TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGE
TITLE
PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
TABLE
OF CONTENTS v
ABSTRACT vii
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background
of the study 1
1.2 Statement
of the problem 2
1.3 Objectives
of the study 2
1.4 Research
questions 3
1.5 Scope
of the study 3
1.6 Significance
of the study 4
1.7 Limitations
of the study 4
1.8 Research
methodology 4
1.9 Findings 5
1.10
Definition of terms 5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW 7
2.1 Literature Review 7
2.2
Theoretical Framework 14
CHAPTER THREE 16
3.1 Environmental Change as a Parameter
for Disaster Risk 16
3.2 Environment and Disaster Risk 21
3.2.1 Environment
and Disaster: In Terms 21
3.2.2 Causes of environmental hazards and
consequences 24
3.3 Current Approaches to Disaster Management 25
3.4 Community
Based Disaster Risk Management 28
3.5 Importance of Disaster Risk Management 32
CHAPTER
FOUR 35
4.1 Disaster Management System of China 35
4.1.1 Institutional Framework 35
4.1.2 Disaster prevention and mitigation 36
4.1.3 Disaster preparation and emergency rescue 39
4.1.4 Recovery and Reconstruction 40
4.2 Disaster Management system of Japan 41
4.2.1 Establishment of a Comprehensive Disaster Management System 43
4.2.2 Central Disaster Management Council 48
4.2.3 Action for Build Back Better 49
4.2.4 Disaster Reduction Activities of Citizens 50
4.3 Comparison
on Disaster Management Systems among China, America, and Japan 58
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 60
5.1 Summary 60
5.2 Recommendation
61
5.3 Conclusion
62
Bibliography
64
ABSTRACT
Disasters
present a broad range of human, social, financial, economic and environmental
impacts, with potentially long-lasting, multi-generational effects. In addition
to causing direct damage to lives, buildings and infrastructure, they produce
indirect damage with the potential for cascading and systemic effects such as
business interruption, loss of employment and output, decreased tax revenues,
impaired institutional capacities and a rise in poverty levels.
This
study focused on how disaster affects countries in general, and specific as it
limits its focus to disasters in China and Japan. It examined the risks these
two countries take in order to curb disaster and the challenges they face
during the disaster management. This study further examined community
involvement in disaster management and various institutions established for
management of disasters.
This
long essay made use of secondary data like textbooks, journal articles, and
internet resources. This study observed that disaster has really affected these
two countries in all aspect.
The
study concludes that governments increasingly recognize that the reduction of
disaster risks is a foundation for successful sustainable development, and that
disaster risk is a crosscutting issue, requiring action across multiple
sectors.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Disaster has always been very
rampant in the world from ancient ages to modern age. Disaster is a major
adverse event resulting from natural processes of the earth; like floods,
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. In
recent years, frequent natural disasters have caused enormous loss of life and
property, and such disasters have become a common challenge to all countries.
China and Japan are among the world’s most affected countries by disasters.
Disaster Risk
Management is the systematic process that integrates risk identification,
mitigation and transfer, as well as disaster preparedness, emergency response
and rehabilitation or reconstruction to lessen the impacts of hazards. (Study on Disaster Risk Management and
Environment for the Karamoja subregion, Magunda, M.K. (PhD). August 2010.)
In this long essay, the various disasters in
these two countries and its effects on the citizens of the countries are
examined; also examined are the strategies these countries have taken to reduce
the rate of the disasters. The study investigated the various disaster risk
management Techniques these countries have employed over the years.
It focused on the country’s main practices in
natural disaster risk management from the perspectives of preparing the plans,
constructing legal systems, risk investigation, monitoring and early warning,
disaster reduction projects, risk assessment, disaster insurance,
community-based disaster reduction, and international cooperation.
The work outlined the priority areas of their
natural disaster risk management in the future and stressed the importance of
stronger inter-linkages among disaster risk management, recovery and long-term
development planning and call for more coordinated and comprehensive strategies
that integrate disaster risk management. This essay discussed how disaster risk
management is a concern for everyone; from citizens who must be empowered to
make decisions which reduce risk; to political leaders, government
institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, professional
bodies and scientific and technical institutions.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The rate at which natural disasters
sweep up communities is alarming. Though the magnitude varies with location,
but the worst hit are China and Japan. Over the decades, the number of
casualties has been massive. It is therefore of extreme importance to cushion
the adverse effect of such natural disasters and to manage subsequent
occurrences and to improve our knowledge on the strategies and challenges of
the disaster risk managers are facing. It is of utmost importance that we know
the areas frequently affected by these disasters and what efforts government of
these two great nations are making to reduce future occurrence and also to
assist those living and investing there. This study would enable us know the
extent of the wreck disaster has caused on the country’s economy, social, and
political relation with the international community.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study can be
simplified as follows:
*
Assessment
of environmental change as a parameter of disaster risk in the countries.
*
Assessment
of environmental causes and the associated consequences.
*
The review
of current approaches to disaster management
*
To ascertain the role of the community in
total disaster risk management.
*
To review
the importance of disaster risk management.
*
Recommendations
for short and long-term disaster risk management / reduction options for the
countries.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This research work intends to answer the following research
questions:
*
What effect
do these disasters have on the development of these nations?
*
What
measures is the international community taking to assist these nations?
*
Considering
the massive land involved in the disaster, what are the effects on foreign and
local investors?
*
What are
the challenges the disaster risk management have on the citizens of affected
areas?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
For the purpose of this research work, I shall focus on the
management of natural disasters in China and Japan only and not the whole of
the Asian continent. China and Japan are
complex and dynamic societies, with overwhelming and increasing problems with
disaster risk in the vulnerable urban communities in and around its rapidly
growing metropolitan centres. The various kinds of
natural disasters in which the areas are prone to. The effects of these
occurrences on the people and corporate bodies of these two nations, and the
mitigation steps taken by government to alleviate the effects of the disasters
on the victims. This paper will look at the complexity of vulnerability and
resilience in disaster risk management.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This work found out more about the strategies these two nations
have used and are still using to curb and also to fight disasters in their
countries. Also, to know the effect of
this disaster on foreign direct investment in these nations if not managed
well. This paper will help the policy
makers in these nations in identifying common
problems with data collection at all stages of disaster risk management,
especially in disaster response and recovery, learning what use can be made of
disaster response case studies in future planning. It also will help improve
the understanding of the challenges for disaster risk reduction in such
communities.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study is based on information gathered from articles from newspapers and TV
channels, journals of past researchers, government corporate reports on the
strategies used in managing various past disasters, internet sources, archives,
etc., but the study would have been more effective if the research was carried
out in any of these countries. Also the
information gathered can’t be said to be externally valid due to the fact that
most of the information are from insiders who will not want to speak negatively
of their country. As a result of these limitations this essay relied on books,
journals and article written by scholars who are expert in this field and have
provided based on their research methods with which these disasters can be
managed.
1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
There
are several research methodologies appropriate for answering the research
questions. This research work made use of secondary data obtained from books
written on disaster risks management and reductions, articles from newspapers
and TV channels, journals of past researchers, government corporate reports on
the strategies used in managing various past disasters, internet sources,
international and national conference proceedings on disasters especially those
in these two nations.
1.9 FINDINGS
Over
the past several years, the spate of disasters in Japan, the PRC, Haiti, and
the United States (US) has stimulated a discussion of very large, progressive
or cascading disasters, now widely known as “compound disasters.” There is a
need to recognize that compound disasters are a result of a series of component
disasters in communities that in their aggregate overwhelm existing abilities
to respond. (Disaster Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific: Issues Paper,
2013, pg 5-6).
1.0 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Some
of the basic terms used in Disaster risk management.
Disaster:
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing
widespread human, material , economic or environment losses which exceed the
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
Risk:
The probability of harmful consequences,
or expected loses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activities
disrupted or environment damage) resulting from interactions between natural or
human-induced hazards and vulnerable conditions.
Risk Management: is the process of protecting assets, earning, debt, and human
resources of the company with maximum effects and minimum costs.
Disaster Risk
Management: The systematic process that
integrates risk identification, mitigation and transfer, as well as disaster
preparedness, emergency response and rehabilitation or reconstruction to lessen
the impacts of hazards.
Mitigation: Structural
and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact of natural
hazards, environmental degradation and technological hazards.
(Glossary of terms – adapted from Study on Disaster Risk
Management and Environment for the Karamoja subregion, Magunda, M.K. (PhD).
August 2010.)