Disaster Recovery and the Road Ahead - IGNOU

A systematic disaster management plan should entail a right mix of traditional practices, sustainable
ways of living and modern technological development. Sustainable Disaster Network (SDN) based
on a systematic livelihood programme needs to:
Analyze the existing socio-economic conditions prevailing in a pre-disaster area
Examine the nature of occupational pattern in that area
Ascertain the level of infrastructure of the vulnerable area
Understand the psyche or mindset of the vulnerable community in the area
Acknowledge the relationship of the community with the environment
Appreciate the rights of the community, especially the children, women, elderly and physically
challenged
Find ways to encourage people’s participation
Encourage prudent utilization of scarce resources
Provide for alternative livelihood opportunities
Promote alternative cropping patterns and irrigation systems
Build respect for global environmental commons such as oceans, rivers, air and forests; and
Enhance the quality of growth
2.3 RELIEF-REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT (RRD)
CONTINUUM
A Rehabilitation-Reconstruction-Tracking Matrix is being produced. Its objective is to provide
salient information on the overall recovery effort. The Matrix is aimed at bringing together information
from tsunami-affected countries with regard to the nature of work in the area, functions of stakeholders,
monitoring and evaluation of impact; and availability of resources. The Matrix is designed to give
information at three levels:
i) Regional overview
ii)
iii)
Sector-level status by a region or a country; and
Project level status by a country.
It is expected to provide a comprehensive view of rehabilitation and long-time recovery. A few
important factors that need to be kept in mind are:
The “backward” and “forward” linkages between political, developmental, relief and rehabilitation
operations constitute a complex network of relationships, which has to be examined within the
global policy framework or strategic planning policy. The components of the RRD-linkage and
their design are highly situation specific and should be considered in the light of the ‘contextual’
realities of the country or region concerned.
The structure of the document on RRD should also be seen in a holistic way. The fact that it
starts with relief, followed by rehabilitation, and subsequently by development, including a
political approach towards the objective of structural stability, does not mean that the so-called
RRD-continuum is to be considered in this linear manner. The ground reality in each country
is much more complicated and requires a multifaceted approach. Many situations are not
54