Jamba-Journal of Disaster Risk Studies最新文献

This paper, adopting theoretical-methodological assumptions, aims to analyse the risk of municipal urban water shortage in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, through the results of the Water Shortage Risk Index (WSRI). The WSRI is the product of the analysis of 19 variables, in a systemic perspective that involves environmental, infrastructural, socioeconomic and state planning indicators. The survey was carried out in the 153 municipalities that make up the water supply system managed by the state concessionaire (representing 92% of the 167 municipalities in the State), in its seven water supply regions. The WSRI result identified 49.0% of the municipalities analysed in the 'high' and 'very high' risk classes; 40.5% as 'medium' risk and 10.0% as 'low' risk, with no occurrences of 'very low' risk. In absolute values, 1 municipality was classified as 'very high'; 74 were classified as 'high'; 62 as 'average'; and 16 were considered to be at 'low' risk of water shortages.

Contribution: To decrease and/or mitigate the results of the WSRI in the State, the transposition of basins, integration of supply systems, hydrogeological research, among others, were proposed.

Technological advancements and the ubiquity of digital platforms have accelerated the spread of false information, undermining governance and social harmony. Despite its significance, there remains no academic consensus on a taxonomy for the various manifestations of false information. This study addresses this gap and examines the complex societal implications of misinformation. The research identifies motives behind the spread of false information and assesses its impact on governance and social contracts, with a focus on South Africa during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A qualitative approach was followed, using documentary research and secondary analysis of qualitative data. While global trends in misinformation were initially explored, the study primarily focused on South Africa, covering the period from the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Wuhan in December 2019 to 5 March 2021, one year after South Africa's first reported case. A literature review was conducted to examine the origins and spread of misinformation, including government measures and public responses. The findings revealed that power and greed are primary drivers of misinformation, with entrenched worldviews, scepticism towards authority, and a lack of critical evaluation skills intensifying the issue. The spread of misinformation had significant impacts on governmental crisis management and social cohesion in South Africa.

Contribution: This study contributes to understanding misinformation's societal impact and provides a framework for future empirical studies on crisis management and government-citizen relations. It aligns with the journal's focus on contemporary challenges in information dissemination.

Fire disaster preparedness has been reported as critical in schools, especially for schools that have learners with special needs. This study, therefore, through a quantitative research approach, collected data from 88 participants across nine special needs schools (SNS) in the North West Province of South Africa to assess the fire preparedness of these schools. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study applied descriptive and inferential statistics using R Statistical Software package to analyse questions that gauged the fire preparedness of the sampled schools. Four generalised linear and one ordinal regression models were applied to the data and found statistically significant differences for some predictors across the four applied GLMs. Significant results were found for the school fire safety management model applied to the Disaster Preparedness Strategy framework (χ² = 206.7; p = 0.01; R ² = 90.5%). However, a significant difference was only found in the question of early warning systems across the eight predictor variables for the framework.

Contribution: The maintenance and recordkeeping model showed significant results in terms of record maintenance and the frequency of fire safety equipment inspections. While compliance with specific fire safety regulations is essential, broader engagement and continuous improvement in early warning systems are necessary for a more resilient disaster preparedness strategy. This study addresses a critical gap in understanding and improving fire hazard preparedness in these schools. The authors therefore recommend intervention from the authorities to assist these schools to prepare for fires.

The growing frequency and severity of disasters worldwide have highlighted the need for environmental health practitioners to be equipped with specialised training to respond effectively to evolving public health contexts. Disasters can have long-lasting impacts on the environment and environmental health services, necessitating prompt and effective responses. However, the current environmental health workforce faces challenges in acquiring the necessary competencies to address environmental health threats during disasters. This narrative review synthesises existing literature on disaster management education for environmental health professionals, exploring current training, advancements and emerging trends. The review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and includes a total of 45 records that met inclusion criteria (compromising 15 peer-reviewed articles and 30 training records) published between 2002 and 2023. Findings highlight the expansion of environmental health degree programmes to include disaster management, better preparing newly qualified practitioners. However, a knowledge gap remains for previously qualified practitioners. High-income countries prioritising capacity building for environmental health practitioners in disaster management are better equipped to respond to and mitigate disasters.

Contribution: The review suggests that with proper basic training for disaster responders, more lives can be saved during and after disasters. It highlights the insufficiency of current training programmes and emphasises the need for advanced role-specific training for environmental health practitioners. The review emphasises the need for advanced role-specific training, community assessment skills and focused disaster response strategies to enhance environmental health practitioners' ability to respond to disasters and improve public health resilience. Enhanced training, capacity building and collaboration are necessary to improve the competencies, skills and knowledge of environmental health practitioners in disaster risk management and public health emergencies.

The Disaster Preparedness Village (Kampung Siaga Bencana or KSB) in Special Region of Yogyakarta Province (DIY) is a community that aims to increase community preparedness and resilience to disasters through collaboration between the local government, non-government organisations and the community. This research examines the sustainability factors of KSB, namely the role of local leadership and government collaboration in disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. The method used in this research is a qualitative method and Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis, then using a diamond model to visualise the role of local leadership and the role of government. The results of this research show the importance of local leadership role in the sustainability of KSB. Factors contributing to the success of DIY KSB include independence, fulfillment of social granary logistics and effective two-way communication between KSB management and the village government (Kalurahan). The study supports that effective local leadership empowers the community, influences resource utilisation and facilitates collaborative efforts with the village government and volunteer organisations to address disaster management priorities. In addition, the most significant shortcomings in community leadership based on trust cultural value will negatively impact their sustainability and activeness if the local actors as mobilisers are inactive, and there is no regeneration of active new leaders. The Umbulharjo KSB case study exemplifies effective local leadership, mainly through Jagabaya, the chairman of KSB management. Strong local leadership is a fundamental element in developing a cohesive community actively involved in DRR efforts.

Contribution: The study reveals that local leadership significantly contributes to the development and sustained activity of KSB. The research concludes by emphasising the multifaceted nature of local leadership, considering various perspectives and the community's values and goals. The diamond model illustrates the intersection between societal opportunities and government support, demonstrating the realisation of goals through effective local leadership.

Nias Island is presently being confronted with a substantial and imminent threat of a tsunami. However, the level of knowledge of the communities on Nias Island regarding earthquake and tsunami hazards is limited. This study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among the communities residing on Nias Island with respect to the hazard of tsunami. This study adopted a community participation method derived from a social inductive study. Data were collected from field observations and in-depth interviews with 210 communities. Data were analysed using a descriptive table form for comprehensive examination. The results showed that the majority of communities lacked comprehensive knowledge regarding both the sources of tsunamis and estimated times of arrival (ETAs) for tsunamis. The findings also indicated a lack of regular disaster evacuation drills or simulations conducted by the government in the area. Moreover, there is a prevailing belief among the communities that God will prevent loss of life in the event of a tsunami. This belief is concerning because of its potential contribution to a fatalistic attitude towards disasters, potentially resulting in inadequate preparedness. The findings of this research confirm previous research that found that people living on small islands in Indonesia have very limited knowledge of the tsunami hazard.

Contribution: These findings highlight the important role of the government to carry out substantial efforts aimed at enhancing the resilience of communities residing in small islands. Currently, small islands receive less attention in efforts to reduce disaster risk.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v16i1.1685.].

Cities in Malawi have long been outside the focus of disaster risk reduction. As a result, urban risks remain poorly understood, and urban governments and disaster risk reduction (DRR) practitioners working in cities struggle to adequately support vulnerable urban populations. This is evidenced by recent disasters such as Cyclone Freddy, which devastated the city of Blantyre in 2023, and increasingly common small-scale events in urban areas. This article analyses the Malawian city as a distinct riskscape, shaped by national-level policies of neglect that create an institutional void that DRR practitioners working at the city level struggle to fill. This process is complicated by a multitude of challenges at different levels of governance, especially leaving small-scale events prevalent in urban areas largely unaddressed. This process of risk accumulation is increasingly affecting urban residents. Methodologically, we demonstrate this through a comprehensive policy analysis and by drawing on expert and civil society interviews and questionnaires conducted in Lilongwe City.

Contribution: By outlining the interlocking challenges at multiple levels and grounding them in empirical data, we highlight the specificities of urban DRR efforts in Malawi and provide opportunities to improve them.

Climate change and recurring droughts-induced effects on health are becoming an increasingly main global, cultural and public health burden. The heaviest health burden leans on the fragile socio-economic systems among the remote agro-pastoral communities, living in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Previous studies underlined the indispensability of indigenous knowledge (IK) for resilience-driven disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. However, more attention has been drawn towards the necessity of IK in weather forecasts, with less emphasis on its indispensability to alleviate health burden associated with climate change and droughts. We explored the contextual application of IK-based adaptation and related complementarity aspects for culturally relevant and sustainable DRR strategies for the nomadic agro-pastoral communities in Lopur, Turkana, Kenya. Relying on a descriptive qualitative study in phenomenological approach, purposive sampling and focus group discussions with key community influencers, a thematic analysis was conducted for an in-depth understanding and interpretation of data patterns. The contextualised insights revealed the growing vulnerability as a result of the disconnect between modern interventions, IK and the newly adopted environmental degrading coping tactics. Policy-wise, the findings portrayed the necessity for cultural integration and incorporation of indigenous knowledge-based strategies and systems for reinforced information dissemination, accessibility and acceptability for droughts preparedness and response.

Contribution: This study underlined the existing room for scientific exploration of the already existing indigenous knowledge-based solutions for food and water insecurity, towards improved resilience for the vulnerable communities experiencing inequitable climate change calamities in the ASALs.

An effective institutional coordination and communication are essential determinants of community disaster resilience capacities and successful execution of disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. Several international agreements endorse adopting consolidated, decentralised, participatory approaches to manage hydrometeorological hazards. Yet, the capacity of local governments to develop and implement effective disaster risk reduction strategies remains inconsistent and relatively unknown. In its quest to achieve sustainable economic development, Namibia has developed a DRR legislative framework and enlisted a central body to execute the strategic policy for disaster disruption mitigation and national resilience building. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach to assess the role of the central disaster risk management institution in establishing effective institutional coordination and communication structures for successful flood early warning system operations. Based on its legislative mandate, the study presents a hierarchically contextualised account of the institutions' empirical progress in DRR streamlining.

Contribution: The study identifies bureaucracy, limited institutional capacities, inadequate funding and response and relief prioritisation as major challenges to system efficacy. It provides directives for better institutional coordination and communication to reduce future harm.