494 research outputs found
Building Disaster Resilience within the Emirati Energy Sector through a Comprehensive Strategic Mitigation Plan
Disasters, both natural and man-made, have been occurring with increasing frequency and effect in
recent decades in many countries around the world. Such threats have been shown to result in a loss
of life, property and income and all of which have an impact on the country’s socio-economic
structure and geo-political positioning. The UAE is steadily adapting its policies and practices to
manage any potential disaster, whether natural or man-made. However, evidently the UAE is exposed
and vulnerable to tectonic activity from a number of sources and yet there is little in the form of
seismic detection, protection, resistance or design for some of the newest and tallest structures in the
world. The paper highlights the importance of the strategic mitigation planning for disaster resilience
within the Emirati Energy sector. It discusses the issue of disaster globally and then specifically with
regards to the UAE, forming a critical analysis on crisis and its management. A broad literature
review of the problems readily associated within the discourse is undertaken so that the definition,
classification and the application of the disaster and its management cycle are appropriately
contextualised in regards to the Emirati problem. The window of opportunity that the UAE has for
improvement is emphasised by the findings of this paper
Addressing housing needs in minimising the problems of post conflict housing reconstruction
Depleted human and social capital, displacement of people, destruction of property, weakened
institutions and ruined economy are some of the legacies of conflicts. Within this context, post
conflict reconstruction contributes to overcome the legacies of conflict through reactivating the
development process that has been disrupted by the conflict. Among the post conflict reconstruction
interventions, post conflict housing reconstruction is paramount important as it contributes to
development and peace through restoring the economic and social life of conflict affected people.
Despite the importance, the success of post conflict housing reconstruction is hindered by a number
of problems such as lack of strategies to address the unique challenges faced by vulnerable
households, lack of involvement of local people, lack of use of local building material and
technology, lack of local economic development, lack of community linkages, lack of cultural and
local consideration, overlooked socio-economic conditions of occupants, standardised housing
models, housing models imported from different cultures, lack of beneficiary consultation, poor
performance of agencies, bribery and corruptions and lack of post occupancy evaluation. If not
properly managed, these issues lead to hinder the success of post conflict housing reconstruction and
its contribution to the development and peace. This paper argues that lack of concern on housing
needs has directly or indirectly given rise for most of these issues through a comprehensive literature
review on post conflict housing reconstruction and housing needs. The paper establishes the link
between the problems of housing reconstruction and lack of addressing housing needs. Accordingly,
it concludes that adequate housing measures provide a general guideline in addressing housing needs
and addressing such needs leads to minimise the problems of post conflict housing reconstruction
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