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Begin New Search Topic Natural Disasters Publication Year within 10 Years

101. Rebuilding Nepal: Women's Roles in Political Transition and Disaster Recovery

Author:
Briana Mawby and Anne Applebaum
Publication Date:
04-2018
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
April 25, 2018 – Today marks three years since a massive earthquake and violent aftershock leveled Nepal, killing 9,000 people, injuring an additional 22,000 people, and affecting roughly one quarter of the country’s population. The earthquake struck while Nepal was attempting to implement a political transition and rebuild following the resolution of its ten-year civil war in 2006. Following both the earthquake and the conflict, Nepali women played a crucial yet underappreciated role in relief efforts, and many continue to help the country as it moves into long-term recovery initiatives. This study and video by Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security explore how gender-based discrimination and legal barriers amplified the adverse impacts of the conflict and the earthquake on women. In spite of these challenges, the report illuminates how women and women’s organizations led relief efforts and met the needs of marginalized communities—including women—following the conflict and disaster. Their work helped to save lives, preserve communities, and rebuild livelihoods. Finally, the study details how Nepali women continue to advocate for policy and humanitarian changes that better address women’s needs and open opportunities for marginalized groups, ultimately helping communities become stronger and more resilient. “This report ties together two fields of study that are often seen as discrete, but are actually intertwined: post-conflict transitions and disaster risk reduction,” said Briana Mawby, who co-authored the research study. Of the 15 countries with the highest vulnerability to disasters, 14 are among the top 50 most fragile states. “Given the increasing effects of climate change, understanding the intersection of post-conflict recovery and disaster response will be even more important in the years to come,” added co-author Anna Applebaum.
Topic:
Natural Disasters, Women, Recovery, Transition, and Disaster Management
Political Geography:
South Asia and Nepal

102. Enticing the Private Sector: The Value Chain Approach

Author:
Jose Montesclaros
Publication Date:
10-2018
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Abstract:
Since the Sulawesi quake and tsunami, ASEAN member states have agreed to increase financial contributions to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. However, an alternative framing of HADR is needed to draw enterprises in bridging gaps.
Topic:
Natural Disasters, Private Sector, ASEAN, and Value Chains
Political Geography:
Asia and Southeast Asia

103. Dossier 9: How Kerala fought the heaviest deluge in nearly a century

Author:
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Publication Date:
10-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Abstract:
During the summer of 2018, the Indian state of Kerala was hit by severe rains and floods – the heaviest in nearly a century – affecting 5.4 million people. What followed was one of the most successful rescue and relief efforts in India’s history. This dossier tells the story of the remarkable way in which the people of Kerala, led by their Left Democratic Front government, powerful mass organisations and community networks, responded to the crisis, fighting the roadblocks put up by the far right RSS-BJP which is leading the federal government.
Topic:
Disaster Relief, Natural Disasters, Leadership, Community, and Weather
Political Geography:
India and Asia

104. A Multiple Streams Explanation of Pakistan’s Climate Change Policy

Author:
Warda Ajaz
Publication Date:
07-2017
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Political Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
Despite having minimal contribution to the global carbon emissions, Pakistan is considered to be one of the most vulnerable countries to the catastrophes of climate change. The country experienced back-to-back super floods in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 alone, the floods inundated 20 percent of the country and displaced some 20 million people, making it the biggest human displacement caused by a single climate-induced event in the history(Ministry of Climate Change, 2012). In the wake of these disasters, the Government of Pakistan established the world’s first full-fledged National Ministry of Climate Change and approved a National Policy on Climate Change in 2012. In this context, this paper applies a Multiple Streams lens to understand the agenda-setting process that prompted the development and approval of this policy. The paper will first discuss Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and the relevant literature on climate change agenda setting, and will then explore how various facts and events fit into the three streams of Multiple Streams Framework to account for the agenda-setting process that led to development and approval of the national climate change policy.
Topic:
Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Governance, and Flood
Political Geography:
Pakistan and South Asia

105. “We Did Not Have Tornadoes or Typhoons”

Author:
A. Kokorin
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
International Affairs: A Russian Journal of World Politics, Diplomacy and International Relations
Institution:
East View Information Services
Abstract:
This intervew discusses an increase in natural disasters.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, Natural Disasters, and Paris Agreement
Political Geography:
Global Focus

106. U.S.-ASEAN-ROK Cooperation on Nontraditional Security

Author:
Jaehyon Lee
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Council on Foreign Relations
Abstract:
Traditional security issues in the Asia-Pacific, such as tensions on the Korean Peninsula or disputes over the South China Sea, consistently attract the attention of policymakers within the region and abroad. But their consequences for ordinary people are often dwarfed by the fallout from nontraditional security (NTS) events, such as climate change, resource scarcity, infectious diseases, natural disasters, irregular migration, famine, people smuggling, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. For countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the human and economic losses from NTS threats can be staggering. Moreover, economic and social costs from NTS threats consume resources that otherwise could be channeled toward economic growth and social welfare. Historically, there have been bilateral and multilateral attempts at cooperation on NTS in the Asia-Pacific, but they have not been enough. Trilateral cooperation among the United States, ASEAN, and South Korea would benefit not just the participating parties, but also the region as a whole. Such cooperation would allow South Korea to contribute to the region and is consistent with the Moon Jae-in government’s desire to play a greater foreign policy role beyond the Korean Peninsula. It would also advance the U.S.-South Korean alliance and give South Korea experience that could be used in future NTS crises in North Korea such as famines, natural disasters, or pandemics.
Topic:
Security, Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Natural Resources, and Drugs
Political Geography:
United States, Asia, South Korea, and Southeast Asia

107. Assessing the Post-Disaster Needs in Agriculture Sector

Author:
Naresh Singh
Publication Date:
06-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Middle East Research Institute (MERI)
Abstract:
The great majority of communities affected by disasters in developing countries are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Climate change has been linked to a significant increase in the frequency and severity of disasters in the recent past, leading to natural hazardous events that have had several negative repercussions on the agriculture sector and sub-sectors (i.e. crops, livestock, fishery and aquaculture) and on the life of the people depending on them. This paper will firstly review the commonly used methods of assessing the damages and losses to the agriculture sector and its sub-sectors, with particular emphasis on the strengths and limitations of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) methodology. After that, it will consider the financial implications of disasters and discuss the necessity of developing follow-up mechanisms to assess the proportion of disbursed funds required to implement response interventions. This will involve an analysis of the extent to which agriculture assistance is usually prioritized in the formal and informal sector, and the typology of targeted and assisted beneficiaries with an emphasis on the gender dimension. The paper concludes with recommendations aiming at improving the current standardized processes of assessing the impacts and effects of disasters, in order to enhance the effectiveness of needs assessment towards resource mobilization and recovery processes.
Topic:
Agriculture, Climate Change, and Natural Disasters
Political Geography:
Global Focus

108. Drought Adaptation and Resilience in Developing Countries

Author:
Michael Brüntrup and Daniel Tsegai
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:
Drought is one of the most damaging natural hazards. Various studies rank it first among all natural hazards by seriousness of impacts such as the loss of life and livelihoods, economic losses and the adverse social and ecosystem effects. In many instances, drought can be a major factor in local conflicts, as well as internal and international migration – these negative effects of drought often persist long after the precipitation returns to normal levels. The causes of droughts are essentially natural, but climate change increases the drought severity, frequency, duration, and spatial extent. The impacts of droughts are also strongly exacerbated by anthropological activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing, soil degradation, and water mismanagement. In turn, the consequences of these activities are also exacerbated by drought, which creates a vicious cycle of ecological degradation and human misery. A reactive approach to droughts is still prevalent in many countries, even though emergency funding is costly, less effective and does not address the long-term causes of vulnerability and lack of sustainability. There is an urgent need to move forward with a paradigm shift from “crisis” to “risk” management, adopting a proactive approach based on the principles of risk reduction and prevention. There is a whole set of effective measures that need to be implemented to increase resilience to drought and minimise its effects. Monitoring and early warning systems along with assessments of the hot spots of vulnerable populations and regions, as well as investments in risk-mitigating measures are the first line of defence. These actions need to become an integral part of national drought policies. Moreover, the full cyclical phenomenon of droughts should be at the core of the drought management plans to take full advantage of the drought preparedness measures. All “drought-relevant” sectors including agriculture, food security, the environment, meteorology, water, energy and tourism have to be included in the drought policy development process and preparedness plans.
Topic:
Agriculture, Climate Change, Migration, Natural Disasters, and Economy
Political Geography:
Germany and Global

109. Planning for Adaptation in Bangladesh: Past, Present and Future

Author:
Saleemul Huq and Mizan R. Khan
Publication Date:
08-2017
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
Abstract:
The world community already lives in a climate changed world. However, the need to adapt to its increasing impact is extremely urgent for the particularly vulnerable countries, such as the least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states (SIDS) and Africa. Of all these countries, Bangladesh stands unique in terms of climate impacts on a huge population of 160 million living in a small territory sandwitched between the Himalayas in the North and Bay of Bengal in the South. Obviously, Bangladesh has a huge groundswell of experiential learning from living with climate disasters for ages. This experience has been reinforced during the last decade and a half when Bangladesh started anticipatory adaptation planning, first in the form of developing the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) under the mandate of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since then Bangladesh has accepted adaptation to climate change impacts as a national priority, with gradual integration of adaptation needs into national development planning. This Policy Brief is a stock-taking of what Bangladesh has done so far and how she can proceed with future adaptation planning.
Topic:
Climate Change, Development, Natural Disasters, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Bangladesh and South Asia

110. Internal Migration as a Coping Mechanism to Natural Disaster: Evidence from Southern Bangladesh

Author:
Maria Matin, Iffat Zahan, and Atonu Rabbani
Publication Date:
04-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University
Abstract:
In this study, we focus on the impact of exposure to a natural disaster on migration. Here, we focus on a very specific type of migration where the households send household member(s) outside the community for earning purposes. We study this in the context of a tropical cyclone called Aila in the southern coastal region of Bangladesh. We find the household’s decision to migrate is systematically associated with exposure to a natural disaster. We find this association for both self-reported exposure to the natural disaster and also with the intensity of the exposure measured by total loss normalized by the total asset of the household. We further find that households induced by the disaster to have a migrant member have less to gain from the migration compared to households who would otherwise migrate in absence of the disaster, suggesting evidence of sorting in migration decision. Public policy should recognize the importance of migration as a possible crisis coping instrument and also take into consideration the possible selection when designing policy to help people vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change.
Topic:
Migration, Natural Disasters, and Public Policy
Political Geography:
Bangladesh and South Asia