test process was conducted by testing the construct validity and reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) values indicated that the model fits the previous model with the Chi-square/df=1.37 conformity indicator; comparative fit index (CFI)=0.99; goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.90; root mean square of approximation (RMSEA)=0.03; and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR)=0.03. In the CFA measurement, the convergent validity value or the loading factor value of each indicator was also found in the range of 0.55-0.99. The average variance extracted (AVE) values on the five constructs of the CART-AS instrument show values in the range of 0.55-0.98. The results of the reliability test showed the Cronbach alpha value of 0.94. The Indonesian version of the CART-AS instrument is a valid and reliable instrument to measure the resilience of disaster-affected communities in Indonesian culture.

Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Manajemen Bencana Untuk Pembangunan Masyarakat Berkelanjutan

<p><em>Indonesia is a country that has various disaster risks, including geological, hydrometeorological, and social disasters. Community participation is very necessary in reducing disaster risk, both before a disaster occurs, during a disaster, and after a disaster occurs. The process of community development cannot be separated from the existence of various disturbances, one of which is caused by a disaster. The development achievements that have been made cannot be avoided from the risk of disaster, the loss of stability in the social system can also hinder the achievement of sustainable community development.</em></p><p><em>Community development and disaster risk reduction have in common, among others, reducing community vulnerability and empowering communities to increase capacity and disaster preparedness. Integrating community development with the active participation of the community is the same as reducing disaster risks that may be experienced by the community. Community capacities and vulnerabilities are analyzed and incorporated into project design to make them more responsive to the development context of disaster-affected communities.</em></p>

Resiliency of livelihood and empowerment of women: Results of a cash-based intervention in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat District

Almost every year, the north-western part of Bangladesh faces acute flash floods causing property damage and loss of livelihood. The 2017 flood severely affected Lalmonirhat District, where in 2019 several organizations provided cash incentives as an aid to recovery of livelihoods and empowerment of women. This study explores the use of cash-based intervention (CBI) for livelihood restoration and empowerment of women. A qualitative exploratory research design was employed using a questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. Due to COVID-19, a follow-up phone survey was conducted in July 2020, revealing that CBI led to diversified income sources. The average inflation-adjusted income for beneficiaries was BDT17442 per month. About 52% of respondents believed CBI was highly effective, while 44% found CBI moderately helpful. In only 2% of cases was it fruitless due to the death of cattle. The daily income increased by BDT83-227 for Cluster-A (50% of respondents), BDT228-371 for Cluster-B (42% of respondents), and BDT372-517 for Cluster-C (8% of respondents). Among other occupations, livestock rearing made a significant profit, specifically for those who received minimal monetary CBI support. Following CBI and training, 100% of female respondents opined that males and females should have equal rights. About 93% of female respondents found improvement in self-confidence, self-esteem, and decision-making capacity attributable to participation in training and meetings to which they did not have access previously. About 93% of females felt that after empowerment training, they were able to reduce incidents of domestic violence. They enjoyed greater freedom in household and social decisions, greater independence in income, and improved equality in attitudes. CBI could be implemented on a large scale in disaster-affected communities to recover livelihoods, increase income sources, engage women in the workforce, and empower women.

Perceptions of Local Leaders Regarding Postdisaster Relocation of Residents in the Face of Rising Seas

Despite the growing literature on sea level rise (SLR), the current understanding of how SLR risks influence postdisaster relocation remains limited. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by examining how local leaders (i.e., public officials and community leaders) perceive: (a) resident relocation decisions in a disaster-affected community that is also vulnerable to SLR; and (b) the role of SLR in residents’ relocation decisions. Based on the case of Monroe County, Florida, which was affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017, our findings suggest that local leaders perceive residents’ relocation decisions as being driven by predisaster challenges that were exacerbated by conditions in the aftermath of the hurricane—specifically: the lack of affordable housing, low wages, and high cost of living. Leaders believe that SLR-related risks have little/no direct influence on relocation decisions; instead, they suggest that the community’s focus is on the next storm and community members’ short-term needs.

The Local Supporting Approaches Scaling up the Capacity of Reconstruction in Nepal

Disaster reflects a multi-fold impact on vulnerable communities such as children, women, and people living with disabilities. The study identifies the multiplier impact of hazard induce disasters, Covid019 pandemic, and regular strikes into poor and marginalized communities. Tried to be unmasking the effectiveness of local support initiatives as social recovery support from the neighbor, communities, non-state actors, and the state. The paper brings out how the social support, and protection practices can scale up its cost in disaster recovery initiates in disaster-affected communities in Gandaki province, Nepal.
 An online (google) based survey form was developed, and distributed to potential frontline workers, NGO staff, INGO staff, and UN staff based on their project area. Respondents were randomly divided into two groups (local support, and external support) and asked for their supporting practices while the disaster has occurred at the local level, and responses were analyzed at the explanatory level through the regression.
 While testing the hypothesis that local social support leads to higher resilience capacity in the disaster-affected household with compare to external support, which results showed that local level support was better with comparing of external support during disaster response and recovery. Study results suggested that household, neighbor, and local community support was quick, applicable, and easier to adopt than a comparison of external supporters. Based on the study, further development intervention should be centered on the capacity to strengthen local households, neighborhoods, community-based organizations, and local states rather than expecting external support. The study paper explores the local supporting practices on reconstruction and recovery, which is the novelty approaches in local supporting engagement on speedy recovery initiatives in Nepal.

PEMULIHAN SOSIAL DAN EKONOMI MASYARAKAT TERDAMPAK TSUNAMI DI KABUPATEN PANDEGLANG UNTUK MENDUKUNG PEMBANGUNAN DAERAH BERKELANJUTAN

Post-disaster recovery had to be measured to determine the level of success of the recovery process whether it has returned to pre-disaster condition or conditions that are better than before the disaster or even worse than before the disaster. This study aimed to analyze the social and economic recovery of disaster-affected communities in order to support sustainable regional programs. This study used qualitative research method with a case study research design. The results of the study showed that social recovery in 3 years after the Tsunami, namely in 2021, is 100.08% with the indicator of recovered. Meanwhile, the economic recovery up to 3 years after the Tsunami, namely in 2021, at 99.59% has not yet reached the recovery indicator. The recovered category is based on the calculation results with numbers above 100%. The conclusion of this research was that the effective social and economic recovery will support sustainable regional development because community resilience will be formed. The process of social and economic recovery, the current social condition of the community has recovered on average and the economic condition of the community is nearing recovery, with minimal central government programs. This was due to the resilience of local governments and communities. A strong social and economic community will support the creation of the principle of "build back better and safer", so that people's lives will be better and safer than before the disaster occurred.

PROBLEMATIKA PROSES REHABILITASI & REONSTRUKSI PASCA BENCANA MENGUNAKAN METODE PARTISIPATIF MASYARAKAT

In the handling of the 2004 Aceh Tsunami Disaster and the 2004 Nias Earthquake, many parties as providers of assistance used a community-based rehabilitation and reconstruction development model one of which is UN-HABITAT under the auspices of the United Nations, This study aims to find the most effective and fair participatory postmortem participatory development guidelines for disaster-affected communities through case studies of Aceh Nias Settlement Support Program (ANSSP) 2005-2007. Analytical descriptive methods are used to obtain data. Data collection techniques used literature study and documentation study. The results of the study found that participatory community-based development, especially post-disaster handling, has proven good results. The literature study, interview and ANSSP report book 2007 published by UN - Habitat, illustrates that the participatory development model is able to answer all negative factors.

Design and Disaster Resilience: Toward a Role for Design in Disaster Mitigation and Recovery

This paper examines how the discourses and practices of design can be applied to both mitigate the damaging impacts of (un-)natural disasters and guide resilient post-disaster recovery. Integrated with systems analysis, design can provide both an innovative window for understanding the complexities of disaster-risk reduction and recovery, as well as a conceptual bridge to new ways of building socio-economic and physical resilience in disaster-affected communities. However, the skills of key systems and design thinkers, such as architects, urban planners, and landscape architects, are seldom employed, despite their demonstrated capacity to work with disaster-prone or -impacted communities to develop integrated spatial responses to guide both disaster-risk reduction and long-term rebuilding after a disaster. Indeed, there has been little focused investigation of the potential contributions of design per se in developing strategies for disaster-risk reduction and recovery. Similarly, there has been little attention in design education to complementing the creative problem-solving skills of the designer with the contextual and systemic understandings of disaster management and disaster-resilient design. This paper addresses these omissions in both disaster management and design education though a review of research on design contributions to disaster issues and provides a case study of the curriculum and pedagogical approaches appropriate to build capacity for enhancing this contribution.

Investigating the role of risk perception in place-based responses: case studies of the 2003 Bam and 2017 Ezgeleh-Sarpol Zahab earthquakes

Purpose The purpose of this study is to clarify changes in people-place interrelationship and hidden layers of survivors psychological challenges in the reconstructed housing environment, the 2003 Bam and 2017 Ezgeleh-Sarpol Zahab earthquakes occurred in Iran, because perception of earthquake risk in residential dwellings and traumatic experiences during and after its occurrence are among stressful events making communities face with various spectrum of emotional and cognitive consequences. Such events shape memory “traumascapes” and cause changes in mental schemas and as a result, altering decisions and behavioral responses in long-term familiar environments. Because, in the disaster-affected communities, psychological recovery will be greatly influenced by residential experiences. Design/methodology/approach The current research was performed with a qualitative and multicase study design, and data were collected using deep and semistructured private interviews and discussions in focus groups with participation of 33 people by narrative technique. Findings According to findings, people are facing enduring cognitive disruptions regarding home concept and its location as a safe and secure paradigm. Findings showed that there are a considerable amount of behavioral responses and emotional consequences in the form of protective behaviors, severe sensitivity to environmental stimuli, fears, phobias in residential dwellings and disturbances in place attachments. Originality/value It is noteworthy that despite all time and place differences, the two studied communities had significant similarities in earthquake traumatic experiences and perceptions and also resulting conscious and subconscious responses.

Working with Disaster-Affected Communities to Envision Healthier Futures: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Post-Disaster Recovery Planning.

Disasters are becoming increasingly common and devastating, requiring extensive reconstruction and recovery efforts. At the same time, the level of available resources and the need to rebuild can present opportunities for more resilient land use and infrastructure, and to build healthier, more equitable and sustainable communities. However, disaster-affected individuals may experience trauma and mental health impacts that impede their ability to engage in long-range recovery planning. It is essential to consider and address community trauma when engaging with disaster-affected communities and in developing plans for recovery. Planners and engineers from outside the community (including public, private and non-profit practitioners) are often brought in to support long-term recovery. Most of these practitioners (particularly those focused on longer-range recovery) have no training in how disasters can affect mental health or what this could mean for their interactions with individuals or communities. In order to acknowledge and address disaster trauma in community recovery and redevelopment, we propose a trauma-informed approach which aims to provide practitioners supporting post-disaster community recovery planning guidance, in order to: avoid the causation of harm by re-traumatizing communities; better understand community needs; make sense of observed behaviors and avoid potential roadblocks; avoid becoming traumatized themselves; and facilitate community healing.

Medical doctors and community engagement in the aftermath of a disaster

Medical doctors conduct many health care and promotion activities after a disaster. However, there are limited studies on how doctors engage disaster-affected community members during the activities. This paper aims to examine medical doctors’ experiences in engaging their community during the rehabilitation period after a big disaster. The study is based on a more extensive ethnographic study at disaster-affected health centers and communities in Aceh. The researcher conducted interviews with eleven community doctors and 45 hours of participant observations involving three doctors. Findings show different levels of community engagement in the doctor participants’ experiences. Most of them only ‘informed’ rather than ‘engaged’ the disaster-affected patient and community. This paper calls for the enactment of community engagement in healthcare practices and education.

Aiming at a moving target: methodological reflections on the study of politics of citizen-centric governance in post-earthquake Nepal

PurposeThe growing prominence of disaster research has also prompted vibrant discussions about the motivation and ethical conduct of disaster researchers. Yet, the individual researchers' aspirations and aims, together with the challenging and changing circumstances under which one undertakes disaster research have received relatively scant attention. Drawing on the author’s personal experience of becoming a disaster researcher under the unexpected humanitarian crisis following the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, this paper seeks to contribute to the debates surrounding the role of reflexivity and ethical sensitivity in doing disaster research under the climate of uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on the author’s reflections and vignettes to highlight the author’s experience of becoming a disaster researcher, and my trajectory of navigating the complex terrain of fieldwork.FindingsThe paper underscores how the process of becoming a disaster researcher was closely intertwined with and shaped by my concerns and care for the disaster-affected communities. The paper argues that doing contextually relevant and ethically sensitive research is not a static target. It demands constant reflexivity and improvisation, in response to the unpredictable real-world conditions of disasters. Instead of aiming to tame such uncertainty, disaster researchers may benefit from appreciating and embracing uncertainty as a major facet of its epistemological distinctiveness.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the ongoing efforts in advancing methodological reflection and innovation in disaster research. In so doing, the paper is expected to aid early-career researchers who are often faced with ethical and practical dilemmas of doing fieldwork.

Psycoeducation of Responsible Scouts Care for Others in Disaster Response

The attitude of disaster response to disaster-affected communities in general is an urgent priority to be given so that the community becomes resilient. So far, people are accustomed to relying on government assistance and are not able to provide an appropriate first response. This is because the community does not understand how to act appropriately when a disaster occurs in the area where they live. Law No. 24 of 2007 on Disaster Management. The subjects in this study were 110 Advanced Coaches, the Surabaya Kwarcab Helping Brigade, the Surabaya Kwarcab Care Scouts, the Surabaya Kwartir Branch Work Council using a knowledge scale on disaster response and psychoeducation related to Psychological First Aids. The results of the calculation of the t test (Paired Sample Test) obtained the results of t = 6.473 at p = 0.000. This means that between the pre-test and post-test of there is a very significant difference the experimental group in the knowledge of disaster response. The pre-test of the experimental group (Mean = 96.2553) was higher than the post-test of the experimental group (Mean = 88.5745), this indicates that PFA psychoeducation can increase knowledge about disaster response, thus indicating a significant relationship between psychoeducational independent variables. PFA with the dependent variable is knowledge about disaster response. The implication of this research is that it is expected to become an extension program so that it can increase knowledge related to disaster mitigation so that in the future members of the Rescue Brigadier can become the vanguard of disaster mitigation.