Mult-Sectoral approach to Emergency Response and recovery in an Earthquake Scenario

involving 1,500 people including children

Most natural hazards cannot be prevented, but their impact on humanity can be.
The success and effectiveness of response to a disaster depends largely on the preparations that
were put in place beforehand. A good response system can save more lives and reduce damage to
livelihoods and economies.
Disaster preparedness includes all of the activities that need to be carried out prior to a
disaster to ensure that disaster response activities run as smoothly as possible.
Definitions
"disaster” means a progressive or sudden, widespread or localized, natural or human-caused
occurrence which –
(a) causes or threatens to cause-
(i) death, injury or disease,
(ii) damage to property, infrastructure or the environment; or
(iii) disruption of the life of a community; and
(b) is of such a magnitude that it exceeds the ability of those affected by the disaster using only
their own resources
“disaster management” means a continuous and integrated multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary
process of planning and implementing of measures aimed at-
(a) preventing or reducing the risk of disasters;
(b) mitigating the severity of or consequences of disasters;
(c) emergency preparedness;
(d) rapid and effective response to disasters; and
(e) post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation
Government is committed to creating and promoting a Disaster Preparedness and Management
system that safeguards against disasters and ensures continued productive capacity of citizens.
The main thrust of any policy is to ensure that Disaster Preparedness and Management are
adopted as an integral part of the national development process. It should recognize the profound
impact of human activity on the interrelations with the natural environment, the influence of
population growth, high population density, increased urbanization, industrial expansion,
predatory resource exploitation, and the expanding technological advances.
Earthquakes

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning. Earthquakes can occur at any time of the year and
at any time of the day or night. On a yearly basis, 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes occur
throughout the world.
What are earthquakes, and what causes them?
An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the Earth caused by the breaking and shifting of rock
beneath the Earth’s surface. For hundreds of millions of years, the forces of plate tectonics have
shaped the Earth as the huge plates that form the Earth’s surface move slowly over, under, and
past each other. Sometimes the movement is gradual. At other times, the plates are locked
together, unable to release the accumulating energy. When the accumulated energy grows strong
enough, the plates break free causing the ground to shake. Most earthquakes occur at the
boundaries where the plates meet; however, some earthquakes occur in the middle of plates.
Ground shaking from earthquakes can collapse buildings and bridges; disrupt gas, electric, and
phone service; and sometimes trigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires, and huge,
destructive ocean waves (tsunamis). Buildings with foundations resting on unconsolidated
landfill and other unstable soil, and trailers and homes not tied to their foundations are at risk
because they can be shaken off their mountings during an earthquake. When an earthquake
occurs in a populated area, it may cause deaths and injuries and extensive property damage.
Multi-Sectoral Approach to Emergency Earth Response
Looking at the enormity or magnitude of the destruction to human, businesses and physical
properties, it is evident that no single unit of government or sector can handle the post disaster
phase of the incident. Fig. 1 shows and summarises how almost all sectors of the economy is
affected in an earthquake disaster. So a coordinated effort will bring quick relief to victims.
 Fig1. How the various Sectors Relate to the Disaster management Cycle

Response Phase

The aim of emergency response is to provide immediate assistance to maintain life, improve
health and support the morale of the affected population. Such assistance may range from
providing specific but limited aid, such as assisting refugees with transport, temporary shelter,
and food, to establishing semi-permanent settlement in camps and other locations. It also may
involve initial repairs to damaged infrastructure. The focus in the response phase is on meeting
the basic needs of the people until more permanent and sustainable solutions can be found.
Humanitarian organizations are often strongly present in this phase of the disaster management
cycle. However, to be able to tackle the task ahead, a multi disciplinary team of experts must
undertake a situational analysis, needs assessment, impact assessment, health needs assessment,
social impact assessment and damage assessment. People with special needs like children, the
aged and sick must be addressed immediately.

Recovery Phase
As the emergency is brought under control, the affected population is capable of undertaking a
growing number of activities aimed at restoring their lives and the infrastructure that supports
them. There is no distinct point at which immediate relief changes into recovery and then into
long-term sustainable development. There will be many opportunities during the recovery period
to enhance prevention and increase preparedness, thus reducing vulnerability. Ideally, there
should be a smooth transition from recovery to on-going development.

The most appropriate vehicle for delivering such an early response and recovery interventions is
an integrated multi-sectoral and multi disciplinary approach focusing on the specific needs of
key affected areas. This approach utilizes the knowledge of problems, needs, resources,
capacities and development potentials available at the local level. Certain sectors are considered
to be particularly relevant during the early response and recovery phase. These include: search
and rescue, shelter, employment and livelihood, agriculture and livestock, governance, disaster
risk reduction, environment, education, protection, food and nutrition, health, and water and
sanitation. The approach can be translated into a National Disaster Framework [a roadmap]
covering institutional mechanisms, disaster prevention strategy, early warning system, disaster
mitigation, preparedness and response and human resource development.
Fig 2 FAn integrated multi-sectoral and multi disciplinary approach to Earthquake Disaster Management

This will mean the formation of an Emergency Response team with representatives from the
Ministries/Departments of Health, Water Resources, Environment & Forest, Agriculture,
Railways, Roads and Transport, Defence, Science & Technology, Telecommunication, Urban
Employment and Poverty alleviation, Rural Development and Meteorological Department. The
fire Service, The Red Cross, NGOs involved in humanitarian activities can be called on board to
provides their specialized expertise in disaster management and relief efforts.
The team should have a role with functions like Coordinate the activities and functions of the
various agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government and private institutions and
civic organizations to implement the policies set by the National Disaster Coordinating Council
relative to disaster management.
The success of such a multisectoral approach in disaster response is the seamless coordination of
activities to avoid duplication and over delivery of support.
In an operation of the size and complexity of an earthquake response , coherent and commonly-
agreed humanitarian coordination mechanisms are critical from the outset, to help to channel and
coordinate the wide-ranging resources and capacities available. The influx of thousands of
humanitarian actors, many of whom, while well-meaning, may not necessarily be professional
and well-informed in their approach, posed a challenge to the coordination dynamics of the
response. Humanitarians required the support of the military in facilitating the transport and
distribution of assistance. The swift establishment of clusters to ensure effective sectoral
coordination, and the later convening of the Disaster Coordinating Council (Fig 3.) to
provide overall strategic guidance, can be positive steps towards a strengthened coordination of
the response. Meanwhile, the establishment of coordination structures engaging both military
and humanitarian actors in a joint decision-making and resource-tasking enterprise would be
critical to the absorption of extensive military assets into the humanitarian response operation.

Fig 3. Hierarchical View of Structure of Disaster Coordinating Council showing the

stakeholders