I.

Introduction
The purpose of this critical review is to examine and assess Mulugeta Abebe's 2009 article of
"Emerging Trends in Disaster Management and The Ethiopian Experience: Genesis, Reform, and
Transformation." The paper investigates current disaster management trends and Ethiopia's
susceptibility to catastrophes, as well as the need for policy change in this area. In this review, I
used a methodical and organized approach to identify the article's strengths and weaknesses,
drawing on other relevant material to contextualize my observations and arguments.

II. Summary

The article "Emerging trends in disaster management and the Ethiopian experience: genesis,
reform and transformation" focuses on the evolution of disaster management and highlights the
Ethiopian experience in handling various natural disasters. The author discusses the problems
encountered during different phases of development and presents various arguments regarding
the effectiveness of Ethiopia's disaster management framework.

In the Introduction, the author emphasizes the continuous need for reform in disaster
management, as disaster risks are increasing due to human-induced changes, such as
urbanization, ecological degradation, and climate change. The Ethiopian experience serves as a
case study for how the country has developed and implemented a disaster risk management
framework.

In the section on "Genesis," the author discusses the historical background of disaster
management in Ethiopia, which can be traced back to the great famine of 1888-1892. The famine
spawned the need for a centralized approach to managing disasters and brought international
attention to the issue. This was followed by several other disastrous events, which led to the
formation of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in 1974 to coordinate disaster
relief efforts.

During the crisis of 1983-1985, the author argues that Ethiopia's disaster management system
faced a turning point due to the ineffective and uncoordinated responses of various government
agencies, leading to the realization that a comprehensive framework was needed. The focus
moved towards improved early warning systems, better coordination among government
agencies, and a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the root causes of vulnerability.

In "Reform and Transformation," the author highlights the gradual shift in Ethiopia's disaster
management strategy from a reactive approach to a more proactive and resilient one. The
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) replaced the RRC in 1995, with the
main goal of reducing vulnerability and increasing the capacity of communities to respond to
disasters. The author identifies several factors that contributed to this transformation, including
policy and institutional reforms, increased accountability, and partnerships with international
agencies and NGOs. These factors have resulted in improved collaboration, better disaster risk
reduction, and more efficient use of resources for disaster management.

In the "Emerging Trends" section, the author points out some critical issues that are shaping the
future of disaster management, such as the challenge of rapid urbanization and its consequences
on existing vulnerabilities. Climate change is also mentioned as a major issue that is increasing
the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, leading to more frequent and severe
disasters. The article discusses the need for enhanced early warning systems, effective land-use
policies, and improved vulnerability analyses to identify hazards and risks and implement
appropriate measures.

In conclusion, the author evaluates the Ethiopian experience within the broader context of
disaster management and stresses the importance of learning from past experiences, adapting to
new challenges, and strengthening collaboration among various stakeholders. The article
emphasizes that, while significant progress has been made in terms of disaster management and
risk reduction in Ethiopia, more concerted efforts are needed to improve the country's resilience
to disasters and mitigate their potentially devastating impacts. The growth in Ethiopia's disaster
management capacity has important implications for other developing nations, urging them to
invest in the right strategies and approaches to reduce their vulnerability to disasters.
 III. Critique of the Article
A. Strengths of the Article
One notable strength of the article "Emerging trends in disaster management and the Ethiopian
experience: genesis, reform and transformation" is its thorough theoretical underpinning. The
author extensively reviews the various perspectives and theoretical frameworks in disaster
management, providing a strong foundation for the article's arguments. Additionally, the author
exhaustively explores the relevant literature, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the
subject matter for readers.

The clarity of the problem statement is another strength of the article. The author clearly outlines
the challenges Ethiopia has faced in disaster management and the need for transforming and
reforming their approach. This clarity enables readers to grasp the significance of the issue and
provides a context for discussing emerging trends in disaster management.

Furthermore, the article's methodology and materials are suitable for addressing the subject
matter. The author utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data to analyze and assess the
Ethiopian disaster management system's effectiveness. This mix of research methods allows for a
nuanced and balanced understanding of the situation, helping to tease out the intricacies of this
complex topic.

The article's discussion is also a strength, as it is comprehensive and detailed. The author
presents a well-rounded and complete analysis of the various aspects of disaster management in
Ethiopia, including key challenges, successes, and lessons learned. This thoroughness ensures
the readers get a clear understanding of the subject matter and the various factors contributing to
the current state of disaster management in Ethiopia.

In terms of consistency, the article's findings align with the literature review and the author's
theoretical framework. The author presents logical conclusions drawn from the collected data
and the existing literature on disaster management, resulting in coherent and well-supported
arguments.
Finally, the article offers relevant recommendations based on the Ethiopian experience. These
recommendations have practical implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in
the field of disaster management. Overall, this article demonstrates several strengths, including
its robust theoretical foundation, comprehensive literature review, clear problem statement,
suitable methodology, thorough discussion, consistent findings, and relevant recommendations.

B. Weaknesses of the Article:

One of the major weaknesses of the article is its focus solely on the Ethiopian experience, which
limits the generalizability of its findings to other contexts. Moreover, the author did not provide
empirical evidence to support some of the claims made in the article. For instance, the sections
discussing the impact of past disasters could have been better substantiated with empirical
evidence. Although a few concepts and theories are presented the author does not explicitly state
how these theories informed the analysis of emerging trends in disaster management and the
Ethiopian experience. Also, the author does not engage with a wider range of theoretical
perspectives that could have provided a more in-depth understanding of the subject.
The article discusses some previous studies and relevant literature on disaster management, but
there is certainly room for improvement with regard to the depth and breadth of the literature
review. The author could have expounded more on the various concepts and theoretical
perspectives in disaster management literature, including vulnerability, risk, and resilience.
Moreover, a comparison of different approaches to disaster management from around the world
might have provided greater insight into the Ethiopian experience.
While the article states that its objective is to discuss the emerging trends in disaster management
and the Ethiopian experience, the problem statement is not well-defined. The author could have
provided clearer explanations of the key issues and research questions that were explored in the
study, as well as the potential contribution of the research to the existing body of knowledge on
disaster management.

The article's findings are not consistently presented and analyzed throughout the text. The author
could have organized and presented the findings more coherently, clearly articulating the
relationships between the observed trends, the Ethiopian experience, and the overall implications
for disaster management practice and policy.
Lastly, the article does not offer specific recommendations based on the findings, which limits
the practical implications of the research. The author could have provided more concrete
suggestions for policy makers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in the field of disaster
management, particularly in the Ethiopian context. Such recommendations would have
strengthened the article's overall relevance and contribution to the advancement of disaster
management policy and practice.

Conclusion
Overall, while the article provides a comprehensive overview of the development of disaster
management policies and practices in Ethiopia, there are some weaknesses that need to be
addressed. The article should have provided more empirical evidence to support its claims and
addressed the limitations of focusing solely on the Ethiopian experience. Nonetheless, the article
contributes to the existing literature on disaster management in developing countries and could
be useful for policymakers and practitioners. Future research should further explore the
challenges of implementing disaster management policies and practices in Ethiopia and other
countries in the region.