Aasai

DISASTERS.

A disaster.What first comes to your mind when you hear the word disaster?This can vary from one person to another depending on ones knowledge,context and previous experiences with the disasters.It can mean emergency,destruction or severe damage.The real definition of a disaster means any event that is sudden,severe and causes severe damage, destruction of properties and loss of lives.

The fact that a disaster results to a severe damage,loss of properties and loss of lives,there is need for preparedness and response.Preparedness refers to the various actions that human beings put into place before a disaster occur as a way of responding to the disaster.Disaster response refers to actions taken to actively deal with the disaster.These actions include rescue and provision of food relief services to the affected.

Those affected by the disaster are referred to as casualties.A disaster is closely related to a disaster.A hazard refers to a potential threat that can cause damage, destructions and loss of lives for example a flood prone area is a hazard.Hazard differ with a disaster in that,disaster is the actual  events that cause severe damage,loss of lives and properties for example if a flood prone area is affected by floods then we can term this as a disaster.

Therefore,it is possible to have a hazard which is not a disaster.There are various classifications of disasters based on the causes and based on speed of onset.Based on the causes we have natural disasters and human made disasters.Natural disasters are catastrophic events which are caused by natural phenomena for example earthquakes,landslides and natural tsunamis.

Human made disasters refers to catastrophic events that are caused by human actions for example quarrying leading to landslides and industrial activities leading to environmental pollution which can later lead to various epidemics like respiratory diseases.When still on the causes, another classification is Complex emergencies.Complex emergencies refers to a mixed catastrophic events caused by both human actions and natural phenomena.

Based on the speed of onset we have sudden onset disasters which are catastrophic events which occur abruptly and may give no time or little time for preparation and response.Secondly,slow onset disasters which are catastrophic events which occur at a slower rate overtime for example landslides in various regions.These events give time for preparation and response.Last but not least,rapid onset disasters refers to catastrophic events which occur quickly and do not provide time for preparation and for response for example hurricanes and tsunamis.

With all these,life must continue and for life to continue resilience is needed.Resilience refers to the ability of those affected by the disasters to cope with the situation.This can be achieved by offering emotional support, debriefing and various humanitarian assistance strategies like offering first aid services.