Government Responsibilities Of Disaster Protection In Poorer Communities

An example of how poorer communities can try to protect themselves against disaster can be seen in area of Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, home to 13 million people who face the threat of annual urban flooding. When a major disaster occurs like flooding, the right to life, safety, security, food & water, land and housing can be completely destroyed. The risk to those living closest to the sea and river banks are amongst the poorest communities. This area is their home. In Jjarkata, people living along the Ciiwung River dumped their rubbish and sewage into the river as they had no alternative. If they dumped it in the street this would attract rats and vermin spreading disease. The government deemed the area slum like and dirty and this was contributing to the cause of flooding. The government threatened the community with eviction and notice to quit. This resulted in the people coming together collectively to form a group to adopt plans to clean up their environment and make the river cleaner and safer. They took the necessary steps towards sustainability and to protect their livelihood and for future generations. They tidied up their households, cleaned the river/waterways by removing rubbish and installed a communal septic tank. Installing compost bins for food scraps and recycled plastics. The river became cleaner and as no waste or discharge was feeding into it, the threat of flooding reduced.

Politics plays an essential part in assisting the poor once disaster strikes. Often the poorer people are unheard as they have limited access to resources. Governments have the power to decide who will get access to resources and how this power is distributed. Often those closest to poverty remain unheard in politics. There is a huge disparity in resources and inequality how resources are distributed within Society, Power, Education, Awareness, Nature. Poor people get marginalised. In poorer countries, governments have less money to deal with disaster to rebuild so the poor diminish further into the poverty trap. The power of such governments and their decisions can lead to enviro degradation. Studies of famine show how the ability to recover from disaster on households depends on asset levels as well as social networks. Poor farmers will not entertain investment in land as they do not own it, the length of tenure affects the poor and their relationship with the land and environment. They will take more care of the land if they own it. However, as poorer communities have strong grassroots they band together when disaster strikes and collectively rather than individually can create a culture of empowerment. They have large community networks which enable them to manage disaster effectively.

To close the gap in equality between those in poverty and wealthier communities to cope with natural disasters it is essential that Governments prompt the developed world to fund aid to build safer structures to withstand such disasters and educate people on the risk of a hazard by providing them with the resources they need, technology, education and engage with them to share their knowledge and put plans in for recovery. An example of this was in Bangladesh when Tropical Cyclone Sidr occurred in 2007. It damaged over 1 million homes triggering the government to reassess its housing which had been sub-standard. The largest rebuilding project in its history followed which targeted solutions for the poorer households to build a more resilient and prosperous future by building homes safer in structure.

Ultimately power how to deal with poverty and disaster lies with the Government. Scientists provide the information and together with government make the decisions how we care for the environment. Therefore, although some natural disasters are not preventable others could be. Governments and the World Bank could fund and assist locals by building more habitable structures that can withstand earthquakes and hazards. Adapting the population to diversifying and adopting a new livelihood. Introducing and providing technology to poorer regions. Educating the poor on birth control. The poor often have large families and a large community, they cannot be heard individually but by forming large groups en mass their voice and actions will be heard.