An Introduction to Disaster Management

Concept and Meaning

A disaster is a consequence of a sudden disastrous event which seriously disrupts the normal
function of the society or the community to the extent that it cannot subsist without outside help.

A disaster is not just the occurrence of an event such as an earthquake, flood, conflict, health
epidemic or an industrial accident; a disaster occurs if that event/process negatively impacts
human populations.

Disasters combine two elements: hazard, and the vulnerability of affected people. "A disaster
occurs when a hazard exposes the vulnerability of individuals and communities in such a way
that their lives are directly threatened or sufficient harm has been done to their community's
economic and social structure to undermine their ability to survive.

A disaster can be defined as any tragic event stemming from events such as earthquakes, floods,
catastrophic accidents, fires, or explosions. It is a phenomenon that disasters can cause damage
to life, property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of people.

Disaster is the exposure of a group of people to a hazard, leading to a serious disruption of the
functioning of a society and causing human, material, economic environmental
losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope. A disaster results
from a combination of hazards and vulnerability that exceeds the capacity of
a society to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk.

Hazard is an extreme event, natural or man-made , with a destructive potential to social,

economic and human assets. These may include future threats, and may be “natural”
(geological, hydro meteorological and biological) or “man-made” (Conflict, environmental
degradation and technological hazards).

Disasters are often described as a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the
conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or
cope with the potential negative consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injury,
disease and other negative effects on human physical, mental and social well-being, together
with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption
and environmental degradation.

A disaster is a calamitous, distressing, or ruinous effect of a disastrous event which seriously

affects or disrupts (or threaten to disrupt) the critical functions of a community, society or
system, for a period long enough to significantly harm it or cause its failure. It is beyond the
capapabilty of the local community to overcome it. The stricken community needs extraordinary
efforts to cope with it, often with outside help or international aid.
It is a situation resulting from an environmental phenomenon or armed conflict that produce
stress, personal injury, physical damage, and economic disruption of great magnitude.

Definition

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Disaster as "any occurrence that causes damage,
ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale
sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area."

Types of disasters
Disasters are broadly divided into two types:

1) Natural

2) Man made disasters.

Natural disasters
Natural disasters occur as the result of action of the natural forces and tend to be accepted as
unfortunate, but inevitable. They include:

➢ Famines
➢ Droughts
➢ Tornadoes,
➢ Hurricanes,
➢ Floods / Sea Surges / Tsunamis
➢ Volcanoes
➢ Snow storms,
➢ Earthquakes,

Famines may be defined as a persistent failure in food supplies over a prolonged period. It is a
phenomenon in which a large percentage of the populations of a region or country are so
undernourished and that death by starvation becomes increasingly common. A famine weakens
body resistance and leads to increases in infectious diseases, especially cholera, dysentery,
malaria, and smallpox. Famine is associated with naturally-occurring crop failure due to draught
and pestilence and artificially with war and genocide.

Drought is lack or insufficiency of rain for an extended period of months or years when a region
notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently
below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of
the affected region.
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land, producing measurable property damage or
forcing evacuation of people and vital resources. Floods are caused due to heavy rainfall and the
inadequate capacity of rivers to carry the high flood discharge. Floods develop slowly as rivers
swell during an extended period of rain. A flood occurs when water overflows or inundates land
that is normally dry. Mostly it happens when rivers or streams overflow their banks.

Cyclones are strong winds that are formed over the oceans. The term "cyclone" refers to all
classes of storms with low atmospheric pressure at the centre, are formed when an organized
system of revolving winds, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the
Northern Hemisphere, develops over tropical waters.

A hurricane is a huge storm. It is a powerful, spiraling storm that begins over a warm sea, near
the equator and accompanied by fierce winds, flash floods, mudslides and huge waves.It is a low
pressure, large scale weather system which derives its energy from the latent heat of
condensation of water vapor over warm tropical seas.

An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling of the ground crust caused by the collision of
tectonic plates resulting in the abrupt displacement of rock masses. Earthquakes result from the
movement of one rock mass past another in response to tectonic forces underneath the earth’s
surface.

Volcanoes result when magma rises, pushes through a weakness in the Earth’s crust, and spills out onto
the surface, devastating anything in its path. The superheated rock is not the only danger, however. Far
below the earth’s surface, volcanic gasses are dissolved in the magma. As the magma rises, it begins to
cool down, and gas bubbles begin to form. This makes the magma less dense than the surroundings,
causing it to rise faster.

A third threat is a pyroclastic flow. This high speed ejection of hot gasses and debris can travel
in excess of 80 kilometers per hour and usually averages between 200 and 700 degrees Celsius.
Not only does the pyroclastic flow travel too fast to be outran, but it will incinerate everything in
its path. pyroclastic

Man made disasters

➢ explosions,
➢ fires,
➢ release of toxic chemicals or radioactive materials(industrial accidents),
➢ dam failures
➢ nuclear reactor accidents
 ➢ wars

Disaster risk/threats

The potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could
occur to a particular community or a society over some specified future time period. Traditional
disaster threats:

Most of the old disaster threats still exist like earthquakes, cyclones, volcanic eruptions,
tsunamis, wildfires, floods, landslides, and drought so do the man-made ones like fire, explosions
and other major accidents which cause heavy human casualties, economic and social losses.
These same traditional threats have increased as increase in population has force people to settle
in disaster prone areas which increase the impact of disasters.

Modern disaster threats:

These consist of manmade events like hijacking, terrorism, civil unrest, terrorism and conflict
with conventional arms as well as chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological weapons.
Increased social violence has drastically affected many nations and communities.

Hazard

A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental damage.

Hazards are conditions that have the potential to harm to a community or environment

Geological Hazards

Geological process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts,
property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage.

These disasters include landmass related disasters like earthquakes, mudslides, volcanoes etc,

Water and climatic Hazards (Hydro meteorological hazards)

These include storms, cyclones, floods etc

Chemical Hazards
By their nature, the manufacture, storage, and transport of chemicals are accidents waiting to
happen. Chemicals can be corrosive, toxic, and they may react, often explosively. The impacts of
chemical accidents can be deadly, for both human beings and the environment.

Industrial/ Technological hazards

A hazard originating from technological or industrial conditions, including accidents, dangerous

procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities, that may cause loss of life, injury,
illness or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental damage.

These include industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport
accidents, factory explosions, fires, and chemical spills.

Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat
to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or
samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can affect human
health. It can also include substances harmful to animals. Examples: anthrax, smallpox, plague,
tularemia, brucellosis and botulinism toxin, bird flu.

Disaster management
Definition and concept.

Disaster management includes sum total of all activities, programmes and measureswhich can be
taken up before, during and after a disaster with the purpose of avoiding, reducing the impact or
recovering from its losses.

According to Kelly (1996),"Disaster management" can be defined as the range of activities

designed to maintain control over disaster and emergency situations and to provide a framework
for helping those who are at risk to avoid or recover from the impact of the disaster.

Disaster management means managing resources and various responsibilities to deal with all
humanitarian aspects of emergencies. This may include preparedness before disaster, response
and recovery i.e. rebuilding and supporting society. The purpose of this is to lessen the impact of
disasters.

‘Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and
responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular
preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.
The various aspects of disaster management:

➢ Disaster Prevention
➢ Disaster preparedness
➢ Disaster response
➢ Disaster mitigation
➢ Rehabilitation
➢ Reconstruction

The aims of disaster management are to:

Reduce (avoid, if possible) the potential losses from hazards;

Assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims when necessary;

Achieve rapid and durable recovery.

Importance and relevance of disaster management in the present environmental scenario

Over the past 20 years disasters have affected 4.4 billion people, caused $2 trillion of damage
and killed 1.3 million people. These losses have outstripped the total value of official
development assistance in the same period. Natural disasters disproportionately affect people
living in developing countries and the most vulnerable communities within those countries. Over
95 per cent of people killed by natural disasters are from developing countries (Extreme Weather
and Natural Disasters, 2012).

In developing countries, the incidence of natural disasters, the impact of climate changes and the
management of the natural environment strongly influence the rate of development progress

In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million
people were affected by disasters every year. The loss in terms of private, community and public
assets has been astronomical.

At the global level, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. Even as s
scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to disasters has not
decision. In fact, the human toll and economic losses have mounted.

It was in this background that the Nations General Assembly, in 1989, declared the decade 1990-
2000 as the International Natural Disaster Reduction with the objective to reduce loss of lives
and property and restrict economic damage through concerted international action, especially in
developing countries.

India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic
conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent
phenomena.
About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million
hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is
susceptible to drought.

Over the past couple of years, the Government of India has brought about a paradigm shift in
approach to disaster management. The new approach proceeds from the conviction that develop
cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built into the development process.

Another stone of the approach is that mitigation has to be multi-disciplinary spanning across all
sectors. The new policy also emanates from the belief that investments in mitigation are much
cost effective than expenditure on relief and rehabilitation.

Disaster management occupies an important place in this country's policy framework as it is poor
and the under-privileged who are worst affected on account of calamities/disasters.

The steps being taken by the Government emanate from the approach outlined above. The app:
has been translated into a National Disaster Framework [a roadmap] covering institutional
mechanic; disaster prevention strategy, early warning system, disaster mitigation, preparedness
and response human resource development.

The expected inputs, areas of intervention and agencies to be in at the National, State and district
levels have been identified and listed in the roadmap. This road has been shared with all the State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Ministries Departments of Government of India, and the State Governments/UT Administrations

have been to develop their respective roadmaps taking the national roadmap as a broad guideline.
There is, therefore: now a common strategy underpinning the action being taken by the entire
participating organisation' stakeholders.

The approach is being put into effect through:

(a) Institutional changes

(b) Enunciation of policy

(c) Legal and techno-legal framework

(d) Mainstreaming Mitigation into Development process

(e) Funding mechanism

(f) Specific schemes addressing mitigation

(g) Preparedness measures

(h) Community participation and capacity building

In India, the role of emergency management falls to National Disaster Management of India, a
government agency subordinate to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In recent years, there has been
a shift in emphasis, from response and recovery to strategic risk management and reduction, and
from a government-centered approach to decentralized community participation.

Funding mechanisms

Bilateral-Aid i.e. foreign and local, national funding is being used to deal with disasters
especially the post disaster phase

Community based disaster management:

The role of community participation in disaster management is very important. When the
community becomes a part of the decision making system it ensures the ownership and
accountability. It is very important for the medical staff and doctors to know the local language
for treating the disaster victims. The local people have to be trained to manage the disasters. One
of the most effective mechanisms for a country to prepare for a disaster is by conducting
education and public awareness programmes at the local community level, educating, preparing
and supporting local populations and communities in their everyday efforts to reduce risks and
prepare their own local response mechanisms to address disaster emergency situations.

Community based approach in disaster management is a process of educating and empowering

the population through sharing knowledge and information about the various types of disasters
and their potential risks as widely as possible so that people act appropriately when a disaster
happens. Members of a community are the immediate victims of adverse effects of a disaster.
They have the best knowledge about their local surrounding in terms of the most disaster-prone
areas, the demography of their community and their social and traditional organisation.
Community leaders can create Community Based Action Plans specific to their needs. This
action plan incorporates the hazard map, mock exercises and other important methods, skills and
information needed in preparation for a disaster.
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT TRAINING
PROGRAM

Model for a National

Disaster Management
Structure, Preparedness
Plan, and Supporting
Legislation

Prepared by InterWorks
July 1998

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Model for a National Disaster Management Structure, Preparedness
Plan, and Supporting Legislation
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................1

DISASTER MANAGEMENT MODELS................................................................................................................1

1. MODELS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES AT THE NATIONAL LEVELS .................3

2. LOCATION OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT OFFICE ................................................4

3. LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ...........................................................................................................................5

4. LINKAGES BETWEEN MITIGATION, PREPAREDNESS, RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION ........6

5. LINKS WITH NGOS AND THE RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES..........................................7

6. POLITICAL CONSENSUS.................................................................................................................................8

7. THE PREPAREDNESS PLAN ...........................................................................................................................8

8. LEGISLATION AND POLICY ........................................................................................................................10

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Introduction

Much of this paper is based on a 1993 study of disaster management models from seven disaster
prone countries (Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey and
Zimbabwe). That study distilled lessons learned and identified key issues to be considered when
establishing or revising a national disaster management system. The structure of this paper
follows the key issues identified in this study. The study is elaborated upon by the findings from
the IGAD-FAO project on disaster preparedness, concluded in 1998, as well as material from
other resources listed at the end of this paper. (IGAD countries are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.)

Disaster Management Models

The “Model” as discussed in this paper includes the institutional structure and institutional
linkages which comprises a formal system of disaster management, as well as the support for the
operation of the system including the national preparedness plan or strategy, and supporting
legislation. The key components to be considered in the design of a model are:

1. Focal Point - The focal point is the key agency that has the authority and resources to
coordinate all related bodies for disaster management such as ministries, international donor
agencies, NGOs and the private sector. The focal point agency needs a core of well-trained
staff and adequate resources and should be supported by appropriate legislation and authority
for decision making and implementation.

2. Links between Policy and Operations - The system must ensure a very close working
relationship between the policy formulating body, often in the hands of a national disaster
committee, and the operational agency that must implement the decisions. For this reason,
there are significant advantages in placing the focal point in the Prime ministers’ office rather
than in a line ministry.

3. Links from the Center to Local Government - Links are critical between national,
regional, district and community levels to facilitate implementation and ensure effective
vertical communication with, for example, information flowing up and resources flowing
down.

4. Coordination of Relief and Mitigation Programs - Close working linkages are needed
between bodies responsible for relief and mitigation programs to ensure that risk reduction
measures are introduced in the immediate post-disaster situation and to enhance future
preparedness.

5. Political Consensus - Consensus must be reached among all political parties to ensure
implementation of national plans and legislation.

6. NGOs - The model must fully integrate NGOs in order to improve NGO/government
cooperation and establish a comprehensive, integrated pattern of response.

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7. The National Preparedness Plan - Plans provide a description of a systematic approach to
disaster preparedness. Plans must be constantly revised and updated and should be
interlocked with and supplemented by compatible local level preparedness plans with a more
specific focus on operational issues.

8. The Scope of Disaster Planning - While most disaster planning describes how to react to a
disaster, if disaster risks are to be reduced, it is essential that planning becoming pro-active
with an emphasis on preparedness and mitigation.

Diagrams of National Disaster Management Models - National models fall into three main
groups:

1. The national disaster management office (NDMO) is located in the Prime Minister’s Office,
as is the case for Tanzania, and Colombia.

Prime Minister’s Office

NDMO

Line Line Line

Ministry Ministry Ministry

2. The NDMO is located in a line ministry, as is the case in Bangladesh, Jamaica, Trinidad and
Tobago and Zimbabwe.

Prime Minister’s Office

Line Ministry Line Ministry

Line Ministry

NDMO

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3. There is no single NDMO but certain ministries have their own disaster units or departments
similar to Turkey’s structure.

Prime Minister’s Office

Line Ministry Line Ministry Line Ministry

Disaster Disaster Disaster

Unit Unit Unit

4. Ethiopia’s Model - At the apex of the structure for disaster management in Ethiopia is the
National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee (NDPPC), which is chaired by the
Prime Minister. NDPPC Members include ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Health, Defense,
Planning and Economic Development and External Economic Cooperation, as well as
chairpersons of regional councils and the NDMO (Disaster Preparedness and Prevention
Commission - DPPC). Other agencies are included, depending on the nature of the disaster. The
DPPC is secretariat to the NDPPC. This arrangement is replicated at regional, zonal and
community levels by regional, zonal and local council persons.

Adjunct to the decision-making structures are Early Warning Committees and Crisis
Management Groups, which are drawn from appropriate government agencies and set up at all
levels. The Early Warning Committees are crucial for providing information to decision makers.
The system is being decentralized and attempting to use existing structures such as the
agricultural offices at the community level. The Crisis Management Groups are established from
different line ministries to review relief measures and resolve problems during disasters.

The key points identified through analysis of the case studies are described in the following eight
points.

1. Models of Disaster Management Structures at the National levels

Each of the countries that have established disaster management structures have operated a dual
system comprised of a National Disaster Committee to provide authority and ministerial
coordination and a National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to implement disaster
preparedness and response. The National Committees are typically composed of representatives
from different ministries and departments and the Red Cross/Red Crescent and possibly
representatives of donor agencies, NGOs and the private sector. The purpose of the committee is
to involve, integrate and coordinate the inputs of different organizations in order to provide a

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comprehensive, systematic approach to disaster management. In most countries the national
committee is concerned with both policy making and operational affairs, although in Tanzania, a
separate committee is used for each.

The NDMO usually acts as the executive arm of the national committee. The NDMOs tend to be
smaller departments, serving as the focal point for disaster management, with staff increasingly
trained as professional disaster managers. The NDMO may or may not be responsible for
operations. In a large country like Columbia, the NDMO is responsible for legislation, funding
and policy making but local levels handle operations. Some NDMOs may have their own
property, such as vehicle fleets, which tend to increase the size of their office.

Turkey does not have a specialist central NDMO and coordination of ministry inputs is handled
by a national disaster management committee, chaired by the minister of state. As Turkey is
threatened mainly by earthquakes, the Ministry of Public Works takes primary responsibility for
disaster management, since this ministry has specialized strengths in reconstruction of housing
and infrastructure

While the national structures may appear suitable, it is important to judge their effectiveness by
assessing field realities. The case studies showed that while various committees should be in
place at national, regional and local levels, in fact, the committees met very infrequently. In
Ethiopia, a 1996 field study showed that the operation of the decentralized structure was
hampered by the lack of capacity (staff, training and resources) at regional and local levels.

Recommendations to improve national disaster management structures:

A. Greater resources for NDMOs and further training of NDMO staff are required.
B. Clearly defined authority for coordination and possible acquisition of resources of other
ministries is more important for the NDMO than having its own resources.
C. Ensuring that the structure operates as designed and committees meet as required by
providing adequate resources and motivation to all levels.

2. Location of the National Disaster Management Office

The location of the national disaster management office has major implications for effective
horizontal connections across ministries. If the NDMO is located in a ministry then the minister
is likely to be the chairman of the national disaster committee, whereas, if the NDMO is located
in the prime minister’s office, then the prime minister or deputy prime minister is usually
chairman of the committee.

Case studies from Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago clearly identify the advantages
of locating the NDMO in the Prime Minister’s and President’s office. The primary advantage is
that it provides the NDMO with greater authority in coordinating and integrating the inputs from
various line ministries. When the NDMO is located in a line ministry, it may not be able to
guarantee the representation and participation of the other line ministries.

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While it seems to be logical that the Prime Minister’s Office can provide the overarching support
needed for disaster management, there is a danger that the Office may become overloaded with
the increased number of functions. Due to other demands on the Office, disaster management
may receive insufficient attention and may even be moved back to a line ministry with even
more negative consequences.

Recommendations for Location of the National Disaster Management Office:

A. Location in the Prime Minister’s or President’s Office may ensure more adequate
connections and authority rather than location in a line ministry.
B. Before a NDMO is relocated to the Prime Minister’s Office, it is necessary to assess whether
or not the Office has the long-term capacity to take over responsibility for disaster
management. The Office also needs to have professional credibility among the line
ministries to be effective at coordinating their inputs.

3. Levels of Government
The operation of disaster management structures is often problematic at regional and district
levels. Major problems include vertical communication between different levels of government
as well as low levels of effectiveness in local structures for disaster management.

All of the countries studied have arrangements for the organization of disaster management at
provincial and district levels. In Columbia, Turkey and Bangladesh each district or province
makes its own arrangements for disaster management, calling on the national government if and
when needed in accordance with the provisions of the national plan. In Bangladesh, local
governments have gained experience in dealing with repeated disasters in their own areas.

A problem cited in case studies from Jamaica, Tanzania, and Trinidad and Tobago is difficulties
in cooperation between national and district levels of government. Local leaders often have their
own agendas, perceptions and priorities that often conflict with those of the NDMO. They may
lack the resources needed to address the immediate aftermath of a disaster and become frustrated
in seeking support from the central level. In Ethiopia, constraints to operations in the regional
and local offices included the lack of awareness and understanding of the objectives designed at
the central level.

Zimbabwe’s Department of Civil Protection has an officer attached to each province, who play
key roles in mediating between the national government and the provincial or district
governments. Some of the countries have plans for or recommend the installation of such an
officer to reduce the tensions. However, the value of specialist coordinators, who may only be
fully employed during disasters, is debatable if resources are scarce, except in regions operating
continuous relief programs.

Another problem cited in the case studies indicates that the local governments tend to be
concerned mainly with relief, rather than mitigation and preparedness. Reasons for this may be
lack of executive power, lack of awareness, or lack of political will to implement mitigation and
preparedness programs. In Tanzania, a regional development director has responsibility for
relief and rehabilitation if a disaster occurs but duties do not extend to mitigation and

5
preparedness. Further, there is no regional committee to direct such activities and no national
plan to promote the concepts. While most case studies mention the importance of community
participation for effectiveness of the system, it is difficult to tell to what extent communities are
involved.

Recommendations for strengthening vertical communication and cooperation:

A. Consider the appointment of specialized staff to coordinate between regional, local and
central offices.
B. Increase training for local government officials in disaster management, especially in
mitigation and preparedness.
C. Elaborate the role of community participation in policy making, assessment and evaluation.

4. Linkages between Mitigation, Preparedness, Relief and Reconstruction

As mentioned above, problems were noted in the implementation of mitigation and preparedness
in regional levels of government. At national levels in general, preparedness varies and national
and local plans tend to address only relief. Although most NDMOs have responsibility for
preparedness planning, in some countries such as Tanzania, little priority is given to mitigation.

In Columbia, Turkey and Trinidad and Tobago, significant attention and resources, although
sometimes limited, have been given to mitigation and its role in long-term disaster management.
In Trinidad and Tobago the NDMO has been divided into two sections, the Operations and
Relief Section and the Mitigation Section to allow certain officials to concentrate solely on
mitigation actions. In Columbia and Turkey, the major hazard of earthquakes is addressed
through developing building codes and training of builders.

In the IGAD sub-region, mitigation measures to address hazards are underway in each country,
but there is a need to intensify these measures and to establish their connection to a cohesive
national strategy for disaster preparedness. In most situations, rehabilitation assistance has been
less focused upon than relief. Support following disasters has been generally inadequate to
promote full recovery. This is thought to have resulted in greater vulnerability. IGAD is
encouraging a regional approach to mitigation, where feasible, for disasters affecting two or
more IGAD countries.

A key feature of Ethiopia’s National Policy on Disaster Prevention and Management (NPDPM)
is the linkage of relief to development enlisting the involvement of all line ministries in
incorporating disaster mitigation measures into development programs and development goals
into relief operations. One method of implementation involves employment generation schemes
where able bodied disaster victims will implement projects pre-designed by various ministries to
reduce vulnerability. The ministries must integrate these mitigation-recovery projects into their
long-term development strategies.

The connections, however, between relief and development are not always clear-cut. Recent
trends toward donor promotion of “developmental relief” spring from rising relief costs and fall
in development resources. In complex emergency situations, the situation should be carefully

6
appraised before departing from pure relief assistance and embarking on rehabilitation and
development activities. A study in Sudan indicates that developmental inputs prematurely put in
place may have negatively impacted conflict-affected populations.

Recommendations for strengthening the linkages between mitigation, preparedness, relief

and reconstruction:
A. Linkages should be strengthened through the development of a national strategy that
incorporates all aspects in short and long-term plans. Use of regional resources for
mitigation should be considered. Complete recovery should be planned for.
B. Various strategies and institutional arrangements should be considered to improve the
linkages including prioritizing mitigation measures, establishing special mitigation sections,
and promoting a congruent approach across ministry lines, such as employment generation
schemes, for integrating disaster management with development objectives.
C. Careful consideration should be made of the timeliness and effects of developmental inputs
in an emergency, post-emergency, or complex emergency situation.

5. Links with NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies

The linkages between NDMOs and NGOs are of vital importance to effective disaster
management. Most national structures provide for the participation of NGOs -- but mainly for
relief and reconstruction activities. A key means of involving NGOs is through representation
on government committees at national, regional or district levels. In some countries, attempts
have been made to coordinate NGO inputs and these actions have assisted greatly in reducing
duplicity of efforts. Following the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh, the NGO Affairs Bureau
coordinated 200 NGOs involved in relief work and in Tanzania, the Emergency Relief
Committee provides a regular opportunity for government, donors and NGOs to meet.

NGOs serve three essential roles in disaster management. First, national NGOs can help
communication between government and local communities. Second, the recent trend for the
donor community to channel funds for disaster relief through international and national NGOs
rather than directly through national governments has made it imperative that governments
effectively integrate NGOs into all levels of the national structure. Third, NGOs can
significantly assist to promote community awareness and preparedness. Some countries do not
have a tradition that encourages the development of national NGOs.

Ethiopia has over 250 international and indigenous NGOs and the task of coordinating inputs is
monumental. Many NGOs became established in the country during the 1984 drought/famine
and their locations were determined on an ad hoc basis. An information collection and data
management program, the relief projects/programs monitoring and evaluation system, was
developed in 1996 to record the location, program types and inputs of each NGO in the country.
A key objective is to achieve a closer match of the location and resources of the NGOs to areas
of greatest vulnerability to disasters, determined through vulnerability assessments and early
warning information. With this information, NGOs should be better able to plan their programs
to meet the needs of the population and to reduce vulnerability.

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The Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies are usually involved it the disaster management structure
as an auxiliary to the government, especially for disaster planning and relief provision. The RC
may also act as a focal point to coordinate NGO activities. Most national, regional and district
committees include a representative of the RC. In some countries, such as Jamaica, and Trinidad
and Tobago, the RC even coordinates all relief activities on behalf of the government.

Recommendations for maximizing inputs from NGOs:

A. Coordinate NGO inputs to minimize repetition and conflict and to more effectively meet
needs to reduce vulnerability.
B. Integrate NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent into all levels of the national structure.
C. Encourage national NGOs and the Red Cross to serve as linkages between government and
local communities and assist with national and community preparedness.

6. Political Consensus
Changes in government can radically disrupt both preparedness plans and the administrative
structures of disaster planning at all levels. Other problems may arise as a result of the political
positions of local governments in relation to the central government. In Bangladesh, changes in
government have led to the replacement of all previous staff. Staff with no experience may
replace experienced officials.

Recommendations for resisting destabilizing forces of political change:

A. To address potential destabilizing of the disaster structure during political change, political
consensus should be built across party lines on all aspects of disaster management.
B. Continuity of key staff should be ensured during political changes.
C. The number of professional and technical disaster management staff should be adequate and
balanced relative to politicians in decision-making bodies.

7. The Preparedness Plan

To support management of disasters, national plans and strategies should be established to set
out goals and objectives for preparedness and response activities. The concepts of planning and
strategizing are usually used interchangeably while the products of each process may actually
differ. The strategy is a broad exercise defining the roles of key agencies in vital functions,
assessing their response capacities and promoting improvements and activities to minimize the
impact of disasters. A contingency or preparedness plan describes the means to address a
disaster within a specific time frame and details the mechanisms for operations planning at the
onset of a potential disaster. Typical contents of a disaster plan may include:
1. A policy statement
2. Legislative authority for the design and implementation of the disaster plan
3. Objectives of the plans and conditions under which it will come into force
4. Assessment of community disaster risks

8
5. Disaster scenarios based on past experiences and present risks
6. Roles and relationships with each level of government especially emergency related bodies
7. Organization chart of lines of authority
8. List of names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses of all relevant
agencies and their heads and deputies
9. Operations of warning systems
10. Preparedness preparations (agency roles, emergency evacuation procedures, search and
rescue, shelters, disaster control centers, medical facilities, relief assistance, etc.)
11. Communications arrangements and telecommunications equipment and procedures
12. Public information program
13. Recovery and reconstruction resources and mechanisms
14. Disaster assessment plan
15. Agreements and linkages with other regions and countries
16. Testing and evaluation of the plan
17. Revision and distribution of the plan

Countries vary in their usage of a national preparedness plan. Case study writers in Columbia,
Turkey and Bangladesh regard their countries as too varied and complex to be covered by a
national plan. Each country has selected different planning alternatives. Bangladesh has
developed nationally applicable plans which are hazard specific, such as the “Standing Order for
Cyclones”. In Columbia and Turkey, each region/province or municipality/sub-province is
expected to develop its own preparedness plan. The advantages of this approach are that each
area can focus on the problems it is likely to encounter rather than use a very generalized
national plan. Such area-specific plans also allow local officials to act quickly in a disaster
without the need for long consultations with other levels of government. The major
disadvantage is lack of consistency across the country. While some areas have produced very
good plans and put them into effective use, others have not.

Countries without an overarching national preparedness plan risk erratic response. While
national plans do not lesson the importance of detailed provincial plans, they provide a
systematic approach to disaster preparedness and can support and enhance the provincial
planning process. Provincial plans need to be interlocked with the national plan in a consistent
and complementary manner. Despite a multiplicity of hazards, standardized procedures are
essential for community warning and can relate to such processes as needs assessment,
evacuation planning, definition of roles, release of resources and lines of authority.

The exercise of formulating and updating the plan can also be of great value as an awareness-
raising tool for all those involved in the planning process. Revision and rehearsal are critical for
an effective national plan and without revision, the plan will soon become outdated. Plans can
also be tested through simulation exercises. The development and maintenance of a plan
requires funding, staff and political resolve.

9
The “IGAD Sub-regional Disaster Preparedness Strategy” reviews the state of disaster
preparedness in the seven countries of the sub-region. The main hazard types are described in
terms of severity and incidence and ranked by general importance as threats. The cross cutting
factors affecting vulnerability to disasters, such as food insecurity and social-economic factors,
are discussed. Disaster preparedness mechanisms reviewed include preparedness strategies and
contingency plans, supporting policies, legislation and agreements, focal institutions, early
warning and food information systems, vulnerability analysis and targeting, and mitigation
measures. Response interventions reviewed include impact and needs assessment and relief and
rehabilitation. The strategy consists of proposed regional projects and approaches to improve
preparedness and proposes roles for key national and regional institutions in the process.

Ethiopia has developed a complex national planning system based on the National Policy on
Disaster Prevention and Management, which sets out the philosophy and major components of
the national structure. General guidelines were issued for implementation of the National Policy
on Disaster Prevention and Management and these focus on contingency, mitigation and
prevention measures. The national relief plan is based on relief plans to be submitted annually
by the regional bureaus but obtaining these plans on a timely basis has proved problematic.
Adjunct national plans include a national logistics plan, livestock preservation plan, and seed
provision plan. Ethiopia is continuously refining its plan, rethinking elements that have not
worked, and is attempting to build planning capacity in the regions. In 1996, a major flood
struck Ethiopia, however, flood disasters had not been addressed in the plan which focused
mainly on drought.

Recommendations for establishing preparedness strategies and plans:

A. Plans should be comprehensive covering all potential disaster types and all phases of disaster
management.
B. Plans should encompass a strategic type of planning to improve capacities as well as
contingency planning for disaster relief and recovery operations.
C. A national plan should be established, regardless of whether local or regional plans have
been developed. Local and regional plans should be interwoven as part of the national plan.
D. The national plan should consider resources available or those that could be shared
regionally and in particular where the same disaster may affect bordering countries.

8. Legislation and Policy

To exercise a disaster preparedness strategy, agencies must be supported by policies, legislation,
and agreements as well as resources. While the forms of legal backing or other support for
national policies is a matter of government choice, these should cover such issues as the
• acceptance and importation of national assistance
• agreements or laws regarding the authority delegated to the involved institutions
• allocation of national resources to disaster management
• objectives and standards for relief distribution

10
• specific procedures for implementation of preparedness, mitigation and response activities
with assigned responsibilities
• procedures for including the use of the military or civil defense agencies to address the
disasters

Supporting arrangements can take the following forms:

• Agreements - are based on sets of actions to be taken by parties to the agreements and may
be binding or non-binding in the legal sense; also they may be called memorandum of
understanding (MOU); some are similar to codes (Examples - MOU between WFP and
UNHCR for food aid delivery)
• Codes - depict a set of actions or behaviors which are acceptable to parties to the code or
may be enforceable as requirements for safety; a code may set out parameters or standards
for construction, usage of natural resources, use of relief assistance, etc. (Examples:
Building codes for earthquake resistance; Water usage codes; “Code of Conduct for
International Rehabilitation and Development Assistance to Somalia”, “Code of Conduct for
Food Aid”)
• Laws - bind the parties that have signed them, impose limitations, or confer rights upon
bodies that are included in the law; laws often include the penalties for failure to uphold the
law. (See below for examples.)
• Policies - represent objectives, such as political and development objectives; represents the
outlook of senior members of government or agencies. The national policy indicates the
government’s choices for dealing with disasters and indicates the acceptance of
responsibility for the results that may occur due to limitations in the policy. (Examples:
Ethiopia’s National Policy on Disaster Prevention and Management)
• Other - forms of official recognition of arrangements can include acts, edicts and decrees.

The steps for implementing the national policy should be set out in the plan or strategy.
Legislation and agreements, etc., should be developed to support the implementation and closely
tied to the plan. For example, the Government of Niger’s “National Plan for the Management of
Disasters” of 1996 mentions all disaster legislation and decrees at the beginning of the plan at
both national and regional levels as well as any other legislation which may be relevant. Gaps
should be identified where implementation can be impeded or weakened due to lack of
supporting agreements and legislation.

In Ethiopia, legislation supports the implementation of the national strategy. Disaster prevention
and management activities have been institutionalized and the NPDPM is ratified by the
government. The central NDMO and parallel bodies at regional levels are legalized and
established under government proclamations and their activities aligned with their agency
mandates and enforced through legal documents. A problem, however, is that legal measures
that can be taken against those who default on their responsibilities are not prescribed in the
laws, and this has resulted in weaker implementation efforts.

11
In many of the countries with NDMOs, case studies indicated that the NDMO operations were
usually prevented or impeded by the existing policies and legislation instead of supported by
them. For example, in Trinidad and Tobago, the “Disaster Measures Act” addresses only relief
and limits the power of the NDMO in implementing programs in preparedness, mitigation and
recovery. In these cases, legislation may need updating or broadening to meet the present and
future planning needs.

In Malaysia, recurring flood disasters have made legislation for adequate flood hazard
management critical. Current legislation is indirect, addressing river use, water, mining and
land. Some older legislation such as the “Water Enactment of 1929” and the “National Land
Code of 1965”. This legislation gave prerogative to the state (provincial level) for water use and
as a result, there are clashes between the federal and state over flood management policies. For
example, a state may try to develop land near a river even though federal flood control measures
may deem that the land should be reserved as a flood plain.

Other laws in Malaysia, such as the “Mining Enactment of 1929”, the “Drainage Works
Ordinance of 1954”, the “Land Conservation Act of 1960” relate to flood control but much of
this legislation is not significantly forceful. A “Municipal and Town Boards Act of 1975”
empowers local authorities to introduce related by-laws with regard to erosion and
sedimentation. Under this authority, Kuala Lumpur introduced “Earthworks by-laws of 1975”
which met with some success in erosion and sedimentation control of rivers. This is yet to be
followed by other states.

The main problem in Malaysia is enforcement, and laws are only as effective as those who
enforce them. Despite land use laws, developers begin construction knowing that the laws will
not be enforced. As with the political consensus, the problem is most pronounced when different
parties rule state and federal governments.

Examples of various arrangements for establishing and documenting supporting policies and
legislation, described briefly below, are provided at the end of this paper.

1. Objectives for the National Policy on Disaster Prevention and Management of Ethiopia,
1993, set out general and overarching goals for the policy.

2. Guiding principles for a flood policy for Bangladesh - A flood policy study was undertaken
in 1988 by the Government of Bangladesh to assess the causes and effects of floods, examine
flood control options, recommend remedial measures, formulate a sound flood policy and
prepare a phased action plan. Eleven guiding principles were developed to steer the planning
process. These principles encompassed the key issues: comprehensive planning, phased
implementation, appropriate levels of protection, controlled flooding and drainage, non-
structural developments (flood forecasting), structural developments (embankments,
protected areas), and beneficiary participation.

3. In Turkey, an “Act No. 7269 on Measures and Assistance to be Put Into Effect Regarding
Natural Disasters Affecting the Life of the General Public” was issued in 1959 and amended
in 1968. This act contains articles which address: the emergency powers given to civilian

12
 authorities, obligations of all key players, compensation for civil servants who perform relief
work, procedures for supporting technical work and relocating communities from disaster
areas, determination of the value of damaged lands and facilities, and use of a disaster fund.

4. The Solomon Islands Government National Disaster Plan of 1982 contains a section on
“Allocation of Roles and Responsibilities” which describes the duties of key players in
disasters. This plan is approved by Cabinet Decision and given legal authority.

5. “Model Regulations for Small Buildings in Earthquake and Hurricane areas” provides an
example of codes or regulations for building in seismically active areas.

6. The “Food Aid Charter” of the CILSS (Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought
Control in the Sahel) countries is a tool to support disaster management of food emergencies.
The charter contains provisions to help avoid potential negative economic impacts of food
aid both before and during emergencies and to promote the effective distribution of relief
food to the effected population.

Recommendations for strengthening legislation to promote disaster management:

A. Legislation should be created, or old legislation revised, at the federal level to support all
aspects of the disaster management structures, including accountability of institutions for
their mandated roles.
B. Federal legislation should be enforced at all levels.
C. Other types of support activities can include policies, agreements, and codes of conduct
which should be used where appropriate to gain consensus on action to be taken.
D. Differences at state and federal levels should be reconciled and potential loopholes plugged
which would allow the laws and agreements to be by-passed.

13
Resources:

Building Research Station, “Tropical Building Legislation”, 1966.

Chan, Ngai Weng, “Institutional Arrangements for Flood Hazard Management in Malaysia: an
Evaluation Using the Criteria Approach”, Disasters, Vol. 21 Number 3, September 1997, pg.
206-222.
CILSS - OECD, “The Food Aid Charter for the Countries of the Sahel”, 1990.

Foster, Harold, D., Disaster Planning, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1980.

McCrae, Joanna, et al. “Conflict, the Continuum and Chronic Emergencies: A Critical Analysis
of the Scope for Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Planning in Sudan,” Disasters,
Vol. 21 Number 3, September 1997, pg. 223-243.

Government Du Niger, “Plan National de la Gestion des Catastrophes”, InterWorks-USAID,

1996.

Government of Bangladesh, “A Flood Policy for Bangladesh”, UNDP, May 1989.

Government of Ethiopia, “Guidelines for the Implementation of the National Policy on Disaster
Prevention and Management (NPDPM)”, July 1995.

Government of Turkey, “Act No. 7269 on Measures and Assistance to be Put Into Effect
Regarding Natural Disasters Affecting the Life of the General Public”, issued in 1959 and
amended in 1968.

IGAD Sub-regional Disaster Preparedness Strategy, Draft, Main Report and Country
Profiles, Prepared as part of the FAO-IGAD Technical Cooperation Project TCP/RAF/6220,
1998.

Solomon Islands Government, “National Disaster Plan 1982”, Revised from 1980.

UNDP-DHA, “Disaster Management Models: Seven Country Case Studies”, prepared by

Yasemin Aysan, Andrew Clayton and Ian Davis, DMTP Research paper No. 3, 1993.

14
Model of a National Disaster Management Structure, Preparedness
Plans, and Supporting Legislation

DMTP Trainers’ Note

General Objectives
This presentation covers the main issues to be considered in the national disaster management
structure. The main focus of the presentation is to highlight these issues for consideration in
discussions among national staff and other participants. It should be clear that there is no
single model that is appropriate and that institutional structures, plans and legislation may have
to be designed uniquely for each country. The presentation should effectively communicate that
there are lessons that have been learned and a certain state of the art that exists with regard to
disaster management models. The presentation should be made in light of the existing national
structure, the needs for missing components, or the need to improve certain aspects of the current
arrangements. Through the presentation and discussions, the participants should be able to
articulate steps to be taken to improve and modify the national disaster management model.

The presentation stresses the need to consider the eight issues presented in the background paper
to this training module. Participants should receive a copy of the DMTP paper: “Disaster
Management Models: Seven Country Case Studies”, or the background paper, prior to the
presentation. Emphasis is placed on the recommendations given for each issue in the
background paper. The facilitator should encourage feedback frequently to determine if the
recommendations are realistic for the national situation, and the recommendations modified to be
more practical if necessary. The participants should be given examples that illustrate the lessons
learned and be encouraged to provide examples from their own experience of successful and
unsuccessful arrangements.

Note: It is crucial that the facilitator is sensitive to the political realities in the country as well as
the capacities of the participants to effect changes. Without a tie-in to these realities, the
presentation risks being too theoretical and not practical enough to be an effective tool for
discussion. For example, where a preparedness plan is in place, there may be no need to
elaborate on planning. Where no disaster management structure exists, discussion of this aspect
may require most of the session time.

Facilitating Strategies for a 90 Minute Session

(Approximate timing: 45 minutes for discussion and 45 minutes for a discussion/exercise)

This presentation should cover the following points, using the overheads as guides. Selection of
relevant overheads and inclusion of additional overheads or materials reflecting the national
situation can tailor the presentation to meet local and workshop objectives.

• The presentation should start by describing the case study exercise that forms the basis for
lessons learned and recommendations for a disaster management model. Provide a
description of the components of the model - the institutional structure and linkages,

15
 preparedness plan and supporting legislation and agreements. Make an attempt to keep the
terminology consistent throughout the presentation.

• Briefly review the eight key components to be considered in the model. Mention which
components will be emphasized in the presentation.

• Discuss the three main types of national institutional structures. Compare the one most
closely aligned to the national situation and explain the variations.

• Begin review of the key components, emphasizing the recommendations. #1 - Enhancing

models of the disaster management structure at the national level - After reviewing the
recommendations, ask participants to point out strengths and weaknesses of the current
coordination system.

• #2 - Seeking the optimum location for the national disaster management office - Compare the
national situation with the recommendations and ask the participants to comment on the pros
and cons of the current location of the office.

• #3 - Strengthening vertical communication and cooperation between various levels of

government - In discussing this point, the national situation should be shown on an overhead
so that the arrangements can be discussed. Try to draw in the topic of community
participation to determine to what extent it has been considered.

• #4 - Strengthening linkages between mitigation, preparedness, relief and reconstruction -

Discuss the current trend toward “developmental relief”. Discuss pros and cons of such an
approach. Which of the four phases is strongest and weakest in the country? How can the
linkages be strengthened?

• #5 - Maximizing inputs from NGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent - Discuss the benefits
provided by NGOs to the disaster management system and how these can be furthered
utilized.

• #6 - Gaining political consensus and resisting the destabilizing forces of political change -
Mention some of the effects that political changes can have on the DM system and how such
destabilizing effects can be avoided. Invite participants to discuss their experiences if
appropriate.

• #7 - Establishing preparedness strategies and plans - Explain the differences between

strategies and plans. The main point to emphasize is that a national plan is crucial regardless
of whether local plans have been developed and the interface between these plans is very
important to ensure consistent response and flow of resources.

• #8 - Strengthening national legislation to promote disaster management - Describe the

various types of supporting arrangements and give examples of each. Use examples from the

16
 national situation if they exist. Discuss the problems that may exist between federal and state
authorities and how these might be avoided.

Exercise Options
Option 1 - Group discussions - Through feedback you have received during the presentation,
determine four to five key issues requiring discussion. If there are many issues, try to obtain a
ranking of them to focus the discussion. (Divide the participants into four to five groups. Be
sure these groups are balanced, with various agencies - NGOs, government, etc. - represented in
each group. Group formation could be determined ahead of time. For example, each group may
have a key government decision maker.) Assign each group an issue and ask them to brainstorm
possible means to address the issue. After 20 minutes, have each group present their results and
allow 5 - 10 minutes for plenary discussion.

Option 2 - Plenary discussion - If the participant group is too large or there is not enough time
for separate group discussions, the key issues can be discussed in plenary and a list of solutions
developed. Concrete steps to be taken should also be agreed upon if possible. Be sure to have
this list typed up and given to the participants so they will have a record of the exercise.

Option 3 - Case Study discussion - Provide the participants with a one-page summary of a
case study either from the DMTP paper or specially created for the situation. A local case study
can be commissioned prior to the workshop. The case study chosen should reflect some of the
national problems. Be sure that the output from the discussion will help to solve problems in the
national system. Having a list of analytical questions to be considered can expedite this process.
The discussion of the case study can be handled in different ways, either through group
discussion or in plenary.

Option 4 - Guest presentation - Invite a guest with experience in development of national

structures and ask him/her to make a presentation of his/her experiences. Alternatively, a panel
composed of experts with varied backgrounds can be assembled. Ask each member to give a
short presentation followed by a question-answer period.

17
 Model of a National Disaster Management Structure, Preparedness
Plans, and Supporting Legislation
Sudan Brief:

DMTP, 1993 - A five day DMTP was held in Khartoum, Sudan in January of 1993. The
purpose of the workshop was to build awareness of Sudan’s vulnerability to disasters and level
of preparedness, among others, and resulted in written priorities (established through group
work) for actions to be taken. These priorities included needs for hazard mapping and
vulnerability assessments in Sudan, sustainable programs to reduce vulnerability including a
disaster management training program, and development of systems to improve national disaster
response capability.

Fifty - seventy participants, many who were new to the concepts of disaster management,
attended the workshop. A case study on the drought and famine through the 1980’s in North
Kordofan State was presented in three parts. The presence of many indigenous NGOs in the
workshop was notable and general NGO participants outnumbered the government.

Present Situation in Disaster Management - A national disaster preparedness profile was

prepared as part of the IGAD-FAO Technical Cooperation project by Wahab Ahmed
Mohammed, Head of the HAC Early Warning Unit. (Some of the following is excerpted from the
report.) It is unclear from the report exactly how the entities in the current structure supporting
disaster management relate to each other. The main players seem to be the Humanitarian Aid
Commission, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Interior Affairs, which chairs the
Council for Civil Defense. The actual power base of the system, i.e. where the resources and
actions are authorized, are not clear from the report.

There is a “National Committee for International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
(NCNDR)”. The main objectives of NCNDR are to:
• Assist agencies and departments responsible for disaster management
• Coordinate efforts of concerned organizations for disaster prevention and preparedness
• Cooperate and coordinate with Regional and International concerned agencies for disaster
reduction
• Follow-up the implementation of disaster reduction declarations, specially United Nations article
No. 169/42, and the declaration of Council of Ministers of the organization of African Unity
(OAU) No. 1253(51) - “Concerning Disaster in Africa”
• Assist and strengthen Early Warning Systems

The NCNDR is composed of

• State Minister of Social Affairs
• Commissioner, Humanitarian Aid Commission
• Ibrahim Moneim Mansour
• Dr. Yassin Hag Abdeen
• Representatives of:
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

18
 • Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Interior Affairs
• Ministry of Foreign Relations
• Ministry of Irrigation and Hydro-electric Power
• High Council Of Civil Defence
• Commission for Refugees
• High Council of Environment and Natural Resources
• Sudan Meteorological Authority
• Forestry Corporation
• Sudanese Red Crescent
• Insurance companies
• Women Unity

National Disaster Preparedness Strategy - A “Ten Year National Strategy” (1992-2002) aims to:
• Monitor vulnerability among population through supporting relevant governmental departments
and establishing national and state information systems
• Assess the community role in disaster prevention
• Use extension services to raise the popular awareness and strengthen capacity for disaster
preparedness, prevention and use of natural resources.

A National Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Plan is being developed and should be
completed by the year 2002. More than 200 organisations including ministries, national,
international and sub-regional organisations, and scientific research institutions are directly
involved in the plan. It is expected that the implementation of the plan will require 26
specialised sub-committees for technical supervision and studies as well as their involvement
with state, provincial or local committees.
Disaster preparedness and prevention plans at national and/or local level involving long-term
prevention, preparedness and community awareness will include following objectives:
• Provide up-to-date information to the decision-makers in the various departments and agencies
involved in disaster management
• Include disaster reduction materials in the school curriculum
• Establish a disaster information system in the Sudan and at sub-regional level
• Establish preparedness programmes for emergencies and disaster in most of the 26 states in the
country
• Implement National Civil Defence and HAC plans to fulfil the assigned role to every unit in the
Government
• Allocate necessary funds protection measures and equipment to carry out the plan
• Conduct periodic assessment of the implemented plan
• Undertake psychological and behavioural studies on various sectors of the population, in order to
cope with the socio-economic impacts of disaster on the community, and to implement a
programme for human resource development by qualifying professional experts and community
leaders

19
• Exchange information at all levels of the society through symposiums, workshops, seminars and
training, and intensity awareness and participation of the communities in prevention and
preparedness programmes.

Focal Institutions for Co-ordination of Preparedness and Response - The Humanitarian Aid
Commission (HAC) co-ordinates efforts for disaster prevention, preparedness and response. HAC
co-ordinates agencies and departments, and provides relief assistance in all types of disasters.
During drought and other disasters, HAC conducts intensive monitoring on impacts. HAC also
designates affected areas as disaster areas and informs the government and international community
so that priority programmes for relief assistance and rehabilitation can be established.
Legal Support - There are several legal instruments which support the disaster management
structure.
1. The HAC (formerly the RRC) is supported by a “1986 Act” “entrusting it with full responsibility
for disaster management and issuing directions to implement cooperation between the various
agencies and departments and coordinate their effort in the fields of disaster preparedness, and
prevention such as relief work in natural and man-made disasters”.

2. A Civil Defence ordinance (411) 1991, authorizes the Council for Civil Defence chaired by the
Federal Minister of Interior Affairs, to lay down the general policy of civil defence, passing
decisions and issuing directives to implement cooperation between the various agencies and
departments concerned and coordinate their efforts at National and State level.

3. A “decree” of the State Minister of Social Affairs, established the National Committee for
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (NDNDR) to declare disaster, consider
early warning issues, and coordinate the efforts of agencies and departments concerned.

Questions/comments:

1. What is the structure of the national disaster management network, obtain a diagram showing
information flow and the transfer of authority. Who authorizes resources for HAC?

20