THE IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS ON PSYCHO-SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELFARE Case Study Shijak - Albania

Abstract

The city of Shijak was one of the most affected areas by the earthquakes of September 21 and November 26, 2019. Such natural disasters often result in death, injury, illness, and other negative effects of physical and mental health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of natural disasters on the livelihood of families, their properties and other aspects of well-being in the city of Shijak. Natural disasters are considered to have direct impacts on humans as well as indirect effects on infrastructure. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines a disaster as a serious disruption to the functioning of a community or society involving human, material, economic damage or loss, and environmental impact. Earthquakes are not a common natural disaster for the city of Shijak. Such natural disasters can be a very stressful, disruptive, and traumatic for those affected. As a consequence, people may experience a wide variety of physical, psychological, emotional, or behavioral reactions, which, although completely natural, can significantly affect their ability to cope with the given situation. Findings from the survey conducted by 150 respondents show that a significant proportion of respondents found severe negative effects on their houses (72%), family assets (48%), and children's education (43%). Others suffered severe health, psychological, short-term unemployment impacts and more than half of respondents from urban areas moved to rural areas as a result of natural disaster events. Whether they direct losses or not, disaster post-traumatic stress for people who have experienced such traumas. This fact was also confirmed by the given study, so the majority of respondents (65%) suffered from post-traumatic stress. study, the shall be carried out in the well-being of especially long-term psycho-social for areas such