An integrated social response to disasters: the case of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Sri Lanka

Purpose: The impact of natural disasters on people in affected communities is mediated by a whole range of circumstances such as the intensity of the disaster, type and nature of the community affected and the nature of loss and displacement. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the need to adopt a holistic or integrated approach to assessment of the process of disaster recovery, and to develop a multidimensional assessment framework. Design/methodology/approach: The study on which the paper is based was designed as a novel qualitative assessment of the recovery process using qualitative data collection techniques from a sample of communities affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in eastern and southern Sri Lanka. Findings: The key finding of the study is that the outcome of the interventions has varied widely depending on such factors as the nature of the community, nature of the intervention and mode of delivery of donor support. The surveyed communities are ranked in terms of the nature and extent of recovery. Originality/value: The approach adopted is new to post disaster recovery assessments and is useful for monitoring and evaluation of recovery processes. It also fits into the social accountability model as the assessment is based on community experience with the recovery process. Practical implications: The indices of recovery developed constitute a convenient tool of measurement of effectiveness and limitations of external interventions. The assessment used is multidimensional and socially inclusive

The role of accountability within disaster risk governance

During the decade that followed the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action in 2005, calls for greater public, private and civic accountability to reduce risk and vulnerability became increasingly vocal. It also provded guidance to the focal point on Disaster Risk Reduction at the central government level on how to improve leadership in risk governance, transparency, sharing of risk information, stakeholder participation and public awareness and encouraging and action on stakeholder feedback. Accountability in disaster risk reduction is intended to enable scrutiny and understanding of actions taken at different levels, and of those responsible for such actions. Article 19(e) of the Sendai Framework articulates the principle that disaster risk reduction depends on coordination mechanisms within and across sectors, full engagement and clear responsibilities of all State institutions and stakeholders, to ensure mutual accountability. In contributing to this agenda, a workshop on “Ensuring Accountability in Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction” was organised as a part of a global, regional and national partnership. This workshop and the subsequent policy dialogue had the participation of disaster risk management experts and state and non-state stakeholders to deliberate on and develop a possible framework for social accountability to be considered for inclusion in a national disaster management plan

Book of Abstracts on Ensuring Accountability in Disaster Risk Management and reconstruction

This book of abstracts incorporates the key note synopsis and all presented abstracts at the international workshop on Ensuring Accountability in Disaster Risk Management and reconstruction held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 8th December 2015 with the participation of disaster risk management experts and state and non-state stakeholders to deliberate on and develop a possible framework for social accountability to be considered for inclusion in a national disaster management plan. Our aim was to incorporate social accountability into disaster management to improve significantly the outcomes of external interventions leading to an improvement of life chances and quality of life of potential and actual victims of disasters

Ensuring Accountability in Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction

During the decade that followed the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action in 2005, calls for greater public, private and civic accountability to reduce risk and vulnerability became increasingly vocal. Among them was a declaration issued by European ministers in 2014, the year before the finalization of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, in which they urge improved accountability, transparency and governance for disaster risk management. This also provides guidance to the focal point on Disaster Risk Reduction at the Central government level on how to improve leadership in risk governance, transparency, sharing of risk information, stakeholder participation and public awareness and encouraging and action on stakeholder feedback. Accountability in disaste

Tsunami Recovery in Sri Lanka: Ten Years On: Book of Abstracts

The workshop on “Tsunami Recovery in Sri Lanka: Ten Years On” is timely that commemorates the Tenth Anniversary of the Indian Oceanic Tsunami by the Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SPARC) Faculty of Arts University of Colombo in collaboration with Global Disaster Resilience Centre at the University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom and Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

A Study of The Upstream-downstream Interface in End-to-end Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation Systems

The tsunami early warning and mitigation systems are typically used to detect the tsunami inundation before the impact so that vulnerable communities can be alerted and the damage can be minimized. These systems typically entail upstream and downstream processes, starting from the detection of tsunami wave and finishing with safe evacuation of people. There is an interface between upstream and downstream mechanisms where the warning is issued and the decision to evacuate people are taken. In individual countries, the system by which the information is disseminated from a national point to individual communities varies significantly. Due to the complex nature of different administrative systems, it is difficult to understand who takes the decision to evacuate, at which point and how is it taken. This paper is the first part of a more extensive study undertaken to understand and evaluate the interface between the upstream and downstream mechanisms of the tsunami early warning system. The objective of the paper is to present the findings of a literature review conducted as an initial step to the above study and to understand state of the art and practices related to the interface of an end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation system. The literature is grouped and analyzed using the conceptual analysis method, in order to understand the concepts related to the tsunami early warning system, mainly focusing on the issues pertaining to the interface. Through the literature review, a conceptual framework is developed, presenting nine concepts and their relationships within the interface. This conceptual framework will serve as a strong theoretical foundation for the future steps to be taken under the above study

Covid–19 and the Civil Societies of South Asia

This article presents the liberalisation of the economies of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as having downscaled the degree of support for public health care and systems for the needy in the countries of South Asia. Civil society organisations (CSOs) stepped in. Still, they often could not establish sufficient funds to fill the gap and, in many cases, the governments suppressed CSOs and the media due to their critical voice. In many cases, CSOs have toned down such critical voices and limited themselves to improving specific social situations as such activities have been allowed and in some cases supported by the governments. The outbreak of Covid–19 led to ad hoc mobilisation of the civil society and temporary changes in the working situation. Despite this, most governments have limited ability of CSOs to work during the pandemic. In a larger perspective, Covid–19 has not created anything approaching the kind of neoliberal crises predicted by Slovaj Žižek, but the new level of restrictions introduced leads one to consider if they will be turned back after the pandemic, or if the restrictions will be retained, as predicted by Giorgio Agamben

Post-disaster housing reconstruction in conflict affected Sri Lanka

Purpose This paper is an account of a study to critically analyse the role of housing reconstruction projects in post conflict Sri Lanka and discuss their implications on conflict prevention. Method Using four housing reconstruction projects in Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Jaffna Districts, Sri Lanka, as case studies, and a novel methodological framework, the study explores the causal relations among the independent variables associated with housing reconstruction and dependent variables related to conflict prevention. The data, gathered from interviews and project reports, were analysed using propositions from a literature review, adopting a thematic analytical approach. Findings This study finds that reconstruction has created new forms of conflicts and tensions for the people who came to live in the newly constructed houses. The people, already vulnerable due to years of civil war, had to adopt strategies in order to survive in the new environment, which in return increased local tensions. The hostile relations that existed among different ethnic groups during the conflict were continued, and to some extent, exacerbated by the reconstruction undertaken after the war. Practical implications It is important to account for the war dynamics and the relationships that existed among different ethnic groups during war, when implementing reconstruction projects in a conflict sensitive environment. Originality/value This study examines post disaster housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka in a post-tsunami and post-conflict environment, a subject not adequately addressed by previous studies that have tended on the reconstruction in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami. The results reveal concerns in housing and infrastructure development that have implications for future research and practice in post-conflict environments

Governance, Institutions and People within the Interface of a Tsunami Early Warning System

The interface mechanism in a tsunami early warning system (TEWS) occurs between receiving tsunami information at the country level and disseminating warning and evacuation orders to the public. Three crucial actions take place during the interface: issuing the warning, disseminating it, and ordering an evacuation. Using two case studies in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, a study was undertaken to understand the nature of the interface mechanism and the social, cultural and political dynamics of its operationalisation. In this article, a comparative analysis of the two case studies is presented, focusing on the role of governance, institutions and people in this interface. The nature of governance, hierarchies and structures influence the interface mechanism and the associated decision-making mechanisms. The institutions who act as key stakeholders are also shaped by the governance structures and hierarchies within it. The efficiency of the institutions is determined by the nature of their human resources and are affected by political factors. The communities are also affected by the overall governance structure, the political dynamics and the institutional factors. The complex relationships between governance, institutions and officers that exist in the two countries affect the communities in different ways. Yet, the overall governance and institutional dynamics of TEWSs lead to a common thread of decisions and actions when operationalising the interface. The results are presented in a framework that illustrates the complex relationships between governance, institutions, officers and communities. The framework provides a basis for future research on how the interface of TEWS can be operationalised to effectively protect communities at risk from tsunami