CHRISTIAN LESSONS
FOR
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Part 42
Re-edited for India and Africa by Robert Simiyu Kakai and C.B. Beekhuizen
2
ABOUT THE AUTOR
Collaborating with other African co-workers
we will see how we as an International team
can help our communities, churches, schools
and social community workers to give vulnerable people full hope that, according Isaiah
9:5, that the Lord Jesus is our real and true
Counsellor, special during and after a disaster men can suffer. With His help we wrote
this disaster management brochure to evaluate the effects of natural and war disasters, such as people hazard and disaster effects of floods and the environmental effects of
Major Natural Hazards
The author’s great wish is, together with all his Kenyan and
worldwide co-workers, that many pastoral and social workers will
apply these very practical disaster management study. Let this
study be an useful instrument in the service of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye
have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord
Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved
us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good
word and work. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the
Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with
you…” (2 Thess. 2:15-3:1). May God bless the reader!
Mr. Robert Simiyu Kakai and his
wife mrs. Caroline Simiyu Kakai
3
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© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, mechanical,
electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written
consent of the publisher. Short extracts may be used for review
purposes.
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
7
CHAPTER 2 Understanding disasters
10
CHAPTER 3 Disasters and their impact
13
CHAPTER 4 Landslide
22
CHAPTER 5 Responses to disasters
34
CHAPTER 6 Disaster programme planning/management
43
CHAPTER 7 Pre-Disaster planning
50
CHAPTER 8 Disaster seminars
58
CHAPTER 9 Disasters and the Bible
66
REFERENCES
78
Definition of Figures
1. People hazard and disaster
2. Effect of floods on human life
3. Environmental effects of Major Natural Hazards.
8
14
29
© Robert Simiyu Kakai. 30/08/2011.
First published 30 august 2011, Post Box 2806, Code: 30200 Kitale,
Kenya.
For the Kenya office: e-mail: kakairob999@yahoo.co.in
or: kakairob@gmail.com
For the Dutch office: info@adullam.nl
5
AN ABSTRACT
With the tropical climate and unstable landforms, coupled with
high population density, poverty, illiteracy and lack of adequate
infrastructure, most vulnerable developing countries to suffer very
often from various natural disasters, namely drought, flood, cyclone, war and conflicts, earthquake, landslide, forest fire, hail
storm, locust, volcanic eruption, etc.
Which strike causing a devastating impact on human life, economy and environment. Though it is almost impossible to fully recoup the damage caused by the disasters, it is possible to (i)
minimize the potential risks by developing early warning strategies (ii) prepare and implement developmental plans to provide
resilience to such disasters (iii) mobilize resources including
communication and (iv) to help in rehabilitation and post-disaster
reconstruction pre-disaster preparedness programmes, disaster
response, monitoring activities and post-disaster damage assessment, and reconstruction.
Therefore, this book attempts to introduce participants to complex interactions between disasters and development; and between relief and development assistance programmes of humanitarian organizations. It intend to lead participants from disaster
responses strategies and programmes to alternative direction in
disaster mitigation and preparedness.
At the end we will give some topics for pastoral and community
workers they can give in so called “disaster seminars”.
6
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Disasters cost lives, destroy infrastructure, disrupt livelihoods and
leave a major impact on the survivors’ physical and psychological
wellbeing. Over the past decades there has been a substantial
increase in the number of people affected by disasters and the
subsequent socio-economic losses. In 2007, 414 disasters resulting from natural hazards were reported. They killed 16,847 people, affected more than 211 million and other caused over
74.9US$ billion in economic damages. Last year’s number of reported disasters confirmed the global upward trend in natural
hazard-related disasters, mainly driven by the increase in the
number of hydro-meteorological disasters. In recent decades, the
number of reported hydrological disasters has increased by 7.4%
per year on average.
The reality is that developing countries bear the brunt of natural
and man-made disasters (90% of the people affected live in Asia)
and these countries lack the resources and capacities to respond
effectively. Disasters pose a major threat to sustainable development and the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals.
We all live exposed to threats or hazards, so why are disastrous
events occurring more frequently and with increasingly severe impacts? Disasters occur when natural or man-made hazards impact
on human beings. How much we are affected by a particular hazard
and the risks we face depend on two main factors:


The nature of the hazard
The vulnerability of the affected people
Poverty, vulnerability and disasters are linked; it is most often the
poorest that are worst affected and suffer most. Their poverty
makes them more vulnerable. Their capacities to cope with disas7
ters and recover from the effects are constrained by their lack of
resources. Disasters rob the poor of their meagre possessions,
their homes and livestock and most importantly, their livelihoods.
Conversely, droughts, floods and even earthquakes have impacted on people’s lives and livelihoods without being deemed a disaster, when those people were sufficiently prepared and had the capacity to cope and recover quickly. 1
Figure 1: People hazard and disaster
While disasters have traditionally been viewed as dramatic natural occurrences over which passive victims have little or no control, many more poor people are at risk from hazards other than
cataclysmic events. Hunger, disease, slow-onset, man-made
disasters and conflict claim many more lives than floods or earthquakes. Yet these disasters pass largely unnoticed; they are
“normal” events in less developed countries.
Disasters are rarely just one-off events, but more often the result
of deep-rooted long-term failures of development which exacerbate the situation. Very often the impact of several small adversities is all that is required to drive the poor from a state of vulnerability to one of total destitution.
If vulnerability is the key component of both the sustainable livelihoods approach to poverty reduction and disaster risk reduction,
then all activities which seek to strengthen livelihoods, increase
resilience and reduce the vulnerability of poor people are risk
reduction measures.
8
The sustainable livelihoods framework identifies hazards as an
influencing factor which impinges on the assets necessary to attain a sustainable livelihood. All poor people are exposed to risks
and hazards and seek ways to cope when their impact overwhelms their normal livelihood strategies. Rising frequency, amplitude and number of natural disasters and attendant problem
coupled with loss of human lives prompted the General Assembly
of the United Nations to proclaim 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) through a resolution
44/236 of December 22, 1989 to focus on all issues related to
natural disaster reduction. In spite of IDNDR, there had been a
string of major disaster throughout the decade. Nevertheless, by
establishing the rich disaster management related traditions and
by spreading public awareness the IDNDR provided required
stimulus for disaster reduction. It is almost impossible to prevent
the occurrence of natural disasters and their damages.
However it is possible to reduce the impact of disasters by adopting
suitable disaster mitigation strategies. The disaster mitigation works
mainly address the following: (i) minimise the potential risks by developing disaster early warning strategies, (ii) prepare and implement
developmental plans to provide resilience to such disasters, (iii) mobilise resources including communication and tele-medicinal services
and (iv) to help in rehabilitation and post-disaster reduction. Disaster
management on the other hand involves: (i) pre-disaster planning,
preparedness, monitoring including relief management capability. (ii)
prediction and early warning. (iii) damage assessment and relief
management. Disaster reduction is a systematic work which involves
with different regions, different professions and different scientific
fields, and has become an important measure for human, society and
nature sustainable development.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) should thus be regarded as part of
long-term sustainable development work and should be a core element of development programme planning. DRR contributes to sustainable development by preventing or decreasing the frequency of
shocks occurring, or by increasing the capital resource base of a
community so that the impact of the shock is less and/or recovery is
more rapid. 2
9
CHAPTER TWO
UNDERSTANDING DISASTERS
INTRODUCTION
By the end of this chapter, we should be able to:



Define disasters
Categorize disasters as natural, human made, ecological,
technological and complex; and
Understand the reality of displacement as disaster.
DEFINING DISASTERS



A disaster may be defined as unfortunate occurrence of a
disaster agent on a vulnerable community of people.
A disaster, according to Randolph Kent, occurs when a disaster agent exposes the vulnerability of a group or groups in
such a way that their lives are directly threatened or sufficient
harm has been done to economic and social structures, inevitability undermining their ability to survive.
A disaster can also be described as a catastrophic situation in
which normal patterns of life have been disrupted and extra
ordinary emergency interventions are required to save life.
therefore, three basic elements define disasters:
1. Disaster agent (including natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, volcanic eruptions, or human
events such as armed conflicts)
2. Vulnerability that is the proneness or openness of a potential
victim to the life-threatening impact of a disaster agent.
3. Impact on human life, property, and environment.
Thus disasters are about vulnerability. It is only when a disaster
agent exposes the vulnerability of the potential victims that the
agent can lead to disaster.
10
CATEGORIES OF DISASTERS

Traditionally, disaster agents have been categorized into natural and man-made.
1. Natural Disaster
Natural disasters are of different types:



‘Sudden onset’ variety like earthquakes and floods. They are
characterized by a rapid build-up, and are assumed to offer
relatively little warning before they strike.
‘Creeping disasters’ like drought. Their onset is gradual; and
can be readily predicted
‘Chronic disasters’. Chronic disaster agents are those that
appear to have no specific time limit; they are ‘ongoing’ e.g.
drought.
2. Man Made Disasters


Man-made disasters arise out of conflicts that can force people
to seek refuge in other countries or in other areas within the
country. Conflicts related disasters begin when victims of violence are no longer able to ensure only their livelihood but also
their very survival. The wide spread replacement of communities in northern and eastern Uganda is evidence of the presence of human caused disasters in our midst.
Additional categories of disaster include technological and
ecological disaster.
3. Technological Disasters

These disasters are as a result of breakdown of modern industrial and technological systems. E.g. A breakdown of a
poisonous gas plant can lead to a serious of life destruction.
11
4. Ecological Disaster

Can arise out of well-intentioned development programmes.
Ecological disaster agents are sometimes created by modern
farming techniques such as a wide variety of chemical waste
into the atmosphere, seas and rivers. E.g. the creation of the
Akosombo dam on the Volta valley in Ghana.
A combination of different disasters can be referred to as
complex disaster.

12
A complex disaster is one where a disaster agent exposes
vulnerability which open the way of the impact of other disaster agents. For example, a prolonged drought can trigger
armed conflicts. The reality here is that the natural disaster
agents expose the vulnerability of communities, and the very
incapability of their governments to respond to such disasters
or minimize their impact. As the inability of governments to
support communities become clearer, their authority and legitimacy become questionable, eventually leading to armed
conflict and wide spread displacement. 3
CHAPTER THREE
DISASTERS AND THEIR IMPACT
INTRODUCTION
Of the factors that make up disasters, the disaster agents or hazards are by far the main determinants; they transform vulnerable
human conditions into disasters; they produce stress, personal
injury, physical damage and socio-economic disruption of great
magnitude.
Disasters affect different people differently; some people are directly affected while others are affected indirectly. Women, children, the elderly people with disabilities, and the most poor are
among the most vulnerable victims.
DISASTER HAZARDS AND THEIR MAIN CAUSES.
FLOODS
Floods have been described in different ways.



Generally, floods refer to the covering of an area which is
normally dry with water; it occurs when water flows or rises
above and beyond its place.
More precisely, floods are defined as too much water in a
wrong place
Floods are caused not only by rain but also by human action
such as farming, deforestation, (overgrazing, bush burning),
and urbanization. These actions increase the runoff from
rains that caused the flood disaster.
13
Disaster condition of floods is created by a number of factors, including:



Human settlement in low lands that are prune to floods.
Poor watershed management.
Failure to control the flooding that eventually leads to the destruction and suffering of victims.
Figure 2: Effect of flood on human life
Source: http:www.cred.be./sites/default/files/ADSR_2007.pdf
Flood as a Disaster

A flood is a disaster. For floods kill by destroying human lives,
houses, crops, infrastructures such as communication lines,
roads, bridges, and electricity lines, etc.
They wash away farmlands and irrigation systems, thus
leading to food shortage, famine and death.

14
Some flood control measures.
Reducing concentration of runoff water by maintaining vegetation
cover in lands or water catchment areas through e.g. a forestation.






Creating storage basins or reservoirs that can hold surplus water.
Building barrages to hold water until it can be directed down streams.
Constructing diversion channels to lakes and seas.
Dredging and deepening river valleys or channels to facilitate accommodation of increased volume of water during rainy seasons.
Encouraging multi-purpose water projects for the production
of hydro electricity power (HEP) and irrigation.
Public education on floods, their frequency and impacts to
reduce the effects on community. (Adopted from UNICEF
news on victims of natural Disasters, 109, 1987).4
DROUGHTS
Drought is generally understood as a condition of dryness and
lack of water for the normal needs of agriculture, livestock, industry, or human population.
Drought conditions have continued to persist in the Sahel region,
south of the Sahara in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea; they
are apart of annual events in the semi-arid lands of northern
Uganda, particularly in the Karamoja region.
Drought conditions results from climate changes and this changes
are caused by human action such as deforestation for timber, fuel
or farm land; overgrazing or cultivation; encroachment on wetlands
and bush burning.
15
Measures to mitigate drought.
Mitigating the effects of drought require:





Increasing the supply of water to the affected areas through
construction of boreholes, water reservoir such as valley
dams and water tanks, and water pipelines.
Irrigating the area to increase on the crop production and
availability of floods.
Introducing drought resistant crops and fast yielding crops
varieties to increase on food security.
Tree planting to afforestate the area so as to increase on rain
formation
Adoption of relevant laws and policies to check on environmental abuses.
EARTHQUAKES


Earthquakes involve ground shaking and surface faulting
caused by the movement of earth plates. As the plate’s
moves relative to one another, stresses form and accumulate
until a fracture or abrupt slippage occurs. The sudden release
of stress is called an earthquake.
The stresses are released at the focus, that is, the point
where mechanical waves are radiated in all direction causing
vibrations at the earth’s surface. It is such violent motions that
damage building structures and tear apart lands, thus leading
to the great loss of human lives and property.
Other effects of earthquakes.
Often earthquakes cause landslide or the collapse of unstable
hillside that can burry or cover or sweep away the areas of human settlement. Moreover, damage on electrical and gas lines
can cause fire outbreak which can lead to greater deaths.
16
Responding to an earthquake.






Impact and needs assessment survey.
Search and rescue of victims.
Medical treatment of injured victims.
Evacuation and resettlement in safer areas.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction of housing, public buildings,
road etc.
In the long term, however, response to earthquakes requires
construction of earthquake resistant buildings, proper planning
of human settlement to avoid risky area, and dealing with the
socioeconomic roots of poverty.
WARS AND CONFLICTS


These are human made disasters whose principal cause is
violent human disagreement; they may be within communities
or states, and between communities or states, often leading
to complex emergencies.
What is clear in all wars is the reality of great loss of human life,
property, human displacement, destruction of the environment,
and the trauma that goes with all these effects. For wars injure,
kill, displace people in thousands from their homes, and destroy
property and the environment.
The causes of wars.
The causes of wars are diverse, but include the following:



Political persecution and denial of fundamental human rights
of citizens by the political leadership.
Tribalism or ethnic discrimination of minority groups of the
majority leading to massacres as it was in Rwanda in 1994
and is the case now in Burundi.
Racial and religious discrimination from political and economic participation within the same state as is the case with the
Sudan.
17


Search for economic opportunities especially raw materials
like minerals and timbers, and expanded markets. This is evident in the 1997 war in Congo-Zaire.
People are discontent due to failures by the governments in
power to respond to people’s needs for improved standards
of living or to a natural disaster like to drought and famine.
WAR AND DISPLACEMENT
Each time there is war or armed conflict; people are uprooted from
their homes and communities. The crisis of internally displaced
persons and refugees are a disaster and must be described as so
because of the great suffering which such conditions bring to humanity. Often, these displacements are accompanied by lack of
adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care, social psychology
and physical insecurity; and high death rates. 5
Although the provision of emergency relief and security are essential responses to war victims, investing in conflict prevention
mechanisms, and encouraging voluntary repatriation and reintegration are the much needed responses to our world torn by violence and armed conflicts.
CYCLONES
SAFETY TIPS
Before the Cyclone Season




18
Keep watch on weather and listen to radio or TV. Keep alert
about the community warning systems – loudspeakers, bells,
conches, drums or any traditional warning system.
Get to know the nearest cyclone shelter / safe houses and
the safest route to reach these shelters.
Do not listen to rumours.
Prepare an emergency kit containing:
o
o
o
o
o







A portable radio, torch and spare batteries;
Stocks dry food – Chura, Chhatua, Mudhi, gur, etc.
Matches, fuel lamp, portable stove, cooking utensils, waterproof bags
A first aid kit, manual, etc.
Katuri, pliers, small saw, axe and plastic rope.
Check the roof and cover it with net or bamboo. Check the
walls, pillars, doors and windows to see if they are secure. If
not, repair those at the earliest. In case of tin roofs, check the
condition of the tin and repair the loose points. Cover the mud
walls with polythene or coconut leaves mats or straw mats on
a bamboo frame. Bind each corner of the roof with a plastic
rope in case of thatched roof.
Trim dry tree branches, cut off the dead trees and clear the
place/courtyard of all debris, including coconuts and tree
branches.
Clear your property of loose materials that could blow about
and cause injury or damage during extreme winds.
If your area is prone to storm surge, locate safe high ground
or shelter.
Keep important documents, passbook, etc. in a tight plastic
bag and take it along with your emergency kits if you are
evacuating.
Identify the spot where you can dig holes to store food grains,
seeds, etc. in polythene bags.
Keep a list of emergency addresses and phone numbers on
display. Know the contact telephone number of the government offices /agencies, which are responsible for search, rescue and relief operations in your area.
Upon a cyclone warning


Store loose items inside. Put extra agricultural products/ stock
like paddy in plastic bags and store it by digging up a hole in the
ground, preferably at a higher elevation and then cover it
properly. Fill bins and plastic jars with drinking water.
Keep clothing for protection, handy
19






Prepare a list of assets and belongings of your house and
give information to volunteers and other authorities about
your near and dear ones.
Fill fuel in your car/motorcycle and park it under a solid cover.
Tie bullock carts, boats securely to strong posts in an area,
which has a strong cover and away from trees. Fallen trees
can smash boats and other assets.
Close shutters or nail all windows. Secure doors. Stay indoors, with pets.
Pack warm clothing, essential medications, valuables, papers, water, dry food and other valuables in waterproof bags,
to be taken along with your emergency kit.
Listen to your local radio / TV, local community warning system for further information.
In case of warning of serious storm, move with your family to
a strong pucca building. In case of warning of cyclones of severe intensity, evacuate the area with your family, precious
items and documents and emergency kit.
Take special care for children, elders, sick, pregnant women and lactating mothers in your family. Do not forget your emergency food
stock, water and other emergency items.
GO TO THE NEAREST CYCLONE SHELTER.

Do not venture into the sea for fishing.
On warning of local evacuation.
Based on predicted wind speeds and storm surge heights, evacuation may be necessary. Official advice may be given on local
radio / TV or other means of communication regarding safe
routes and when to move.


20
Wear strong shoes or boots and clothing for protection.
Lock your home, switch off power, gas, water, and take your
emergency kit.


If evacuating to a distant place take valuable belonging, domestic animals, and leave early to avoid heavy traffic, flooding and wind hazards.
If evacuating to a local shelter or higher grounds carry the
emergency kit and minimum essential materials.
When the cyclone strikes



Disconnect all electrical appliances and turn off gas.
If the building starts crumbling, protect yourself with mattresses, rugs or blankets under a strong table or bench or
hold on to a solid fixture (e.g. a water pipe).
Listen to your transistor radio for updates and advice.
After the cyclone




Do not go outside until officially advised it is safe.
Check for gas leaks. Do not use electric appliances, if wet.
Listen to local radio for official warnings and advice.
If you have to evacuate, or did already so, do not return until advised. Use a recommended route for returning, don’t rush. 5
21
CHAPTER FOUR
LANDSLIDE
During a Landslide:

Stay alert and awake. Many debris-flow fatalities occur when
people are sleeping. Listen to a Weather Radio or portable,
battery-powered radio or television for warnings of intense
rainfall. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be
particularly dangerous, especially after longer periods of
heavy rainfall and damp weather.

If you are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows,
consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Remember that driving
during an intense storm can be hazardous. If you remain at
home, move to a second place if possible. Staying out of the
path of a landslide or debris flow saves lives.
Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A
trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger
landslides. Moving debris can flow quickly and sometimes
without warning.


If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden
increase or decrease in water flow and for a change from
clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide
activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Don't delay! Save yourself, not your belongings.
What to do if you suspect imminent landslide danger:

22
Contact your local fire fighter, police, or public works department. Local officials are the best persons able to assess potential danger.

Inform affected neighbours. Your neighbours may not be
aware of potential hazards. Advising them of a potential
threat may help save lives. Help neighbours who may need
assistance to evacuate.
Media and community education Ideas:





In an area prone to landslides, publish a special newspaper
section with emergency information on landslides and debris
flows. Localize the information by including the phone numbers of local emergency services offices, the Red Cross, and
hospitals.
Report on what city and county governments are doing to
reduce the possibility of landslides. Interview local officials
about local land- use zoning regulations.
Interview local officials and major insurers. Find out if debris
flow is covered by flood insurance policies and contact your
local emergency management office to learn more about the
program.
Work with local emergency services to prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments on what to do if
evacuation is ordered.
Support your local government in efforts to develop and enforce land-use and building ordinances that regulate construction in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows.
Buildings should be located away from steep slopes, streams
and rivers, intermittent-stream channels, and the mouths of
mountain channels.
After the Landslide:


Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides.
Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide, without
entering the direct slide area. Direct rescuers to their locations.
23

Help a neighbour who may require special assistance - infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly
people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.

Listen to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information.

Watch for flooding, which may occur after a landslide or debris
flow. Floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows because they may both be started by the same event.
Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off
as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.

Check the building foundation, chimney, and surrounding land
for damage. Damage to foundations, chimneys, or surrounding
land may help you assess the safety of the area.
Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion
caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding.

Seek the advice of a geotechnical expert for evaluating landslide hazards or designing corrective techniques to reduce
landslide risk. A professional will be able to advise you of the
best ways to prevent or reduce landslide risk, without creating
further hazard.

In an area prone to landslides, publish a special newspaper
section with emergency information on landslides and debris
flows. Localize the information by including the phone numbers of local emergency services offices, the American Red
Cross chapter, and hospitals.

Report on what city and county governments are doing to
reduce the possibility of landslides. Interview local officials
about local land- use zoning regulations.
24
Before a Landslide: How to Plan:
Develop a Family Disaster Plan. Please see the "Family Disaster
Plan" section for general family planning information. Develop
landslide-specific planning.
Learn about landslide risk in your area. Contact local officials,
state geological surveys or departments of natural resources,
and university departments of geology. Landslides occur where
they have before, and in identifiable hazard locations. Ask for
information on landslides in your area, specific information on
areas vulnerable to landslides, and request a professional referral for a very detailed site analysis of your property, and corrective measures you can take, if necessary.
If you are at risk from landslides:



Talk to your insurance agent.
Develop an evacuation plan.
Discuss landslides and debris flow with your family. Everyone
should know what to do in case all family members are not
together. Discussing disaster ahead of time helps reduce fear
and lets everyone know how to respond during a landslide or
debris flow.
FIRE
TIPS ON FIRE ACCIDENTS
High-Rise Fires:




Calmly leave the apartment, closing the door behind you.
Remember the keys!
Pull the fire alarm near the closest exit, if available, or raise
an alarm by warning others.
Leave the building by the stairs.
Never take the elevator during fire!
25
If the exit is blocked by smoke or fire:














Leave the door closed but do not lock it.
To keep the smoke out, put a wet towel in the space at the
bottom of the door.
Call the emergency fire service number and tell them your
apartment number and let them know you are trapped by
smoke and fire. It is important that you listen and do what
they tell you.
Stay calm and wait for someone to rescue you if there is a fire
alarm in your building which goes off:
Before you open the door, feel the door by using the back of
our hand. If the door is hot or warm, do not open the door.
If the door is cool, open it just a little to check the hallway. If
you see smoke in the hallway, do not leave.
If there is no smoke in the hallway, leave and close the door.
Go directly to the stairs to leave. Never use the elevator.
If smoke is in your apartment:
Stay low to the floor under the smoke.
Call the Fire Emergency Number which should be pasted
near your telephone along with police and other emergency
services and let them know that you are trapped by smoke.
If you have a balcony and there is no fire below it, go out.
If there is fire below, go out to the window. Do not open the
window but stay near the window.
If there is no fire below, go to the window and open it. Stay
near the open window.
Hang a bed sheet, towel or blanket out of the window to let
people know that you are there and need help.
Be calm and wait for someone to rescue you.
Kitchen Fires:
It is important to know what kind of stove or cooking oven you
have in your home – gas, electric, and kerosene or where firewood is used.
26
The stove is the No. 1 cause of fire hazards in your kitchen and
can cause fires, which may destroy the entire house, especially
in rural areas where there are thatched roof or other inflammable
materials like straw kept near the kitchen. For electric and gas
stoves ensure that the switch or the gas valve is switched
off/turned off immediately after the cooking is over. An electric
burner remains hot and until it cools off, it can be very dangerous. The oven using wood can be dangerous because burning
embers remain. When lighting the fire on a wooden fuel oven,
keep a cover on the top while lighting the oven so that sparks do
not fly to the thatched roof.
After the cooking is over, ensure that the remaining fire is extinguished off by sprinkling water if no adult remains in the kitchen
after the cooking. Do not keep any inflammable article like kerosene near the kitchen fire.
Important Do’s in the Kitchen:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Do have an adult always present when cooking is going on
the kitchen. Children should not be allowed alone.
Do keep hair tied back and do not wear synthetic clothes
when you are cooking.
Do make sure that the curtains on the window near the stove
are tied back and will not blow on to the flame or burner.
Do check to make sure that the gas burner is turned off immediately if the fire is not ignited and also switched off immediately after cooking.
Do turn panhandles to the centre of the stove and put them
out of touch of the children in the house.
Do ensure that the floor is always dry so that you do not slip
and fall on the fire.
Do keep matches out of the reach of children.
27
Important Don’ts
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Don’t put towels, or dishrags near a stove burner.
Don’t wear loose fitting clothes when you cook, and don’t
reach across the top of the stove when you are cooking.
Don’t put things in the cabinets or shelves above the stove.
Young children may try to reach them and accidentally start
the burners, start a fire, catch on fire.
Don’t stores spray cans or cans carrying inflammable items
near the stove.
Don’t let small children near an open oven door. They can be
burnt by the heat or by falling onto the door or into the oven.
Don’t lean against the stove to keep warm.
Don’t use towels as potholders. They may catch on fire.
Don’t overload an electrical outlet with several appliances or extension cords. The cords or plugs may overheat and cause a fire.
Don’t use water to put out a grease fire. ONLY use baking soda,
salt, or a tight lid. Always keep a box of baking soda near the stove.
Don’t use radios or small appliances (mixers, blenders) near the sink.
COMMON TIPS:
·
·
·
Do keep the phone number of the Fire Service near the telephone and ensure that everyone in the family knows the number.
Do keep matches and lighters away from children.
Do sleep with your bedroom closed to prevent the spread of fire.
Do you know that you should never run if your clothes are on fire
and that you should - “STOP – DROP-ROLL.” 6
Effects of disasters





28
Environmental
Medical
Economic
Social and political
Administrative and managerial
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Figure 3: Environmental effects of Major Natural Hazards.
No. Types of Effects
Hazards
Consequences
1.
Flood
-Inundation.
-Soil erosion.
-Damage human settlement.
-Destroy crops, building etc.
-May change course of
rivers or stream.
-Deposit
soil
down
stream.
2.
Drought
-Reduce cloud cover.
-Increase day time hot
reduce night time temperatures.
-Increase dust and
sandstorms.
-Reduce Surface water.
-Severe crop and animals
losses.
-Food shortage leading to
hunger and malnutrition.
-Human displacement.
3.
Earthquake
-Ground shaking or
tremor.
-Ground rupture and
faulting cause landslides.
-Destroying or damage
buildings, dams, underground tunnels.
-Break utility lines leading
to fires.
-Can change the flow of streams
and cause flooding.
-Leads to evacuation and
displacement.
4.
Volcanic
Eruption
-Emission and flow of -Destroy or damage houshot lava.
es, crops, bridges, roads,
-Rejected rock materi- electricity and communicaals.
tion lines etc.
-Causes fire
-Force evacuation and
displacement.
Source: Adopted from F.C. Cuny, Disasters and Management.
Oxford University Press1983 Pg 45.
29
Medical effects
Disasters effects people medically by causing




Traumatic injuries,
Emotional stress,
Epidemic diseases, and
Other indigenous diseases.
There are number of communicable diseases that follow disasters including:




Water or food borne diseases,
Contact diseases,
Respiratory diseases, and
Vector borne diseases
Some of the common one are:
Cholera, Measles,
Typhoid, Infectious hepatitis,
Scabies, Whooping cough
Malaria, HIV/AIDS.
30
Measurers necessary to prevent and control diseases include:







Public health education.
Reduced crowding of disaster victims.
Mass immunization against cholera or immunization of selected groups, e.g., children against immunization diseases
like measles.
Fly, pest and vector control.
Provision of safe water for drinking and washing.
Disease surveillance in the community.
Early treatment of identified cases.
Economic effects
Disaster disrupts economic activities by:



Displacing people from their jobs or working areas.
Diversion of economic resources like money and farm land to
disaster management activities.
Destroying the infrastructure needed for economic activities
like roads, bridges, railways, markets, irrigation systems, etc.
The impacts of disasters on economies are thus clear in terms of:




Disruption of markets and destruction of assets bases.
Lack of long-term planning and investment.
Increased vulnerability of the economically marginalized groups.
Economic dependency on humanitarian goods.
Social and political effects
Disaster often brings to the fore the social and political disparities
in the community and expose the inability of many governments
to deal not only with the disaster situation but also with the very
roots of vulnerability: poverty, disease and ignorance. F.C. Cuny
states in his study about disaster development;
31
“A disaster makes it very evident that the poor are vulnerable
because they are poor and this can lead to profound political and
social changes within a society.” (F.C. Cuny, Disaster and development, 1983).
Disasters are major cause of social instability and family disunity, for
disasters divide families as a result of displacement and sometimes
due to great loss of resources that leads to stress. But disasters
also present immense opportunities for strengthening social ties
with families and fellow kinds on tribe mates in solidarity.
Administrative and managerial effects
Disaster affects communities administratively and managerially by:




32
The loss of community leadership due to death or replacement.
Disruption of formal organization such as community-based
organization leading not only to breaking down of formal authority, but also the rise of informal groups to deal with the
immediate problems of disasters.
Damage of critical facilities such as water and sewage facilities, communication facilities, medical facilities, and other
similar facilities that are essential for safety and survival and
for effective response to disasters.
Increase in demand for disaster managers and other professionals to manage the disaster, thus increasing administrative costs.
VICTIMS OF DISASTERS
Disaster agents are disasters only when their actions affect people
and their environment. The impact of disasters can be felt directly
or indirectly by person within or outside the community. But the
effects of disasters are often felt much by the more vulnerable
members of the affected community including:





Women.
Children.
Persons with disabilities.
Elderly persons.
The poor.
These, in fact, are the most marginalized and often the poorest of
the poor.
Victims can also be classifies into:



Primary victims: are “those persons living with the disasteraffected area who have suffered injury, the loss of relatives,
or damage of their property.
Secondary victims: are those affected indirectly by the disaster, e.g. producers, politicians
Tertiary victims: are those persons outside the community
who are affected by the loss of development aid that has
been diverted to the disaster area as relief aid. 7
33
CHAPTER FIVE
RESPONSES TO DISASTERS
INTRODUCTION
The life span of disasters can be categorized into various phases.
starting from when a disaster has not actually occurred to when
the affected community has fully recovered from the disaster. A
humanitarian organization may respond to a disaster at any of the
phases to prevent or to mitigate the human suffering that may result from the actions of disaster agents.
PHASES OF A DISASTER
Various phases of disasters have been identified. In the broadest
form, disasters have been classified into three phases:
1.
2.
3.
Pre - disaster phase.
Disaster phase.
Post-disaster phase.
Each of three phases can be further classified according to the
major activities that take place.
The pre-disaster phase
Pre-disaster phase is distinguished by the planning activities that
categorize this phase. The major activities in this phase are:



34
Disaster prevention.
Disaster mitigation and
Disaster preparedness.
The main goal for pre-disaster response is to reduce or mitigate
the destructive and disruptive effects of disasters before they occur. With good planning, human safety and material wellbeing
can be increased thus, reducing human suffering and death of
persons due to a disaster. We shall deal with this subject in detail
in a later discussion.
The Disaster Phase
The disaster phase is a phase characterized by those activities aimed
at saving lives. It is a phase that is described as emergency.
The main activities here include:



Search and rescue.
The provision of emergency relief such as food, water,
medicine, shelter, etc.
Impact and needs assessments are also key activities of
the disaster phase for establishing the key components for
response.
The Post-disaster Phase
The post-disaster phase is identified by the transitional activities
that lead to full recovery from the impact of a disaster.
The key activities in this phase are physical, social and emotional
rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The phase is thus characterized by repair of damaged buildings
and other infrastructure, reconstruction of housing and other
structures that can support the community recover and then resist future disasters.
35
RESPONSES TO DISASTERS
Two sources of Responses


Internal responses from within the community.
Externally responses from the outside community like the
international community of state and non-state sectors.
In this section therefore, we explore the different internal and external mechanisms of responses to the various phases of disasters.
Community responses to disasters
In the initial stages of disasters, communities respond in various
ways to mitigate the impact of disasters. Among these communities or internal mechanisms of response are:




The social units.
Religious institutions.
Political organizations.
Economic unions or co-operatives
Social Units
The family is the most central of all social units of response to
disasters. In the immediate emergency period, assistance from
social units includes:







36
Searching for and rescuing victims.
Transporting them to nearby medical facilities.
Recovering belongings and erecting emergency shelter.
Providing temporally lodging to those who have lost their
homes or are still threatened by the disaster.
Providing food supplies, clothes, blankets if they are required.
Mutual sharing of salvage and repair work.
The comforting of each other during this time is vital.
Religious Institutions
Religious institution provides the following:







Leadership at all times for equitable distribution of relief aid.
Emotional support and comfort to victims through counselling.
Provision of temporally accommodation (in churches and
mosques) and shelters.
Mobilization and the provision of relief food, water, medicine,
transport, etc.
Linking the disaster victims with other relief organizations and
governments.
Provision of financial assistance to victims for self-help
projects.
Reconstruction of social services such as schools, health
centres, community centres, etc.
Political Organization
Local government councils, departments, and councils of village
elders are some of the internal political organizations that respond to disasters. These organizations provide a variety of assistance to disaster victims including:








Leadership in the distribution of relief aid and in the supervision of evacuations.
Provision of temporary accommodation (in schools and community centres).
Provision of temporary land for transit or settlement camps.
Mobilization and the provision of relief food, water, and medicine transport, etc.
Linking the disaster victims with central government and relief
organizations.
Provision of equipments and tools.
Repair and reconstruction of social services such as schools,
health centre, community centre’s, etc.
Provision of order and protection from insecurity.
37
Economic Organization
Economic organizations such as co-operative union or society,
labour union and community associations provide a variety of
assistance including:





Leadership.
Transport and communication facilities.
Temporary accommodation in their large stores.
Financial grants or loans to guarantee financial security.
Tools, equipment, seeds for agricultural recovery.
EXTERNAL RESPONSE TO DISATERS
Today key external actors in relief include:




Host and Donor government.
Intergovernmental organizations.
International non-governmental organizations.
Foreign media agencies.
They play various roles in support of disaster victims.
Governments
Governments are today important actors in disaster relief. Donor
governments as well as governments of disaster affected areas
too often have responded with the resources and created the
conditions for effective humanitarian action. Except for lapses in
governmental failures to respond and in cases where displacement is a strategy of a government, their responses to disasters
can not be downplayed by the increased presence of nongovernmental organizations.
38
Government Roles






Resources mobilization.
Adoption of relevant policies.
Creation of relevant institution/departments for disaster response.
Invited non-governmental organizations to respond to the
suffering of their populations.
Provision of security necessary for relief action to be effective, although some governments are behind the insecurity
that characterizes refugee camps and the camps of internally
displaced people in Africa.
Donor governments have also shown great responsiveness
to disasters in Africa by providing the financial and material
resources needed for disaster relief.
Government’s Motives
For many scholars states mask behind the principle of humanity for
other interests. Among the many self- interests there is:





The search for expanded roles.
Legitimacy and image building.
Extension of foreign policy.
Securing of an environment conducive for nation investment
and protection of national assets abroad.
The creation of inter-governmental organizations such as the
United Nations and its specialized agencies like UNHCR,
UNICEF, EFP, etc to deal with the humanitarian problem of
disaster victims.
39
Inter Governmental Organizations (IGO’s)
IGO’s have been created by states to play a number of roles including:



The maintenance of world peace and security.
The protection and promotion of human rights.
The achievement of international co-operation for solving
economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.
These organizations enjoy a large margin of respect from governments and the public hence can mobilize large resources and allowed access to disaster victims than other actors.8
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO’s)
Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), besides governments
and IGO’s, have now increased their presence and activities in
disaster area in Africa. Such organizations as ICRC, Oxfam,
CARE, MSF, SCF, World Vision, Catholic Relief Service, among
others are actively involved in disasters in Africa by carrying needs
assessment, initiating programmes, mobilizing resources and
sending relief aid to vulnerable people.
Challenges of NGO’s




Limited financial, material and human resources.
Restrictions from host governments and war lords.
Competition from IGO’s.
Cultural differences.
However, for many NGO’s the suffering of victims has been behind their responses to disasters. The motivation for this is simple
altruism. While it is true that more relief agents are motivated by
the need to help others, other motivations such as personal satisfaction, employment, and career development are on their agenda. What are your motivations?
40
The Media and Disaster stories
The role of the media in humanitarian action cannot be underestimated; neither can its power in influencing the process of disaster response.
It provides vital information on disasters and critically influences
the humanitarian response.
It is the media that is often the key to raising funds; it is the television primarily, but also news papers, journals and radio that
promote one cause, abandon another, and in so doing determine
priorities.
It is also the media, through its relentless search for a handle on
a disaster story that exposes the purported strengths and failing
of the relief process.
Motivations
The code of conduct for international Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and NGO’s in Disaster Relief, for instance, states:
“As members of the international community, we recognize our
obligation to provide humanitarian assistance wherever it is
needed..... The prime motivation of our response to disaster is to
alleviate human suffering amongst those least able to withstand
the stress caused by disaster.”
Whereas it has been the case that response to disasters is motivated by the universal desire to alleviate suffering, self-interest
motives of individuals and organizations alike have been evident
in many external responses to disaster.
41
Challenges of Response





42
Limited mandate.
Bureaucracy.
Problem of co-ordination.
Problem of professionalism resulting mainly from the competition for influence and funds.
Financial problems: many organizations are constrained by
limited funds to execute their conceived programmes 9.
CHAPTER SIX
DISASTER PROGRAMME PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
Disaster programme planning and management are two basic components for effective response to disasters. The importance of programme planning is to enable the all stakeholders to clearly define
and set policies, goals, objectives, strategies and allocate resources. A sound programme management enables participants to
utilize humanitarian aid for achieving set goals and objectives, that
is, to maximize the benefits of a disaster programme. Key elements
in disaster programme planning and management include:




Determining the intervention.
Initial steps in disaster programme planning.
Programme management.
Programme monitoring and evaluation.
DETERMINING THE INTERVENTION
Some key factors need to be considered in determining where
and how to intervene.




The mission of the organization.
The sector and geographical area.
The area of specialization.
The environment: e.g. complex factors (political, social, military, cultural etc,) and other actors (Governments, IGO’s,
other NGO’s, etc).
43
Disaster Assessment
Disaster assessment is the process of information collection carried out to determine the impact of a disaster and the needs of
the disaster victims.
This can be done by field survey, over flights or Aerial photography.
There are two types of disaster assessment.


Disaster impact assessment.
Disaster needs assessment.
Steps for disaster assessment
Four major steps are important in undertaking disaster assessments:




Recognizing and understanding the disaster.
Preparation for the assessment.
Going to the disaster area and actually conducting the assessment.
Preparation for the disaster reports and disseminating reports
to the head office, donors, other NGO’s and other stakeholders for their action.
Importance of assessment






44
To determines immediate needs and priorities.
To determine impact or damage.
To identify obstacles.
To identify secondary threats.
To determine or identify resource availability.
To identify local coping mechanisms.
INITIAL STEPS IN DISATER PROGRAMME PLANNING
Disaster programme planning is an essential aspect of response
to the needs of disaster victims. A disaster programme defines
the goals, objectives, policies as well as the policies that will
guide the organization in its response to a disaster. The planning
process must therefore, identify and set the policies, objectives,
goals and strategies.
Policies


Policy frameworks are used as standard measures to guide
relief agents in their responses to disasters. They guide in the
achievement of short-term goals and objectives as well as
long-term goals/objectives.
Every programme decision is taken after careful consideration of the policies set. Policies, therefore, shape responses
to disasters.
Objectives


Objectives are the specific description of what the organization
hopes to obtain by each action or activities of the programme.
Objectives ought to be precise and clear so that the agents of
the organization can work to achieve them.
Goals
Goals quantify the objectives by setting the percentage targets;
they are a determination of how much assistance should be provided for how many beneficiaries or recipients.
Setting realistic goals depends on the capability of the organization, that is, its resource availability and the time frame of the
programme.
45
Strategies and Approaches
Strategies and approaches are the vehicles for attaining the
goals and objectives of a disaster programme. There are several
approaches for an organization to choose including: single sector
approach or Integrated Approach.
In a SSA, there is focus of resources and efforts in one sector
like food, medicine or shelter, while in an IA, the organization can
respond to a variety of needs in the disaster affected community.
Common problems in a program planning






46
Poor conceptualization the programme with vague goals and
objectives.
Failure to identify and set proper policies or guiding principles.
Failure to involve fully the local people in the planning process.
Selection of one strategy or approach and the failure to integrate different needs in one programme.
Failure to develop a management plan or structure.
Failure to establish the criteria for programme monitoring and
evaluation.
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
The key aspects of programme management include:
Establishing a table of organization


Importance for organizing staff and drawing lines of authority
and points of decisions making, establishing a hierarchy of
responsibility, and lines of communication.
The organization should, however, encourage participatory
management with clear roles and functions of the various offices and officers.
Staffing:



A disaster programme needs to be staffed by both skilled and
professional staff as voluntary staff.
Additional programme administrators may be required by a
organization to carry out each of its programmes.
Under most circumstances, relief work should be done by
local personnel. If skilled personnel are needed and cannot
be found locally, expatriates may be mobilized. However, a
proper balance between local and expatriate staff should be
achieved as much as possible.8
Budgeting and monetary control:
“Money is the oil that keeps the relief machine running smoothly”
(F.C. Cuny Disaster and Development).


Often, disasters attract money, lots of money and other resources, but an organization has to allocate resources wisely
to achieve programme targets and the overall goals of the organization.
Money for disaster programme has to be budgeted and controlled well to achieve results.
47

Moreover, accounting well for money not only builds trust for
the organization; it improves the image of the organization for
its straight dealing.
Management system:
For monitoring, sequencing, etc. A flowchart or the logical
framework can illustrate the project activities in a logical order.
Using a flowchart, programme manager can monitor progress
and determine when it is necessary to speed certain activities to
complete the programme on time. The logical framework is also
useful for monitoring progress or failures.
PROGRAMME MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Programme monitoring and evaluation are the last key components of disaster programme management. There are two activities used to analyze programme activities and resources and to
assess the contribution of the programme.
Monitoring a programme is a continuous process in the implementation of a programme for observing and analyzing whether the
programme is proceeding according to the policies, goals, and
objectives; it also analyze the cash flow and use, the performance
of staff and the overall programme performance. The main goal of
monitoring programmes is to identify and correct obstacles to the
implementation of the programme.
Evaluation
In general, evaluations should determine whether or not the programme has:



48
Alleviated and suffering caused by the disaster.
Strengthened local coping mechanisms or enhance local participation.
Help to develop local capacity by improvement of leadership
skills and institutions.

Increased safety of the community by reducing vulnerability of
the community to future disasters.
Other aspects of evaluation
Apart from the contributions of the programme, an evaluation
should also assess:





Issues that arose during the course of the programme.
Policy lessons.
The structure of programme management in relation to decision making and participation of the personnel.
The allocation and utilization of resources.
Approaches or interventions adopted and how appropriate
and sustainable they are.
Factors that influence programme success.
Factors that affect programme implementation and thus limit the
contributions of the programme include:



Relationship of the organization with the community.
The decision making process.
Resource flow and utilization.9
49
CHAPTER SEVEN
PRE-DISASTER PLANNING
DISASTER MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS
Defining pre-disaster planning
Pre-disaster planning is the term used to describe the comprehensive range of efforts made to reduce the impact of a disaster
before it occurs, its main goal is:


To reduce human suffering.
Its also aimed at improving the material well being & increase
security of persons living in disaster areas.
Importance of pre-disaster planning





To save life of the people most especially living in areas affected by disasters.
Ensure cost effectiveness or spending less by governments.
Ensures better human settlement and resettlement.
Reduces on the loses of property, crops.
Reduces dependence.
Key pre-disaster activities
Pre-disaster planning consists of three types of activities:



50
Disaster prevention,
Disaster mitigation.
Disaster preparedness.
Disaster prevention
Disaster prevention focuses on the hazards such as floods,
earthquakes and wars by reducing its direct effects by prevention. The best example of disaster prevention is the construction
of bridges to prevent flooding.10
Disaster preparedness


Disaster preparedness is defined as the development of
plans to structure the entire post-disaster response, to ensure
that emergency aid is managed so that each activity lays the
foundation for the next, and to plan the response so that each
sector contributes in someway to the others.
At its simplest, preparedness in an estimation of emergency
needs such as basic necessities of life like medicine, food,
shelter and financial support and the identification of resources to meet these needs.11
The objectives of disaster preparedness



To get absolute maximum benefit out of relief and to swiftly
complete the transition from emergency assistance to rehabilitation and reconstruction.
To ensure that disaster assistance makes the greatest possible contribution to ongoing development.
To guide reconstruction so that it reduces vulnerability and
mitigates a reoccurrence of the disaster.
Steps in planning disaster preparedness


Prior determination of the objectives to be met in each affected sector.
Identify the strategies and approaches necessary to accomplish these objectives.
51

Develop an implementing instrument. This is usually in the
form of disaster- preparedness plan. a formal documents that
set out the sequence of activities and the responsibilities of
each participant.

Develop tools necessary to respond and implement the plan.
These include the establishment of communication networks,
transport capabilities, action plans, procedures, check lists of
specific areas, evacuation routes and the acquisition and strategies placement of search and rescue equipment.

Strategically place resources to be used in the response.
Key activities of disaster preparedness









Develop of warning and evacuation plans.
Stockpiling of supplies.
Developing emergency plans for hospitals.
Improving infrastructure to support emergency services.
Establishing emergency command, control and communication system.
Training in search, rescue, & first aid.
Disaster assessment plan.
Establishing relief, reconstruction standards and strategies.
Developing crop salvage & marketing plans for disastrous people.
Disaster mitigation
Disaster mitigation means the application of comprehensive efforts aimed at minimizing the impact of disasters.
It focuses in measures that can be taken to minimize the magnitude of the hazard, e.g. by:


52
Development of building codes to encourage use of these
building techniques.
Diversification of crops and introduction of new cropping
methods.
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE MITIGATION
Mitigation activities are classified as passive and active.


Passive mitigation involves the development or application of
measures such as building codes, land use, zoning and urban
or religion planning techniques to reduce vulnerability.
Active mitigation encompasses those activities that require direct
contact with the people including public education, the introduction
of modification techniques, the initiation of housing improvement
programmes, the promotion of land or relocation of people from
vulnerable to suitable and safe sites and economic diversification of
those sectors most vulnerable to disasters.
Reducing vulnerability
Reducing the harmful effects of disasters require:



Reduce vulnerability of physical settlement and houses.
Reducing vulnerability of the economic and
Strengthening of the social structure of a community, so that
copying mechanisms can help absorb the shock of a disaster
and promote rapid recovery.
Steps in mitigation



First step is to identify high risk areas. This can be by relating
a hazard, such as earthquake, to the terrain and to the probability that such an event will occur. This activity is known as
a risk mapping and the results of the analysis are usually presented in the form of “risk maps”.
Second step in vulnerability reduction is to identify these
communities that are particularly susceptible to damage or
destruction. This is done by relating risk to human settlements and their structures.
Third step is the selection of the vulnerability reduction strategy.12
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RECOMMENDATIONS TO POLICY MAKERS
Essential Recommendations for Implementation
i. To restructure State policy on disaster management including pre-disaster mitigation (prevention and preparedness) as against the existing policy of post-disaster relief
and rehabilitation.
ii. All States should formulate a State level Disaster Management Plan, keeping in view the nature of natural and manmade disasters likely in the State with appropriate response
mechanism for action at various levels, starting from State
level headquarters through the district headquarters, towns
down to the local village units. Appropriate preparations
keeping in view the State level disaster mitigation plan in respect of preparedness, prevention, capacity building, training, drills, the nature of equipments and machinery needed
to be provided for has to be taken into account. And Providing necessary special funding and evolving strong policy instruments for pre-disaster mitigation activities with adequate
manpower and institutionalised mechanisms.
iii. To organise awareness programmes on disaster reduction
taking full advantage of print and electronic media for policy
makers, legislators, decision makers, administrators and
community professionals.
iv. To examine the existing legislations (Town and Country Planning Act, Master Plan and Area Development Rules and Municipal Regulations) and to amend the same for providing disaster
safety as mandatory requirements at all the four levels, Development/Special Area Authorities, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayats.
v. To establish Natural Disaster Mitigation Commission/Council/
Committee equipped with scientific and technical manpower in
every disaster prone State so as to advise the State Government in various aspects of disaster mitigation, prevention and
preparedness and exercise such functions/powers which the
State Government may decide.
54
vi. To create appropriate enforcement mechanism in various local
bodies from corporation to Panchayats levels to ensure disaster safe construction of good quality.
vii. To ensure proper performance of the existing buildings and
housing stock to withstand the forces of natural hazards in future, it is necessary to create mechanism for carrying out safety
audit and facilitate adequate financial support for retrofitting
and strengthening wherever necessary.
viii. To undertake micro-zone’s surveys in fast expanding urban
agglomerations falling in the disaster prone regions for preparing land use and development plans based on local soil effects
and liquefaction potential. Based on the recent events priority
may be given to the settlements where liquefaction of soil has
been observed.
ix. To improve and strengthen instrumentation network in the disaster prone States for monitoring and study of seismic occurrences, strong ground motions, cyclonic wind speeds, storm
surge heights and flood flows.
x. To promote the study of natural disaster prevention, mitigation
and preparedness and the national standards as special topics
in architectural, engineering and town planning curricula as well
as in various school education programmes so as to generate
the necessary human resource and to create awareness
amongst youth. This will ensure the requirement of capacity
building at local and regional levels.13
55
Required Enforcement for Safety of Buildings and Habitations
i. To ensure empowerment and accountability of the various actors involved in building construction, namely, the owner, the
builder/developer/promoter, the architect, the structural engineer, supervisors, the local body personnel involved in approval of plans, inspection of constructions and issuing of building
use permits.
ii. To insist on the submission of design and drawings signed by all
four stakeholders namely, the owner, builder of approved qualifications, qualified architect and structural engineer of specified qualifications before the permit to build is issued.
iii. To insist on submission of a building schedule (check list) along
with the application indicating the data and the standards that
will be followed, to be cleared by one of the empanelled experts
by the competent authority.
iv. To insist on testing of materials by a qualified laboratory recognised by the local authority at various stages of the construction
of the building.
v. Building use permit be issued only after complete structural
design adopted, material test certificates and other safety certificates for fire and electrical installations etc. are submitted to
the satisfaction of the local authority.
vi. Appropriate use of friendly guidelines with Do’s and Don’ts for
non-engineered disaster resistant construction features should
be widely disseminated for the housing and building construction needs of the vast majority of general public.
vii. For satisfactory enforcement at various levels, a number of well
structured training programmes have to be organised on continuing basis for local professionals, tradesmen and artisans.
The National Network of Building Centres should be utilised effectively for the substantial training and technology transfer and
dissemination needs.
viii. The responsibility of the various stake holders and the checking
staff of the local body for the safety of the building should extend to certain number of years after the issue of the building
use permit.
56
ix. To formulate suitable legislative mechanisms for regulating the
professional conduct (with penal provisions) and related responsibilities of architects, engineers (responsible for structural
design and supervision) builders, developers and promoters.
x. In every major city/town and big villages with town Panchayats,
which are prone to natural calamity of high severity, efforts
should be made to construct and maintain major hospitals,
school buildings and public amenity building for storage of essential life saving materials (food, medicine), equipments and
machinery for removal of damaged material, using disaster resistant technologies of a higher order, so that these buildings not
only serve as good examples of disaster resistant technology but
also could be utilised as relief shelters providing the necessary
emergency support facilities.14
CONCLUSION
Disasters could not be prevented totally. However, timely warning
and planning can minimize the affect of a disaster. An accurate
disaster management plans needs to be prepared. The use of
modern technology like GIS and RS can be of vital importance in
the preparation of plans. Keeping records of vulnerable areas,
monitoring of rescue and relief operations deciding response,
managing the data base, long and short term prevention and
preparedness measures and immediate response mechanisms,
the mechanisms to ensure that policies and strategies are continuously reviewed and revised in the light of experiences within
the country and in other parts of the world. etc. Mutual aid
schemes shall be of great help in mobilization of resources while
mock drills shall ensure the efficiency and affectivity of response.
Training of the various functionaries, and an effective public
awareness and education campaign involving the communities
will ensure that the plans are disseminated to the lowest levels.
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CHAPTER 8
DISASTER SEMINARS, Seminar 1
Where were God and the gods in our suffering?
1. When we will see God in our circumstances, we must see this Holy
God above all the spiritual and religious symbols (Ez.1:3-5,26,27).
2. But when we really see the Holy God, then we realize that we are spir-
itually dead in ourselves (Ez. 37:1-6; Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 3:1-11).
3. We as people, created by God, must realize that finally God
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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must judge all men, because we all are sinners and unholy
and cannot reached the holy place of God by religious works or
giving sacrifices to self created gods (Rev. 19:1-6, 11-16;
20:11-15: Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-20).
Gods love is showed in the appearance of the Lord Jesus,
He only can save us from the power of darkness and sin (Titus
2:11-15; Acts 4:12; Col. 1:12-17)
The preaching of the Gospel is concentrated on this unconditional Love of God, showed in the cross of Golgotha. where
the Lord Jesus died for sinners and even enemies. Believing in
this love and confessing our sins, has as result the receiving of
forgiveness of all our sins and eternal live (John. 3:16; 5:24;
Romans 5:1-10).
But unbelief and idolatry will be judge by the Holy One Him
selves, because He only must receive our adoration. Trouble will
come because the disobedience of men who are not believing
the only way to heaven trough the Lord Jesus (Judges 6:7-10;
Jer. 6:10-19; John 14:6; Acts 7:41-43).
We all can ask "where is God in our needs?" But the answer we will find
only in the Bible. He was there always, suffering with His own creation (Job 35:10; Isaiah 63:11 b-16. 8.9; Psalm 10:13.14).
God Himself was in the midst of all trouble, even in the
deeps of waters, suffering with His own creation, was bearing
the result of sin in His own holy Body. He only can change a
disaster in a blessing (Psalm 69:1-4, 13-18, 20,21, 30-36;
Isaiah 53:6-12; Psalm 22; Romans 8:18-27).
Seminar 2
TRUE BIBLICAL COUNSELING;
Presenting the Lord Jesus Christ and His faithfulness
1. Counselling is presenting Christ as the Lord in our daily life
and needs. even when we suffer all kind of difficulties (Col.
1:2,3; 3:24; Rom. 8:18-27).
2. Christ presented Himself as: a) the anointed One, b) our Sav-
iour. 3) our Lord, 4) the true God Himself, 5) the Word of God,
6) the Head of the Christian body, the Church, 7) the Eternal
One, 8) the Creator, 9) the Peacemaker, 10) the First One
above all, 11) the visible God. or "God, Who came in flesh
and blood" as we all have, 12) our eternal hope. 13) our Life,
14) our heavenly wisdom, 15) our Root (Romans 11:18).
3. Christ only made it possible to have a relationship with God.
He did this in several manner, 1) By preaching the eternal
gospel of grace, 2) by choosing disciples, making them apostles, 3) preaching that it is possible now to have peace with
God by faith 4) He only shows true love, 5) He only is our
eternal hope, 6) He shows us the thoughts of the Father in
heaven, 7) He gave Hs believers the fruit of the Holy Spirit, 8)
He told us what grace means, 9) He shows us Gods wisdom,
10) He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell in us, 11) He made it
possible to communicate with God the Father in Jesus' name,
12) He made God visible, 13) He shows us God's glory, 14)
He will work His own work trough us 15) He will made us perfect in God's holy eyes, 16) He reconciled us with God, 17)
He gave us eternal live, 18) Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour
forgave all our sins. 19) He pulled us out of the darkness of
sin and Satan. 20) He prepared mom for us in the house of
the Father. 21) He takes care of our heavenly inheritance.
4. God is faithful; He will do what He promised. We Christians
will follow His example (Ps. 15:4).
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5. God's word is also faithful. When we follow His commands
and lifestyle. He will give us authority and will be with us
when others leave us (2 Tim. 2:11-18a; 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Tim.
4:9-18).
6. He is the only faithful One, Who is able to clean us (after con-
fessing sin). giving His peace (1 John 1:9; Col. 3:12-17; 1
Cor. 1:8; 10:13; 2 Thess. 3:1-5; 2 Cor. 1:18-22).
Seminar 4
TRAUMA AND STRESS RELIEF IN PRACTICE
Presenting human knowledge and Gods love, care and compassion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
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The different stress reactions after a disaster.
Having a trauma, what is that?
Take time for healing
The long term spiritual mental sickness.
Bad remembering creates absence and stress.
The post trauma stress disorder (PTSO)
Symptoms of the PTSO.
Solutions
Physically needs
Safety needs
Love needs
Self esteem needs
Biblical notes about grief, aloneness, temptation,
peace, depression. trials. anxiety and worries
Seminar 5
SUFFER A LOSS; THE DEFINITION (1)
Showing Christian understanding
The definition of loss
Material loss
Positive and negative effects
Phases in suffering a loss
Some encouragements
Feelings of grief and bitterness
Feelings of unrealistic quilt
The importance of weeping
The tears of the Lord Jesus
The power of compassion and practical help
Investing in love
The danger to be self-pity
Some ways for comforting suffering people
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Seminar 6
SUFFER A LOSS; THE EFFECTS (2)
Showing Christian compassion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
The symptoms of stress, what will it do in your daily life?
To be vulnerable, how it feels (Job 30:20-31)
Sadness and tears (Ps. 88:10-19)
Feelings of hopeless and aloneness (Ps. 69:1-4, 18,21)
Isolation, depression and suicide feelings(1 Kings 19:3.4)
Longing for comfort and compassion (Ps. 119:81-83)
The creating of aggression and bad feelings about God and men
(Jer. 15:18)
Bitterness, a real danger that defiles others (1 Sam. 30:6;
Heb. 12:14,15)
The suffering of our High priest, the Lord Jesus (Heb. 2:14-18;
7:22-8:2)
Restoring of our mind and feelings (Isaiah 63:9; 57:15,16)
The Rock Jesus (1 Sam. 30:1-6; Isaiah 32:1,2)
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12. The love of God for suffering men (Romans 8:35-39)
13. God is with you! (Isaiah 43:1,2; Ps. 23:5; Mat. 28:20)
14. Fellowship with other people (Luke 24:13-25; Heb. 10:25)
15. Gods eternal love, share experiences, take again your daily job (2 Cor. 1:3-11; John 21:3,6; Romans 5:5)
Seminar 7
THE BLESSING OF SUFFERING (1)
Help from above!
1.
2.
3.
4.
E
We are never alone; there is help from heaven! (Isaiah
63:9; Heb. 2:9, 10.14,17; 4:14-16)
There is a rich place of blessing for Christians (Ps.
119:65-71; 73:1317; 2 Cor. 12:9; James 1:2,3; 1 Pet. 1:6,7;
Heb. 12:2.3, 11-13)
What is the origin of suffering? Read: Genesis 3
When we have all the medical wisdom to heal people, why will
this never cast away sickness and suffering?
Read: Romans 3:10-21; 6:23; Heb. 9:27.
Give some examples of men who suffered as a result of their
sinful deeds.
6. What was the good result of Job's suffering at least? Read: Job
42:1-6
7. What means it for you, the command of Jesus "take up your
cross daily, and follow Me. "?
8. Why rejoicing when you. as a Christian will suffer for the
Lord's sake? Read: 1 Peter 4:13,14; John 15:18; Mat.
10:17, 22.
9. What is the purpose of suffering in a Christian life?
10. What can be some wrong results during suffering?
5.
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Seminar 8
THE BLESSING OF SUFFERING (2)
Jesus' presents in our sufferings
1.
2.
Jesus suffering for our sins presented in Isaiah 53; Hebr.
5:7-9)
Suffering needy as a cleansing our soul and practice (John 15)
Suffering made us depend on God (Hezekiah; Isaiah 38)
If we believe, suffering works together for good (Joseph Gen. 39:21; 45:5-8; 50:19-21)
5. Paul's suffering is an example (Rom. 8:28,29; 2 Cor. 12:10)
6. Rejoice while suffering is possible (1 Pet. 4:13,14)
7. Suffering is given for the purifying of our faith (1 Pet.
1:1:7,13) It brings "long suffering" and perseverance (James
1:2,4)
8. Suffering forms our character and create the image of Christ
in us (Gal. 4:19)
9. The purpose of suffering (John. 12:24; Gal. 2:20, He must
grow in us...)
10. Suffering is useless when we morn (Mat. 3:10; Gal.
3:3; Heb. 12:15-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-13)
11. We get hope trough faith in Christ promises (Isaiah
50:10; Mat. 11:2530; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Mal. 3:14-18)
12. Encourage trough help from the body of Christ (1 Cor.
12:26; Gal. 6:2; John 16:33; 2 Cor. 1:8-11)
3.
4.
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Seminar 9
THE BLESSING OF SUFFERING (3)
Living with a handicap
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How we receive some difficulties in a sphere of grace and
thanksgiving?
Give some personal examples how God can make a handicap a great blessing
To have a mentally handicap is not easy. How you can overcome this problem'
What tells us the Bible about having a spiritually handicap?
Tell some examples from own practice or seen in your
neighbourhood.
How to handle with a handicap as it is a result of others fault?
What tells us the Bible stories about this kind of handicap?
Some Biblical remarks:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
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The result of sin creates feelings of hopelessness (Rom. 5:1215; 7:24)
But Gods grace is always sufficient for believers (Rom.
5:16-21)
Because we have the future, the promised new body
and world (2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:27)
Now we have an "earthly tabernacle" which will destroyed
(2Cor.5:1-10)
But even being handicapped, we all must give f inally account to God (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; 12:7-10)
Therefore, holiness is our goal (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 3:3; 2 Pet.
3:14)
Spiritual handicapped? How to make the right decision (1 King
18:21)
Because there is a spiritual block; a lack of grow (1Cor. 3:13;Heb. 5:11:6:3)
Seminar 10
DISORDER IN SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY
The role of emotions, mind and human will
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Different personalities in the Church and the world
The big gap between God and men, how to overcome
Healthy unbelievers, how can we give counsel to them?
The unhealthy, unhappy unbeliever, preach the Gospel
Unhealthy believers, what is the reason?
Healthy believers, full of joy and spiritual authority and power
Led by the Holy Spirit and Gods Word only
The difference between Gods trials and Satan's temptations
Seminar 11
VISITING THE SICK AND THE PRAYER FOR HEALING
The power of faith in the local church
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
What we need when we visit sick people?
Is there any relation between sin and illnesses?
What tells the Bible us about this?
Tell about the right behaviour you must have while visiting the sick
What can be your first positive words to the sick?
In what way spoke the apostle Paul about weaknesses etc.?
What says Proverbs 17:22 about heart, body and medicines?
Describe the three different groups in James 5:13,14
What is the difference between personal prayers and praying with a group?
Tell the different between human suffering and suffering for the Lord's sake.
When calling the elders when you feel not well or unhappy?
Will God Himself sometimes send sickness and trouble?
What can be the reason that God sometimes send troubles in life?
What is the meaning of "laying hands"? Why and when not?
Describe the characteristics of an elder.
What to say about the gift of healing, who have this how it works?
What to say about sin and healing in James 5 and Isaiah 53:4
Why using oil? Is it always needy to use oil? (Describe)
65
CHAPTER 9
DISASTERS AND THE BIBLE 15
This world is not what it should be.
Are you happy with the world? More than two hundred thousand
people died by the Tsunami near Adceh. A young woman with
little children has a tumour in her head and is dying. Her old
mother meanwhile is so feeble, that she even cannot visit her
daughter any more; it would be her own death. She only can pray
for her. A cyclist early in the morning was threatened with death
by two men passing in a car, without any reason whatever. Three
realities. What a misery! In what world do we live? Not in the
world that had been meant for us. The world is no longer it.
On January the thirtieth in 1933 Hitler was installed chancellor in
Germany. What a misery that man has brought over Germany cannot be told in a small volume. He promised mountains of gold and
by his propaganda and deception he got the mass behind him. By
following him that mass delivered the country into his hands and
consequently brought disaster over the nation and the people.
Our first parents similarly delivered their territory into the hands of
a much bigger deceiver by listening to him. I mean Adam and
Eve, who delivered the world, that God had trusted to them, in
the hands of the devil by listening to him and believing him. Now
the world has not God but the devil as ruler. Do you realize that
with such a ruler the world is not what was intended?
Perhaps you think it to be exaggeration and that would be no wonder.
In deceiving the devil is a much bigger expert than Hitler ever has
been. It is his metier (line of business). He is the Father of lies, so
experienced that many do not even believe that he exists.
We can think that we are right when we blame God for so much
misery, but forget hat we ourselves rejected Him and refused to
listen to Him in the course of thousands of years.
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Is God nonetheless obliged to see that we have a pleasant life
without sorrow?
The world is travailing in pain.
The world in which we live is not the normal world. She is no
longer what God had in mind. She did become what she is now.
Some may wonder about that. They never have known another
world, not have I. We therefore think that this is the normal world.
A world without misery, pain, suffering, sin, death, without theft,
murder and war? Is that not a castle in the air?
Paul, the apostle, has written about it in his letter to the Romans,
Chapter 8:18-23. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth
for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who
hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only
they, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The creation is subject to vanity, says verse 20, and verse 21
speaks of the corruption that characterizes the creation.
Vanity. What is the use of all things?
After all we all die. All is transitory indeed. True, there are obstetric clinics and every day children are born. but the undertakers
need not fear soon to be unemployed. Beautiful, the birth of a
healthy baby, but were is the beauty of it, if the baby will only
grow up to die sooner or later? Is death the ultimate goal of life?
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Paul wrote that the creation is subject to vanity and that not willingly. So it has been different.
It has been different indeed, before men had sinned and had not
yet subjected themselves and the whole of their trust to Satan.
Then that wicked one was not yet the ruler of the darkness of this
world, the earth had not yet been cursed and brought not yet
forth thorns and thistles. By sin the whole earth has been
dragged along into misery and life often is the reverse of a life in
a paradise.
Misery in own heart and life as well.
We need not look to tsunami’s or earthquakes to know that it is far
from ideal. Looking into our own heart and life we find enough that
is not ideal or ought to be or to be done different, enough sin.
We shake the head about so much misery and feel bewildered by
the death of so many victims, but seldom shake our head over the
misery that is our doing and fault. That is on a smaller scale, but
has something in it, that tsunami’s and earthquakes have not: guilt.
The creation is travailing in pain. Something different, something
new will come, a new world will be born. It is called the rebirth of the
earthly creation: “And Jesus said unto them, "Verily I say unto you,
that ye that have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of
Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
Then it will be different from what we see now. Isaiah in chapter
65:19-25 wrote; “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My
people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her,
nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant
of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child
shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner being a hundred
years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of
them. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not
plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree are the days of
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My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their
hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for
they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring
with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and
the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the
bullock; and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt
nor destroy in all My holy mountain," saith the LORD."
A reborn world
That is the sketch of another, a reborn world. That world will be
when the sons of God will be manifested in glory, because their
Lord has been manifested in glory. That is Gods promise in Colossians 3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall
ye also appear with Him in glory.
The question is whether you can be manifested in glory. Sons of
God they are who have been reborn. The creation will know a
rebirth. We also can have a rebirth. It even is necessary, for
guilty and in sin, as we all were, we cannot stand before a holy
God. Only a new man can, by rebirth. How can that be? By the
Word of God.
The apostle Peter wrote: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently, being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word
of God which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:22, 23).
And James has written: “Of His own will, He begot us by the word
of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures”
(James 1:18).
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Rebirth by the Word of God only
Rebirth is by the Word of God indeed. The new life of a believer
is eternal life and that life is the Son of God (1 John 5:20). Therefore, he that has the Son, has life and he that has the Son not,
has not life. (1 John 5:12). We have the Son if we have accepted
Him, that is believe in Him who is preached in the gospel. Of
them John says in John 1 that they are sons of God, are born,
not of the will of man, but of God: rebirth.
We need not marvel that it is a mess in the world and in life if
there has not yet been rebirth. Things will be different, far better,
when Jesus has come. That is true for the world and for us. Did
He come into your heart and life, did you open the door for Him?
Believers live in the same world as unbelievers and therefore
verse 23 of Romans 8 says that we groan within ourselves.
But there is another consideration.
God sent the King He anointed into the world, but the world did
not want Him. Jesus Christ has been rejected and crucified. Pilate, the judge, asked “Will ye that I release unto you the King of
the Jews?" For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him
out of envy.But the chief priests moved the people, that he
should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered
and said again unto them, "What will ye then that I shall do unto
him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out
again, "Crucify him!" (Marc 15:9-13). And again: Pilate said unto
them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We
have no king but Caesar!" (John 19:15).
So the world rejected the only righteous Ruler. They now have to
accept them they have chosen. They have no right to complain
about their own choice.
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Trials God thinks necessary.
In the book of Job we read about the man with that name, whom
God called perfect and upright, one who feared God and eschewed evil. Satan said “Does he fear God for nought? Thou
hast made an hedge about him and his house and all that he
has. Thou hast blessed him and his work. But now, touch all that
he has. He then no doubt will curse thee”.
God answered: “And the LORD said unto Satan, "Behold, all that
he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine
hand." (Job 1:12).
What happened? “And there was a day when his sons and his
daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s
house, and there came a messenger unto Job and said, "The
oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them, and the
Sabeans fell upon them and took them away. Yea, they have
slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only have
escaped alone to tell thee!" While he was yet speaking, there
came also another and said, "The fire of God hath fallen from
heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and
consumed them; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee!"
While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said,
"The Chaldeans made up three bands, and fell upon the camels
and have carried them away, yea, and have slain the servants
with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell
thee!" While he was yet speaking, there came also another and
said, "Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine
in their eldest brother’s house, and behold, there came a great
wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the
house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I
only have escaped alone to tell thee!"
What Satan hoped did not happen. Job said: “The LORD gave, and
the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
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That was not what Satan wanted. When the Lord pointed to Job
again as an exceptionally God fearing man, he said: “Skin for
skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth
Thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will
curse Thee to Thy face! (Job 2:4, 5). Then happened the following: “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and
smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
And he took him a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he
sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, "Dost
thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die!" (Job 2:7-9)
But again Satan was disappointed, for Job said: Shall we receive
good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? So Job
did not sin with his lips.
Trials; difficult to understand
It was nevertheless very difficult for him. We therefore read very
severe complaints of him. Who would not understand that? How
could God give permission to the devil for such an ill treatment of
Job? The Lord has said: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your
ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8 and 9).
Job was convinced that he had a right to be blessed by God, but
did not realize that God knew him better than he knew himself. In
referring to his practical righteousness Job made no mistake. But
God saw that Job thought to be right when he tried to bind God
by his view of acting right towards him. Job finally learned that he
could not prescribe God how He ought to act. That was a blessing for him. And God added more blessing, for God gave him
twice as much as he had had before.
Trials are necessary
The trial was necessary for Job and proved to be blessing,
though he did not realize that in the beginning. The history of job
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learns us, that Satan has great power indeed and could bring
disaster in the life of Job, but could not go farther than God permitted him.
It is moreover evident, that God made all things work together for
good to Job. And that is exactly what the Lord assures us in the
epistle to the Romans: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called
according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).
So the book Job gives one of the answers to the question “why?”
in relation to much suffering.
The poor man Lazarus.
His story we find in Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man,
who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously
every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who
was laid at his gate, full of sores and desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs
came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar
died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The
rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell, being in torment,
he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his
bosom. And he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on
me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But
Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received
thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is
comforted and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between
us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they who would
pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that
would come from there.’ Then he said, ‘I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father’s house, for I have
five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come
into this place of torment.’Abraham said unto him, ‘They have
Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’And he said, ‘Nay,
father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they
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will repent.’ And Abraham said unto him, ‘If they hear not Moses
and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose
from the dead.’
For what purpose Lazarus had to have such a difficult life? What
has been the use of it? Has it not been useless teasing?
The ways of the Lord are higher than our ways. We should not
suppose that we can take in things better than God and steer
better than He. And when we do not understand Him, is God
wrong then, or are our insight and our wisdom hopelessly deficient? It is the last indeed.
Has Lazarus been protected by his misery, that he could not forget God? Perhaps.
Had he to be a warning for the rich one in order he might see that
the worth of wealth and health are relative and life can be short?
Perhaps.
Had he to endure his suffering in order to give us the history in
Luke which is an instructive warning for all, who are inclined to
reject the Word of God? Perhaps so.
We know that after his death angels carried him into Abrahams
bosom, whereas the rich man was buried. He opened his eyes
being in torments. A warning indeed, reader.
Has the way of God with Lazarus been wrong?
Look to the end and you have the answer. Did you listen to the
word of God? Did you repent? There is no other way to salvation
than by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Men, indifference,
oblivion, licentiousness, lusts, they do not bring salvation, peace,
happiness and a good conscience. Jesus alone is the way, the
truth and the life. Nobody will come to the heavenly Father than
by Him.
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When the cup is full.
Judgment is coming. In history God sometimes judges it necessary to do what a surgeon does now and again, excise an ulcer.
Sometimes here or there the cup is full before the time of judgment has come. Than God intervenes by judging partially.
He did so in the days of Noah: “And it came to pass, when men
began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were
born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men,
that they were fair; and they took for themselves wives of all
whom they chose. And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he also is flesh; yet his days shall be a
hundred and twenty years." There were giants on the earth in
those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in
unto the daughters of men and they bore children to them, the
same became mighty men who were of old, men of renown. And
GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagining of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. And the LORD repented that He had made man on
the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. And the LORD said, "I
will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth,
both man and beast, and the creeping thing and the fowls of the
air, for I repent that I have made them." (Genesis 6:1-7).
Of all the inhabitants of the earth God could say of one only that
he was righteous, Noah. All other flesh had corrupted his way
upon the earth. It was corrupt and filled with violence. God commanded Noah to build an ark and in that big vessel he, his family
and many beasts have been spared. After the flood he entered a
clean earth.
God waited one hundred and twenty years with his judgment.
During that long time Noah preached with words and hammer,
but nobody listened. The cup was full indeed and God finally let
judgment come.
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Sodom and Gomorrah
In Sodom it happened again. There too sin had risen to a summit, just as in the days of Noah. There too still was one righteous
man, Lot. He has been spared with his daughters. Sodom and
Gomorrah have been destroyed and burned with all inhabitants.
God had warned before. Enemies had come and captured all and
everyone. Abraham liberated them. That ought to have been a
reason to change their wicked ways, but they did not. Then there
too the cup was full and God judged.
How many warnings has God given in our days? Who pays attention? Men think to be able to explain everything. We know
how earthquakes occur and why, we can give warnings for great
tornado’s, let satellites make photography’s and measure many
things. Marvellous!
Disasters as a warning
But when the tornado is there or a tsunami, when there is an
eruption of a volcano or a heavy and long rain, whereby a whole
village is covered with mud and earth, we have no power with all
our wisdom.
When terrorism comes over us like huge billows, when we are
confronted by an epidemic, killing old and feeble people, when
radiation therapy and chemicals are no longer effective, and we
stand there, powerless, is God not speaking then? Does He not
say: Man, wise and powerful independent man, where will you be
when I call you?
What will be your destination when I will judge you and your life if
you have not been cleansed by the blood of my Son, Jesus
Christ who died for sinners?
In how many cases of disaster and suffering has the cup been
full somewhere? I do not know nor need I to know.
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Investigate into your own heart and life and ask yourself whether
God had no reason to judge you in days past. When we consider
all the unrighteousness, corruption, sin and sex scandals in our
world, I think judgment cannot be far away. It soon will be Sodom
on a greater scale. How long will God have patience with that
Sodom around and in us?
How can God allow it?
How can God allow so much disaster, oppression and other
wickedness? Why does He not interfere? Because He is sparing
you. You see that the cup is full.
God saw it sooner and better. The time of judgment possibly is
very near. Properly speaking it is high time already.
Judgment is coming. God only still has mercy owing to the sacrifice of his Son, who died and prayed for sinners, even for his enemies. When judgment comes, God will not only judge your
neighbour. If you do not repent He will judge you too.
It is still the time of grace. God still invites sinners to accept Jesus as their Saviour. Therefore bow before Him who died for you
in order you get forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. Whosoever believes in Christ never will be judged. That is his promise in
John 3:18; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be
saved. "He that believeth in Him is not condemned; but He that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Adopt from Internet, writer unknown
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References
1. www.unisdr.org/disaster-statistics/pdf/2005-disaster-innumbers.pdf
2. Annual Disaster Statistical Review: Numbers and Trends
2007, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters
(CRED)
3. WWW/htt//practicalaction.org/disasterlivelihoods/mainstreami
ng_disaster_approaches
4. UNICEF News on Victims of Natural Disasters, 1987 Pg. 109.
5. Http://sdmassam.nic.in
6. http://karimganj.gov.in/ack.htm
7. http:www.cred.be/sites/de/default/files/ADSR_2007.pdf
8. F.C. Cuny, Disasters and Management. Oxford University
Press1983 Pg 45.
9. Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters: A Practical Guide. WHO, 2002.
10. Disaster Help, US Department of Homeland Security.
11. Green Paper on Disaster Management, Department of Provincial and Local Government, South Africa, 2004.
12. www.bmtpc.org/new/bmtpc_news8.htm
13. UNDP, An agreement on August 2002 for implementation of
“Disaster Risk Management”
14. Techno-legal regime for safer construction in disaster prone
areas, 14th March, 2001, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi 110011
15. Unknown publisher.
© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form, or by any means, mechanical, electronic,
photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the
publisher. Short extracts may be used for review purposes.
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79
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
With the tropical climate and unstable
landforms, coupled with high population
density, poverty, illiteracy and lack of adequate infrastructure, most vulnerable developing countries to suffer very often from
various natural disasters, namely drought,
flood, cyclone, war and conflicts earthquake, landslide, forest fire, hail storm,
locust, volcanic eruption, etc.
Which strike causing a devastating impact on human life, economy and environment. Though it is almost impossible to fully recoup the damage caused by the disasters, it is possible to;
(i) minimize the potential risks by developing early warning
strategies
(ii) prepare and implement developmental plans to provide resilience to such disasters
(iii) mobilize resources including communication and;
(iv) to help in rehabilitation and post-disaster reconstruction
pre-disaster preparedness programmes, disaster response,
monitoring activities and post-disaster damage assessment,
and reconstruction.
Therefore, this brochure attempts to introduce participants to
the complex interactions between disasters and development;
and between relief and development assistance programmes
of humanitarian organizations. The brochure therefore, is intended to lead participants from disaster responses strategies
and programmes to alternative direction in disaster mitigation
and preparedness.
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