Disaster Terminology
Bangladesh is a country that is highly
vulnerable to natural disasters and hazards due to its geographical location,
topography, and climate. The country is prone to frequent flooding, cyclones,
landslides, and droughts, among other hazards. These events often result in
significant loss of life, displacement, and damage to infrastructure, crops,
and property.
Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with
conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one or more of
the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.
The effect of the disaster can be immediate and localized, but it is often
widespread and may last for a long period of time. The effect may test or
exceed the capacity of a community or society to cope with its own resources,
and therefore, may require assistance from external sources, which may include
neighboring jurisdictions or those at the national or international levels. (SOD 2019)
The
following are some examples:
{ Cyclones and Storm Surges
{ Flooding
{ Riverbank Erosion
{ Salinity Intrusion
{ Droughts, etc.
Types of
Disaster
Disasters can be classified into
several types based on their origin, impact, and severity. Here are some common
types of disasters with examples:
Natural
Disasters: These
are caused by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods,
tornadoes, wildfires, and landslides. For example, Cyclones in the coastal areas and
flash floods in the northern part of Bangladesh.
Human-made
Disasters: These
are caused by intentional or unintentional human actions, such as war,
terrorism, and civil unrest. One real example of a
man-made disaster in Bangladesh is the Rana Plaza building collapse. On April
24, 2013, an eight-story commercial building named Rana Plaza in Savar, near
Dhaka, collapsed, resulting in one of the deadliest industrial accidents in history.
The building housed several garment factories employing thousands of workers.
Tragically, over 1,100 people lost their lives, and more than 2,500 others were
injured. ( BBC News, 2014)
Hazard: A dangerous phenomenon, substance,
human activity or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health
impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage. (SOD
2019)
In another example, in 2019,
Bangladesh was hit by Cyclone Fani, a powerful storm that caused widespread
damage and displaced thousands of people. The cyclone brought strong winds,
heavy rainfall, and storm surges, leading to flooding and landslides. The storm
damaged homes, schools, and hospitals, and disrupted essential services such as
power and water supply.
These examples illustrate the
devastating impact that disasters and hazards can have on Bangladesh and its
people. The country continues to invest in disaster risk reduction and
management to mitigate the impact of these events and protect its citizens.
Response: The
provision of emergency services and humanitarian assistance during or
immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts,
ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people
affected. (SOD 2019)
Evacuation:
It is important to bring people at risk to safe shelters. The
process of moving people to a safe shelter is called evacuation. When the
warning of a cyclone is issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, it
is important for the coastal and island people to move to a safe place.
Similarly, bringing people to a flood shelter during a heavy flood is also
considered an evacuation. (SOD 2019)
Disaster
Resilience: The
ability of a system, community, or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb,
accommodate, adapt to, transform, and recover from the effects of a hazard in a
timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration
of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management. (SOD 2019)
Climate: Climate refers to the long-term average of
weather conditions observed over a specific region. It includes factors such as
temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind patterns, and other atmospheric
variables. For example, the climate of the Sahara Desert is characterized by
hot temperatures, very low rainfall, and arid conditions year-round. (IPCC, 2013)
Weather: Weather
refers to the short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.
It describes the current conditions of temperature, humidity, precipitation,
wind speed and direction, and other atmospheric variables. As an example, a day
with sunny skies, a temperature of 25°C (77°F), and light winds is an example
of favorable weather conditions for outdoor activities. (IPCC, 2013)
Climate
Change: Climate
Change refers to long-term shifts and alterations in Earth's climate patterns,
primarily caused by human activities and natural factors. It involves changes
in average temperature, precipitation patterns, wind patterns, and other
aspects of the climate system. For instance, the increase in global average
temperatures observed over the past century is a consequence of Climate Change.
Disaster
Management refers
to the set of actions taken to prepare for, respond to, and recover from
natural or man-made disasters. It involves a cycle of activities that are aimed
at reducing the impact of disasters on people, property, and the environment. (SOD 2019)
The greenhouse effect refers to the
process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the
sun, leading to a warming effect on the planet. The primary gases responsible
for the greenhouse effect are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous
oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. (IPCC,2014)
Causes of the Greenhouse Effect:
{ Burning Fossil Fuels
{ Deforestation
{ Industrial Processes:
{ Agriculture
Consequences of the Greenhouse Effect:
{ Climate Change
{ Rising Sea Levels
{ Changes in Ecosystems
{ Extreme Weather Events
{ Impact on Human Health
{ Disruption of Agricultural Systems
{ Threat to Water Resources
{ Economic Impacts
{ Loss of Biodiversity
{ Social and Environmental
{ Displacement
Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR): DRR is a systematic approach to identifying,
assessing and reducing the risks of disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic
vulnerabilities to disaster as well as deal with the environmental and other
hazards that trigger them. It should be an integral part of the operations of
government and development organizations, not an add-on or one-off action. DRR
is very wide-ranging: Its scope is much broader and deeper than conventional
emergency management. There is potential for DRR initiatives in just about
every sector of development and humanitarian work. (SOD 2019)
The most commonly cited definition of
DRR is one used by UN agencies such as UNDDR, that is the UN Office for
Disaster Risk Reduction, where the conceptual framework of elements is
considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster
risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and
preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of
sustainable development.
Climate
Change Adaptation (CCA): CCA stands
for Climate Change Adaptation, which is the process of adapting to the impacts
of Climate Change to minimize its adverse effects on human and natural systems.
CCA aims to help communities and nations to become more resilient to the
impacts of Climate Change, such as sea-level rise, increased frequency and
intensity of extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns. (IPCC, 2014)
Bangladesh is a country that is highly
vulnerable to natural disasters and Climate Change impacts. In this context,
the government of Bangladesh has implemented various CCA and DRR measures to
reduce the risks of natural disasters and adapt to Climate Change.
Capacity: A set
of positive conditions within an individual, community, society, or organization
that helps tackle hazardous situations and increases the ability to respond.
That is, capacity is the overall state or process created by a combination of
multiple factors such as natural, social, economic and environmental factors
that help people or organizations deal with the adverse conditions of a
disaster and reduce its negative consequences. (SOD 2019)
Disaster
Risk: Disaster
risk refers to the potential adverse effects, including loss of life, damage to
property, and disruption of livelihoods, caused by a hazard event. It
encompasses the interaction between the hazard (such as earthquakes, floods,
hurricanes, or droughts) and the vulnerabilities present in a given area or
population. Disaster risk is influenced by factors such as exposure to hazards,
the vulnerability of communities, and their capacity to cope and adapt. (UNDRR,2009)
Risk = Hazard × Vulnerability/Capacity
(SOD 2019)
Disaster
Vulnerability:
Disaster Vulnerability represents the characteristics and circumstances of
individuals, communities, or systems that make them susceptible to the impacts
of hazards. It involves multiple dimensions, including social, economic, and
environmental factors that determine the degree to which a system or population
is likely to suffer harm. Vulnerability can be influenced by factors such as
poverty, inadequate infrastructure, weak governance, limited access to
resources, social marginalization, and lack of preparedness or capacity to
respond to disasters. (UNDRR,2007)
The conditions determined by physical,
social, economic and environmental factors or processes which increase the
susceptibility of an individual, community, assets, or systems to the impacts of
hazards. (SOD 2019)
Adaptation:
The adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual
or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities. (SOD,2019)
Adaptation in the context of disasters
refers to the process of adjusting and modifying systems, policies, and
practices to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience in the face of
changing disaster risks and impacts. It involves proactive measures taken by
individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to prepare for and
respond effectively to disasters. Here are some key aspects of adaptation in
the context of disasters:
{ Risk Assessment
{ Early Warning Systems
{ Infrastructure and Physical Measures
{ Land-Use Planning and Building Codes
{ Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
{ Community Engagement and Capacity Building
{ Social Safety Nets and Insurance
{ Knowledge Sharing and Learning
Comments
Post a Comment