Disaster Management

South-east Asia is the epicentre of frequent disasters of varying intensity. The damage to life and property caused by these disasters is comparable to that caused by war. Disasters disrupt the national economy and social development. Besides, the world has shrunk and news about the hardship suffered by the people is rapidly disseminated. As such, the management of disasters has become a key concern of governments confronted with an increasingly aware civil society and a shorter reaction time.

• Udai Bhanu Singh
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

A wealthy twin-island nation, Trinidad and Tobago has had few serious disasters to challenge its capacity to cope with such incidents. Although several plans for disaster management exist, these have remained largely th eoretical exercises. However, recent instances of devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, with the accompanying tsunami in the latter, have prompted some steps towards an enhanced role for the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) in disaster management.

• Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

In recent years, the intensity of the occurrence of natural disasters has increased manifold. Responding to this, the Government of India has undertaken various measures to mitigate the impact of disasters. Even so, the response of the civil authorities is often found inadequate and the armed forces are called out to assist the civil administration. The armed forces never fail to respond in a prompt manner, but without proper data on various local resources, skills, essential services and equipment.

• P. K. Gautam , Shivananda H
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

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.” The recurring occurrence of various natural and man made disasters in recent decades have drawn the states’ focus towards ensuring the safety of life, as well as preparedness and mitigation measures; hence disaster management.

• Babjee Pothuraju
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

• Saurabh Mishra
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations have attracted the attention of the global community in recent years. Building capabilities, interoperability and a conceptual framework for participation in these operations is gaining increasing urgency among Indian policymakers. The Indian armed forces have a wide experience of disaster relief operations both at home and abroad, where they have been the core of relief operations.

• Sarabjeet Singh Parmar
• January 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

After the threat level for the Fukushima plant was raised from 5 to 7, Japan’s claims about the situation getting stabilised are being received with a degree of scepticism.

• Rajaram Panda
• April 18, 2011
• IDSA Comments

While earthquake resistant buildings and safety of dams and nuclear plants are important, orderly public behaviour under stress, as demonstrated by the Japanese people, is also vital.

• P. K. Gautam , Shamshad A. Khan
• March 18, 2011
• IDSA Comments

Some Preliminary Observations Armed forces across the world are closely involved in handling natural calamities, which is accepted as part of their non-military duties, and are no less important for… Continue reading Disaster Management: The WMD Dimension

• P. R. Chari
• January - March 2008
• CBW Magazine