Urban Risks in Disaster Management

Urban Risk issues in Malaysia rose to prominencetowards developing community resilience.
following the December 2006 major floods. SinceThe Urban Risk Assessment will eventually
then till now there have been a number of flashprovide indicators of the magnitude,
floods and landslides including those in Kualacharacteristics, coverage and spread, causes and
Lumpur which caused much disruption tothe available options to mitigate the potential
economic and commercial activities andhazards. Awareness and understanding of the
destruction to property. The landslide disaster atrisks involved is essential in formulating risks
Bukit Antarabangsa in 2008 which occurred in anreduction strategies, action plans, and contingency
affluent area, albeit at the suburbs of the cityplans. With technological advances notably in IT, its
was another calamity which revealed the insidiousnow feasible to carry out 3D visualization of Urban
threats of natural disasters affecting urban areas.Risk which has positive advantages for urban
This post looks at urban risks in the context ofplanning and disaster management.
disaster management as a updateon where weThe UN ISDR recently launched a two-year global
stand in terms of initiatives taken.campaign for urban disaster risk reduction
Growth and urbanisations of cities in thesupporting the objectives of the Hyogo
Asia-Pacific Rim are vital elements in theFramework for Action (HFA) in urban areas.
developed and developing countries. NeverthelessUrban risk reduction efforts nevertheless face a
they come with a catch the effects and brunt ofnumber of challenges including centralized
climate change on natural hazards to the urbanapproach, funding constraints, inadequate
communities. It has been projected that in theinstitutional capacity and insufficient technical
next three decades over 60% of the world'sresources. These initiatives led to the creation of
urban population growth will occur in Asia meaningthe Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction ( PURR)
a greater segment of the future possible victimsfor implementation of Urban Risk Reduction (URR)
will comprise those from this region.and enhancing local authorities capacity to put into
Acknowledging that any natural calamities andoperation urban risk reduction practices in their
disasters will impact more on the urban populationrespective localities. The long-term objectives
and communities, it becomes vital for the urbanaimed at achieving mainstreaming of Disaster Risk
dwellers to be more aware of the impact andReduction in urban governance and urban
penalties, and make preparations thereof todevelopment.
reduce risks.How do we operationalise local action in URR?.
Building community resilience of these urbanJoint initiatives led by the state institutions in
population calls upon an integrated systemsestablishing local campaigns in partnership with local
approach in enhancing their capacity to handle theauthorities , civil society organizations, Red Cross
natural disasters. The vulnerability of the urbanRed Crescent, NGOs, and the private sector
poor living in areas where the infrastructuralwould be an encouraging prospect.
services are less significant is much more acuteThe UN ISDR recently launched a two-year global
compared to those staying in more affluent areas.campaign for urban disaster risk reduction
The dangers facing the urban population in thissupporting the objectives of the Hyogo
region are likely to be greater compared to thoseFramework for Action (HFA) in urban areas.
in the rural areas due to their higher populationUrban risk reduction efforts nevertheless face a
density. Comparatively, the urban poor and othernumber of challenges including centralized
vulnerable groups will be the one at most riskapproach, funding constraints, inadequate
against the natural hazards.institutional capacity and insufficient technical
With the pace of urbanization picking up briskly,resources. These initiatives led to the creation of
demand for land becomes such that communitiesthe Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction ( PURR)
build houses in areas which are environmentallyfor implementation of Urban Risk Reduction (URR)
unstable, with risks of landslides, flash floods, andand enhancing local authorities capacity to put into
cave-ins. The situation is further compounded asoperation urban risk reduction practices in their
seasonal disasters perpetuate the poverty of therespective localities. The long-term objectives
urban poor through the regular damage to theiraimed at achieving mainstreaming of Disaster Risk
livelihood and lives. The natural disastersReduction in urban governance and urban
undermine endeavours towards sustainingdevelopment.
improvements to the poor urban communities.Recognising the threats these urban risks pose to
Reducing their vulnerability for the long-term callsthe communities:
for implementing practical community centred riskConcerned, the Asia Regional Task Force on
mitigation measures.Urban Risk Reduction is actively promoting urban
A principal step in these measures is the conductDRR in on-going activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
of Risk Assessment, involving the activeMeanwhile a Global Hotspot Study for Urban
participation of the urban community, whichAreas is being reviewed by the World Bank.
identify the scope of vulnerabilities, capacities ofConcerns over urban risks have prompted ISDR
institution, communities, infrastructure, and theto develop a note on environmental aspects of
main hazards. The approach allows thedisaster management. Even the possibility of
development of action-oriented initiatives withopening urban risk reduction training is being
sustainable risk reduction measures, the structureconsidered. In the same context the RTF would
easily forming into a community action plan.conduct a regional mapping of urban risk reduction
Developing these measures through Actioninitiatives and it will be good to see how well we
Planning Exercises with the involvement of allfare on actions taken.
stakeholders i.E. State authorities, NGOs, nationalTaking the discussions from here, subsequent
societies (Red Cross Red Crescent), andposts will look into issues pertaining to
community members may pave the wayContingency Planning, Community Based Risk
towards disaster risk reduction and also contributeReduction, and related matters of concern.