DISASTER
MITIGATION
Mitigation is
the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of
disaster. This is achieved through risk analysis and vulnerability assessment
so that policies that put in place meet the intended objectives which results
in information that provide a foundation for mitigation activities. It is a pre-disaster
phase which is mainly focused on reducing the impact of a disaster culminating
from a disaster. Generally speaking, mitigation is the first stage of the
disaster management cycle which is followed by preparedness, response and recovery.
While this is the generally accepted order of events, in reality these stages are
all intertwined and not necessary exclusive.Akonor (2008) assets ‘that
mitigation is the longest and perhaps never ending phase of the emergency
management cycle. Mitigation measures are not homogenous they differ due to the
type of a disaster. Anderson (1989) postulates that developed countries mostly
experience technological disaster and mitigation measures are in line with the disaster.
Mitigation measures can be structural or non structural.Stuctural measures
deals or relies on hard engineering while non structural involves policies and
utilisation of naturally available resources. For example building levees along
river banks so as to reduce overflowing of water is an example of structural
measure while putting policies such as legislation which prohibits people to
carry out activities which may cause a disaster. Woodrow (1990) postulates that
there are sets of tools that could be used to prevent disaster; these include
hazard management and vulnerability reduction, economic diversification,
political intervention and commitment and public awareness.
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The term
mitigation applies to a wide range of activities and protection measures that
might be instigated from physical like constructing stronger buildings to the
procedural like standard techniques for incorporating hazard assessment in land
use planning. World Bank Report (2000) contends that the 1990s was a decade of
major effort to encourage the implementation of disaster mitigation techniques
in development projects around the world. These were initiated mostly in
developing countries because they are more prone to disasters. Measures that can
be taken are the construction of light buildings so as to lessen the disaster.
In Japan there is construction of light buildings so as to reduce the impact of
disasters such as earthquakes which are rampant in those areas. This is done to
reduce the number of deaths due to trappings in hazard events such as
earthquakes for example flooding along Missipi River in 2005 was reduced in
mitigation measures by constructing levees to increase the drainage .This had
lessened the impact of flooding
The United Nations
has adopted the decade of 2000s as the international decade for natural
Disaster Reduction. The aim was to achieve a significant reduction in the loss
of life and material damage caused by disasters by the end of the decade .The
most important critical part of implementing mitigation is the full
understanding of the nature of the threat. In each country and in each region
the types of hazards faced are different. Some countries are prone to floods
others have histories of tropical storm damage and others are known to be in
drought regions for example countries like Somalia, Ethiopia drought have not
spurred them while counties like Japan and China floods are rampant in these region.
For mitigation to be effective or to yield positive results there is need for
risk assessment where one can be able to identify type of a disaster which may
affect a particular area so that mitigation measures that may be used may be
effective .For instance Muzarabani is to floods while areas such as Chivi and
Mberengwa are prone to drought. There is need for mapping and taking foot walks
so that one is able to see the exact disaster affecting a particular area.
Vulnerability assessment is a crucial aspect of planning effective. Therefore
vulnerability implies both susceptibility to physical and economic damage and
lack of resources for rapid recovery. The understanding of how the occurrence
of a natural hazard turns into a disaster enables us to forecast likely
situations where disasters are possible. Mitigation that may be put in place to
deal with this disaster is likely to address the problems of a certain area. In
Chivi where there is a drought structural measure such the construction of dams
to start irrigation may help to curb this disaster. Therefore risk assessment
is very important aspect in mitigation strategy
An alternative
approach is to develop mitigation policies in consultation with local community
groups using techniques and actions which they organise themselves and manage
little resources with limited outside technical assistance. Such community
based mitigation programmes are considered more likely to result in actions
which are a response to people’s real needs and contribute to the development
of the community, its consciousness of the hazards it faces and its ability to
protect itself in the future, even though technically the means may be less
effective than larger scale mitigation programmes. This will tend also to
maximise the use of local resources including labour, materials and organisation.
However Akonor (2008) postulates that most governments and large development
agencies adopt a top down approach to disaster mitigation planning whereby the
intended beneficiaries are provided with solutions designed for them by
planners rather than selected for themselves. This was further buttressed by
Karikari (2009) who argues that such top down approach tend to emphasize
physical mitigation measures rather than social changes to build up the
resources of the vulnerable groups. They rarely achieve their goals because
they act on symptoms not causes and fail to respond to the real needs and
demands of the people. Ultimately they undermine the community’s ability to
protect itself. Therefore community should participate so that they bring out
their concerns and mitigation strategies that may be put in place respond to
the real needs of the people.
In addition
mitigation also entails the protection of the economy from disaster. There is
need to some policies or to diversify the economy. Most African countries rely
much of their economy on agriculture. Agriculture sector of the economy are
most vulnerable to drought. Although measures that focus on protecting the most
vulnerable elements and activities the weakest links in different sectors of
the economy help to protect the achievements of economic development. There is
no doubt that if countries diversify the economy it means that of one sector of
the economy is affected for example in Zimbabwe which rely much on agriculture
if it diversify its economy to sector such as manufacturing, mining therefore
it means that if agriculture sector is affected due to the ever changing and
unfavourable climate conditions it can be able to help its citizens with
services and needs drawing some of the money from other sectors. This is why
developed nations have got high levels of mitigating disasters due to
diversification and also to technological innovations. Moyo (2009) assets that
developing countries are more vulnerable to disasters than developed nations.
Therefore economic diversification is an important tool in mitigation strategy
Mitigation also
entails the formulation of policies that may help in dealing with natural
disasters .Government should ensure that the citizens are aware of a certain
hazard that may affect them .Public awareness is very important in mitigation.
The community should be aware of the risk that that may hit their area. The
government should provide telecommunications both electronic and manual. This
helps the people to take effective measures before a hazard occur .For example
the government of Haiti informed the people about the floods and people were
able to evacuate the places in time .Mitigation involves not only saving the
lives and injury and reducing property losses but also reducing the adverse
consequences of natural hazards to economic activities and social institutions
.Therefore a government that may not give its citizens information may be held
responsible for the occurrence of disasters as Masunungure (2007) contends
In addition to
non structural measures the government should put some policies in terms of
legislation where there is strengthening of legislation that may prohibits
anyone who may carry activities that may cause disaster .In Zimbabwe the
government has put some stiff laws to those who may start fire willingly.
Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has put in place jail terms to those
who may bun the bush .The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has also been put
in place so that they can help in curbing road accidents by imposing high fees
for causing accidents in roads which takes away lives of many people
