Swept up in disaster management

Tuesday, 11 January 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE Eastern Province has been hit by the worst floods since 1913 and caused a damage of over Rs. 30 billion. Under such circumstances, the challenge for stakeholders is to deal with the crisis and think of long-term progress. Sri Lanka’s suffering caused by natural disasters has increased in recent years and the country seriously needs to implement mechanisms that would minimise damage caused to man and property.

The United Nations recently noted that Asian governments need to spend more in disaster risk reduction measures to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of cutting poverty and improving access to health and education by 2015. In 2009, Asia accounted for about 40 per cent of more than 330 natural disasters around the world but 89 per cent of victims.

Disaster damage costs have shot up to nearly $ 1 trillion dollars from $ 75.5 billion in the 1960s and 85 per cent of people in developing countries across the world are exposed to quakes, typhoons, floods and drought. Sri Lanka is a luckier exception, but not by much. Other than the 2004 tsunami disaster, there have been few large-scale emergencies to tackle, but the recurring floods and drought situation is worrying. As climate patterns change, business in urban areas as well as sectors such as agriculture will be hard hit, creating a need for stakeholders to weave safety nets.

Just last month the floods affected 50,000 people, killed two and completely destroyed 61 houses. In addition, 25 more dwellings were damaged, with the most seriously affected areas being Moneragala, Mannar, Gampaha, Puttalam, Vavuniya and Jaffna Districts. These are by no means affluent areas and even Gampaha is not without its pockets of poor. Floods regularly sweep off livelihoods, which is rarely recorded and scantily compensated.

The UN believes that governments need to allocate at least 1% of their budget towards disaster risk reduction projects. Disaster risk reduction will contribute to reducing poverty through ensuring that people’s assets are not destroyed during disasters, particularly in countries where there is very low insurance coverage – a category Sri Lanka squarely falls into.

People can make a start by building safer, more disaster-resistant schools, hospitals and other infrastructure to enhance public health skills to respond to emergency cases. As a country focused on infrastructure development, Sri Lanka can contribute by ensuring that public roads, buildings and bridges are disaster-safe. New projects can take into account sustainability so that people, especially those in the low income category, can rely on them for economic sustenance. Even simple steps such as making market places disaster-resistant can pave the way not only for continued business but healthier food sources.

Moreover, if Sri Lanka is to achieve economic success, it must not forget sustainability. Environmental challenges will only increase due to higher pollution caused by development, unless authorities take serious measures to counteract climate change effects while at the same time considering the inclusiveness of the livelihoods of people. This is an issue that can affect the entire economic fabric of the country and rent it with tears unless the Government leads the way.