Disaster Recovery and the Road Ahead - IGNOU

The disaster-development interface needs a manifestation of its underlying contents and intent to
make disaster risk reduction strategy a reality. There are many measures that can be adopted to
build an interface between disasters and development. It is a protracted process, which can be
facilitated by effective resilience, training, education, capacity building, and information dissemination
efforts. The relationship between disasters and development is depicted below:
(– +) Development Realm (– +)
Development can increase
vulnerability
Development can decrease
vulnerability
Negative
Realm
Disaster can slow down
development
Disaster can provide
development opportunities
Positive
Realm
(– –) Disaster Realm (+ –)
Source: Training-Module for NGOs on Disaster Risk Management, 2007
If analyzed in context of the World Bank’s 1991 Environment Strategy and the disaster-development
matrix, which is relevant even today, we can say that by promoting certain development measures,
the disaster impact can be made less severe, especially in the coastal areas. These include:
Establishing a regional early warning system
Applying construction setbacks, greenbelts and other no-build areas in each region
Regulating building safety codes and laws
Sustaining measures to check unplanned urbanization through laws, regulations, zoning
Training for builders, planners, civil engineers and attainment of professional qualifications
Promoting early resettlement with provision for safe housing; debris clearance; potable water,
sanitation and drainage services
Providing for access to sustainable livelihood options
Enhancing the ability of the natural system to act as a bio-shield to protect people
Restoring wetlands, mangroves, spawning areas, sea grass beds and coral reefs
Seeking alternative construction design that is cost-effective, appropriate and consistent
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