Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects - Disaster Management Center ...

The importance of responding to the disaster where it is occurring. If early warning signs are
not recognized and a drought reaches advanced stages, migrations of people and animals
normally occur. In the past there was a tendency to supply relief to the drought victims at the
terminus of their migration, and not at its origin. This served to draw more people out of the
affected areas, increasing the problem. The lesson was that relief supplies should be provided
at the point where the drought is occurring. This would enable people to stay in the area, thus
providing a work force to respond to the drought.
The importance of encouraging an early return of migrants. Relief operations for persons
displaced by droughts should be of limited duration. Such operations should attempt to
encourage these people to return as soon as possible to their homes. Experience has shown
that if they do not return within several months, they will probably never return.
The need to focus on agriculture, animals and water supply. Past operations have
overemphasized relief. Relief operations must be balanced by immediate and wide-spread
attacks on the causes of the drought and by measures to reduce the impact. Emphasis must be
placed on improving agriculture, saving herds, and improving and expanding water resources.
The need to avoid camps. For most relief agencies, the easiest way to distribute a variety of aid
is by centralizing the distribution and establishing a refugee camp. Too often, however, these
camps become permanent settlements. As the primary goal is to encourage people to return,
relief efforts should be focused on providing the relief to the people in their own communities.
This means that a great deal of sophistication is required in the relief logistics system. 8
Notes
1 Frederick C. Cuny, Disasters and Development, Oxford University Press, New York, 1983. p. 36.
2 Earthscan, Natural Disasters: Earthscan Press Briefing Document No. 39, International Institute for
Environment and Development, London, p. 24.
3 Rita Funaro-Curtis, Natural Disasters and the Development Process, OFDA/USAID, July 1982, p. 15-18.
4 Review of the Priority Subject Area: Natural Disasters, United Nations Environment Program, Report of the
Executive Director, UNEP Report No. 3.
5 INTERTECT, The Potential Contribution of Peace Corps to Disaster Preparedness in Africa, INTERTECT,
Dallas, Texas, 1983, p. 54-56
6 Ibid. p. 69-72
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid. p. 59-60.
References
Ball, Nicole, “Understanding the Causes of African Famine,” Journal of Modern African Studies 14:3, September,
1976.
Brown, Barbara, Janet C. Tuthill and E. Thomas Rowe, International Disaster Response: The Sahelian
Experience, INTERTECT, Dallas, Texas, 1976.
Currey, Bruce, Famine: A First Bibliography, East-West Resource Systems Institute, East-West Center, Honolulu,
Hawaii, 1981.
“Man’s Desert,” Mazingira: World Forum for Environment and Development, No. 2, 1977, Pergamon Press Ltd.,
United Kingdom.
More Water for Arid Lands, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1974.
Robson, John R.K., Editor, Famine: Its Causes, Effects and Management, Gordon and Breach Science
Publishers, New York, 1981.