Protection of persons in Disaster

“Protection of persons in Disaster”

SUBMITTED TOWARDS THE FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE TITLED –

INTERNATIONAL LAW- I

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Sugandha Sinha Ashish Kumar Nishad

5th Semester

1311

CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

NYAYA NAGAR, MITHAPUR PATNA 800001

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 Protection of persons in Disaster

TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.No PARTICULARS PAGE

1. DECLARATION BY THE STUDENT 3

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4

3. INTRODUCTION 5

4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6-7

5. CHAPTERS:

8-9
1) BACKGROUND
10-15
2) 17 POINT GOALS
16-17
3) PROCESS FOR ARRIVING DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
18-19
4) IMPLEMENTATION

6. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 20

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY 21

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 Protection of persons in Disaster

DECLARATION BY THE STUDENT

I declare that the research project entitled “Protection of persons in Disaster”

submitted by me for the partial fulfillment of International Law - I course is my own
work.
This project has not been submitted for any other degree/ certificate/ course in any
institute/ university.

(Ashish Kumar Nishad) Signature

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 Protection of persons in Disaster

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my faculty Mrs. Sugandha Sinha whose guidance helped me a lot in
structuring my project.
I owe the present accomplishment of my project to my friends, who helped me
immensely with materials throughout the project and without whom I couldn’t have completed it
in the present way.
I also extend my gratitude to my parents and all those unseen hands who helped me at
every stage of my project.

Thanking you in anticipation,

ASHISH KUMAR NISHAD

Roll no. 1311
5th Semester

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 Protection of persons in Disaster

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the researcher is to present a detailed study of protection of person in disaster.

HYPOTHESIS:

The researcher presumes that disaster is very dangerous to human lives and there should be an
organisational schemes to curb these problems.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

1. What is Disaster ?
2. What are the ways to control ?
3. What is natural and artificial disaster ?

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS: The researcher will be having the following limitations while
doing this project:

1. Time will be a very big limitation while preparing this project. The researcher will only
have the time of 2 months.
2. Money factor will also be an important limitation. Due to this researcher had limited
resources while the making of this project.

REVIEW OF LITERARTURE: The researcher will visit the library as well as consult online
resources while making this project. The sources will include both the primary and secondary
sources.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: For the purpose of research the researcher will rely upon
non-doctrinal methods to look for the topic.

SOURCES OF DATA: The researcher will consult both primary and secondary sources while
making this project.

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CHAPTER 1
Disaster
A disaster is a serious disruption, occurring over a relatively short time, of the functioning of a
community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss
and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its
own resources.
In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the consequence of inappropriately managed
risk. These risks are the product of a combination of both hazards and vulnerability. Hazards that
strike in areas with low vulnerability will never become disasters, as in the case of uninhabited
regions.
Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits– more than 95 percent of all
deaths caused by hazards occur in developing countries, and losses due to natural hazards are 20
times greater (as a percentage of GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized countries.

Classifications
Researchers have been studying disasters for more than a century, and for more than forty years
disaster research. The studies reflect a common opinion when they argue that all disasters can be
seen as being human-made, their reasoning being that human actions before the strike of the
hazard can prevent it developing into a disaster. All disasters are hence the result of human
failure to introduce appropriate disaster management measures. Hazards are routinely divided
into natural or human-made, although complex disasters, where there is no single root cause, are
more common in developing countries. A specific disaster may spawn a secondary disaster that
increases the impact. A classic example is an earthquake that causes a tsunami, resulting in
coastal flooding.
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is a natural process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or other
health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage.
Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones are all natural hazards that kill thousands of people
and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. However, the rapid growth of
the world's population and its increased concentration often in hazardous environments has
escalated both the frequency and severity of disasters. With the tropical climate and unstable

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land forms, coupled with deforestation, unplanned growth proliferation, non-engineered

constructions which make the disaster-prone areas more vulnerable, tardy communication, and
poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing countries suffer more or less
chronically from natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties caused by natural hazards.
Human-instigated disasters are the consequence of technological hazards. Examples include
stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills and nuclear
explosions/radiation. War and deliberate attacks may also be put in this category. As with natural
hazards, man-made hazards are events that have not happened—for instance, terrorism. Man-
made disasters are examples of specific cases where man-made hazards have become reality in
an event.
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth;
examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and
other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and
typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the
affected population's resilience, or ability to recover and also on the infrastructure available.
An adverse event will not rise to the level of a disaster if it occurs in an area without vulnerable
population. In a vulnerable area, however, such as Nepal during the 2015 earthquake, an
earthquake can have disastrous consequences and leave lasting damage, which can require years
to repair.
Flood
A flood is an overflow of water that 'submerges' land. The EU Floods Directive defines a flood
as a temporary covering by water of land which is usually not covered by water. In the sense of
'flowing water', the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tides. Flooding may result from
the volume of water within a body of water, such as a river or lake, which overflows causing the
result that some of the water escapes its usual boundaries.While the size of a lake or other body
of water will vary with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, it is not a significant
flood unless the water covers land used by man like a village, city or other inhabited area, roads,
expanses of farmland, etc.
Tsunami
A tsunami, also known as a seismic sea wave or as a tidal wave, is a series of waves in a water
body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large
lake. Tsunamis can be caused by undersea earthquakes such as the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, or
by landslides such as the one in 1958 at Lituya Bay, Alaska, or by volcanic eruptions such as the
ancient eruption of Santorini. On March 11, 2011, a tsunami occurred near Fukushima, Japan
and spread through the Pacific.

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Cyclonic storms
Cyclone, tropical cyclone, hurricane, and typhoon are different names for the same phenomenon,
which is a cyclonic storm system that forms over the oceans. The determining factor on which
term is used is based on where they originate. In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, the term
"hurricane" is used; in the Northwest Pacific it is referred to as a "typhoon" and "cyclones" occur
in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
The deadliest hurricane ever was the 1970 Bhola cyclone; the deadliest Atlantic hurricane was
the Great Hurricane of 1780 which devastated Martinique, St. Eustatius and Barbados. Another
notable hurricane is Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States in
2005.
Droughts
Drought is the unusual dryness of soil caused by levels of rainfall significantly below average
over a prolonged period. Hot dry winds, shortage of water, high temperatures and consequent
evaporation of moisture from the ground can also contribute to conditions of drought. Droughts
result in crop failure and shortages of water.
Well-known historical droughts include the 1997–2009 Millennium Drought in Australia led to a
water supply crisis across much of the country. As a result, many desalination plants were built
for the first time. In 2011, the State of Texas lived under a drought emergency declaration for the
entire calendar year and severe economic losses. The drought caused the Bastrop fires.
Thunderstorms
Severe storms, dust clouds, and volcanic eruptions can generate lightning. Apart from the
damage typically associated with storms, such as winds, hail, and flooding, the lightning itself
can damage buildings, ignite fires and kill by direct contact. Especially deadly lightning
incidents include a 2007 strike in Ushari Dara, a remote mountain village in northwestern
Pakistan, that killed 30 people, the crash of LANSA Flight 508 which killed 91 people, and a
fuel explosion in Dronka, Egypt caused by lightning in 1994 which killed 469. Most lightning
deaths occur in the poor countries of America and Asia, where lightning is common and adobe
mud brick housing provides little protection.

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CHAPTER 2
Effect of Disaster

Every year, millions of people are affected by both human-caused and natural disasters. Disasters
may be explosions, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, or fires. In a disaster, you face the
danger of death or physical injury. You may also lose your home, possessions, and community.
Such stressors place you at risk for emotional and physical health problems.
Stress reactions after a disaster look very much like the common reactions seen after any type of
trauma. Disasters can cause a full range of mental and physical reactions. You may also react to
problems that occur after the event, as well as to triggers or reminders of the trauma.
Risk factors
A number of factors make it more likely that someone will have more severe or longer- lasting
stress reactions after disasters:
Severity of exposure
The amount of exposure to the disaster is highly related to risk of future mental problems. At
highest risk are those that go through the disaster themselves. Next are those in close contact
with victims. At lower risk of lasting impact are those who only had indirect exposure, such as
news of the severe damage. Injury and life threat are the factors that lead most often to mental
health problems. Studies have looked at severe natural disasters, such as the Armenian
earthquake, mudslides in Mexico, and Hurricane Andrew in the US. The findings show that at
least half of these survivors suffer from distress or mental health problems that need clinical care.
Gender and family
Almost always, women or girls suffer more negative effects than do men or boys. Disaster
recovery is more stressful when children are present in the home. Women with spouses also
experience more distress during recovery. Having a family member in the home who is
extremely distressed is related to more stress for everyone. Marital stress has been found to
increase after disasters. Also, conflicts between family members or lack of support in the home
make it harder to recover from disasters.

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Age
Adults who are in the age range of 40-60 are likely to be more distressed after disasters. The
thinking is that if you are in that age range, you have more demands from job and family.
Research on how children react to natural disasters is limited. In general, children show more
severe distress after disasters than do adults. Higher stress in the parents is related to worse
recovery in children.
Other factors specific to the survivor
Several factors related to a survivor's background and resources are important for recovery from
disaster. Recovery is worse if you:

 Were not functioning well before the disaster.

 Have had no experience dealing with disasters.
 Must deal with other stressors after the disaster.
 Have poor self-esteem.
 Think you are uncared for by others.
 Think you have little control over what happens to you.
 Lack the capacity to manage stress.
Other factors have also been found to predict worse outcomes:

 Bereavement (death of someone close)

 Injury to self or another family member
 Life threat
 Panic, horror, or feelings like that during the disaster
 Being separated from family (especially among youth)
 Great loss of property
 Displacement (being forced to leave home)
Developing countries
These risk factors can be made worse if the disaster occurs in a developing country. Disasters in
developing countries have more severe mental health impact than do disasters in developed
countries. This is true even with less serious disasters. For example, natural disasters are
generally thought to be less serious than human-caused. In developing countries, though, natural
disasters have more severe effects than do human-caused disasters in developed countries.
Low or negative social support
The support of others can be both a risk and a resilience factor. Social support can weaken after
disasters. This may be due to stress and the need for members of the support network to get on
with their own lives. Sometimes the responses from others you rely on for support are negative.

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For example, someone may play down your problems, needs, or pain, or expect you to recover
more quickly than is realistic. This is strongly linked to long-term distress in trauma survivors.
After a mass trauma, social conflicts, even those that have been resolved, may again be seen.
Racial, religious, ethnic, social, and tribal divisions may recur as people try to gain access to
much-needed resources. In families, conflicts may arise if family members went through
different things in the disaster. This sets up different courses of recovery that often are not well
understood among family members. Family members may also serve as distressing reminders to
each other of the disaster.
Keep in mind that while millions of people have been directly affected by disasters, most of them
do recover. Human nature is resilient, and most people have the ability to come back from a
disaster. Plus, people sometimes report positive changes after disaster. They may re-think what is
truly important and come to appreciate what they value most in life.
Resilience factors
Human resilience dictates that a large number of survivors will naturally recover from disasters
over time. They will move on without having severe, long-lasting mental health issues. Certain
factors increase resilience after disasters:
Social support
Social support is one of the keys to recovery after any trauma, including disaster. Social support
increases well-being and limits distress after mass trauma. Being connected to others makes it
easier to obtain knowledge needed for disaster recovery. Through social support, you can also
find:

 Practical help solving problems.

 A sense of being understood and accepted.
 Sharing of trauma experiences.
 Some comfort that what you went through and how you responded is not "abnormal."
 Shared tips about coping.
Coping confidence
Over and over, research has found that coping self-efficacy - "believing that you can do it" - is
related to better mental health outcomes for disaster survivors. When you think that you can cope
no matter what happens to you, you tend to do better after a disaster. It is not so much feeling
like you can handle things in general. Rather, it is believing you can cope with the results of a
disaster that has been found to help survivors to recover.
Hope
Better outcomes after disasters or mass trauma are likely if you have one or more of the
following:
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 Optimism (because you can hope for the future)

 Expecting the positive
 Confidence that you can predict your life and yourself
 Belief that it is very likely that things will work out as well as can reasonably be expected
 Belief that outside sources, such as the government, are acting on your behalf with your
welfare at heart
 Belief in God
 Positive superstitious belief, such as "I'm always lucky."
 Practical resources, including housing, job, money
Summing it up
Disasters can cause both mental and physical reactions. Being closer to the disaster and having
weak social support can lead to worse recovery. On the other hand, being connected to others
and being confident that you can handle the results of the disaster make mental health problems
less likely. Overall, human beings are resilient, and most survivors will recover from the disaster.
For those with higher risk factors, self-care and seeking help are recommended. To learn more
about coping after any kind of trauma, see Self-Care and Coping.

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CHAPTER 3
Ways to protect the people from disaster
Disaster precautions is important in preventing the loss of human lives and minimizing the
damage to property during the occurence of a natural disaster. In todays world, there are so many
types of natural disasters. In some cases, we cannot be able to take any precautions. So, safety
measures or precautions should be pre-planned before the disaster strikes. However, some of the
precautions to be taken before a natural disaster occurs are listed below :

1.The people should be sure that all breakalbes are stored safely, foodstuffs and water are
prepared and big items need are on the floor.

2.Green vegetations like trees surrounding houses should be pruned regularly or even cut down if
they are in state for damaging property if disturbed, for example wind .

3.Trustful information regarding natural disasters is always published on the news. Professionals
who relay information to the media always closely monitors volcanic eruptions and hurricanes .
Instructions and advice are also given on the emergency news as to how to prepare safe during
occurence of natural disasters.

4.In the event that the gas or electricity becomes hazardous,everybody should also familiarize
themselves with turning off the gas and electricity supply to their houses .

5.The originals or copies of valuable certiticates like bitrh certificates,marreage certificates,

passports, citizenship,etc should not be left behind in an eacuated house but always carried on
the person in the event that there is no return.

6. Learn how to shut off gas, water and electricity in case the lines are damaged.

7. If power is lost, turn off major appliances and keep refrigerators and freezers closed.

8. Check your home for cracks and damage, including the roof, chimneys and foundation.

We often forget what a real emergency is until we are reminded by a disaster such as a hurricane,
flood or fire. Emergencies and disasters can occur anytime, anywhere. Some are primarily
seasonal and allow for certain preparations; others occur swiftly and without warning.

Planning ahead and making provision for your family's needs can make a big difference in your
ability to cope with emergencies. Communications, transportation, utilities and other essential

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services could be disrupted by disasters, forcing you to rely initially on your own resources for
food, water, first aid, transportation, and shelter.

Following is general information from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for
personal and family emergency preparedness for a variety of natural and man-made disasters and
emergencies.

Be Informed

Your key to surviving any emergency is to be prepared for it. You can lessen an emergency's
impact by knowing what to do before, during, and after one occurs. Although our community
could be vulnerable to a variety of hazards, there are certain basic actions you can take now to
help you in any emergency.

· Learn to recognize the warning signals. Make sure you know what the signals
are, what they mean, how they will be used, and what you should do when
you hear them.

· Listen to local radio and television stations for forecasts and emergency
instructions. Post the dial/channel listings of these stations for easy access.

· Keep phone lines open to notify local authorities of fires, flash floods,
tornado sightings, injuries or damage. Do not use the telephone to obtain
emergency information.

· Learn your children's school and/or day care center emergency plans.

· Learn your worksite's emergency plans.

· Post all emergency plans/phone numbers in a prominent place.

· Learn your community's evacuation routes, as some hazards may force you to
leave your home. This is especially important for those in low-lying areas
where flood waters could make roads impassable.

· Learn first aid. Professional medical assistance may not be immediately

available.

Develop a Family Plan

Conduct family meetings and discuss hazards that may affect our area. Talk about what each
family member should do in each of these emergencies. Put the plan in writing and see that
everyone in the family has a copy. Parents should carefully explain safety rules to their children.

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· Teach family members about smoke detectors and how to maintain them.
Select a pre-designated place to meet outside if a sudden emergency like a fire
forces you out of the house. Conduct evacuation drills periodically.

· Go from room to room and imagine what would happen to furniture,

appliances, fixtures, and objects during disasters. Identify "safe" areas in each
room such as in doorways or under sturdy tables in earthquakes, or interior
bathrooms or closets on the lowest floor for tornadoes. Identify all potential
exits for each room. Check for frayed electrical cords or overloaded circuits.
Don't keep rags or paper goods near electrical equipment or flammable
materials.

· Teach responsible family members how to turn off the water, gas, and
electricity at main switches.

· Decide on an alternate location at which to meet if an emergency happens

while your family is away from the home and they cannot return.

· Select someone outside your immediate area to act as a central point of

contact for your relatives and friends who may try to call you following a
disaster, as you may not have telephone service. As soon as some means of
communication becomes available, get word of your situation to the contact
person.

Stockpile Food and Supplies

An emergency could isolate you in your home for several days. Make sure you have on hand at
least a five-day supply of food and water for each family member. Store water is sealed,
unbreakable containers.

Since refrigeration and cooking facilities may not be available, foods should be non-perishable
goods such as canned or sealed-package items. Rotate foods into your regular pantry supplies
and replace stored water every few months.

Other items you may want to keep stocked for emergency use:

· Special medicines or foods required by family members - such as insulin,

prescription medicines, baby food, or food required for special or limited
diets.

· Battery-powered radio and flashlight and extra batteries for each.

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· A first aid kit and manual. Your local fire department, rescue squad, or local
American Red Cross chapter can offer advice about items you should include
in your kit.

· Fire-fighting equipment to suppress small fires, including an all-purpose, 5-lb.

fire extinguisher (rated A-B-C).

· Fuel heating device. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure
there is adequate ventilation to avoid build-up of hazardous fumes.

Be Prepared to Evacuate

Keep a listing of family members' prescribed medications, giving generic names and prescribed
dosage. Also list the name and telephone number of your doctor. For those who rely on medical
devices such as a pacemaker, the style, serial number, and other pertinent information should be
carried with you at all times.

· Keep vital family records, such as mortgage papers, medical records,

insurance policies, birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, stock and bond
certificates, tax records, and other irreplaceable items in one central location
where they can easily be transported if you must leave the area quickly. Keep
all papers in a water- and fire-proof container.

· Since you may be advised to evacuate your home or workplace temporarily:

· Keep your car fueled.

· Listen to the radio or television for local emergency instructions. Follow the
instructions given. If you are advised to evacuate, do so promptly.

· Shut off your water, gas, or electricity as directed in an emergency.

· Use travel routes that are specified or recommended rather than trying to find
short-cuts of your own. This is especially important during flooding when
certain low-lying routes may become impassable.

· Once in a safer area, stay there until authorities tell you it is safe to return
home.

After the Emergency

Listen to local radio or television stations for continuing advisories on ways to help recover from
the emergency. Here is more advice to follow after an emergency:

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· Use extreme caution when entering buildings that may have been damaged by
the disaster. Buildings can collapse without warning.

· Check for leaking gas pipes in your home. Do this by Smell Only - don't use
matches or candles. If you smell gas 1) immediately open windows and doors;
2) turn off the main gas valve; 3) leave the house; 4) go to another location
and notify the gas company and/or fire department. Don't re-enter the house
until you are told it is safe to do so.

· If any of your electrical appliances are wet, first turn off the main power
switch in your house, then unplug the wet appliances, dry them out, and check
for visible damage. If none, reconnect the appliances and turn on the main
power switch. CAUTION Don't do any of these things while you are wet or
standing in water. If fuses blow when power is restored, turn off the main
power switch again and then inspect for short circuits in your home wiring,
appliances, and equipment. Call the utility company for help.

· Use only battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to examine your home for

damage, as flammables may be inside.

· Check food and water supplies before using them. Foods that require
refrigeration may be spoiled if electric power has been off for some time.
Don't eat fresh food that has come in contact with flood water. Be sure to
follow the broadcasted instructions concerning the use of food and water
supplies.

· Check to see that sewage lines are intact before flushing toilets.

· Report damaged water, sewage, and gas lines to the proper authorities.

· If you must use your car, drive carefully along streets and avoid debris. Avoid
loose, dangling, or broken wires, and report them to the fire department or
utility company.

· Don't visit the disaster area, as you may hamper rescue efforts.

· Notify your insurance agent or broker if your property was damaged.

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CHAPTER 4
International Organisation involved in disaster management

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in collaboration with the Inter-
Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is the arm of the United Nations responsible for bringing
together national and international humanitarian providers to ensure a coherent response to
emergencies. OCHA also ensures that a framework is in place within which each provider can
contribute to the overall response effort. It also advocates for people in need, promotes
preparedness and prevention and facilitates sustainable solutions.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) provides early warning of impending
food crises, and assesses global food supply problems.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental agency which helps
transfer refugees, internally displaced persons and others in need of internal or international
migration services.
The Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provides
assistance and advice to governments and other actors on human rights issues, sets standards and
monitors rights violations.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists disaster-prone countries in
contingency planning and with disaster mitigation, prevention and preparedness measures.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) provides international protection
and assistance for refugees, stateless persons and internally displaced persons, particularly in
conflict-related emergencies.

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The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works to uphold children’s rights,
survival, development and protection by intervening in health, education, water, sanitation,
hygiene and protection.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the principle supplier of relief food aid.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides global public health leadership by setting
standards, monitoring health trends, and providing direction on emergency health issues. WHO’s
role is to reduce avoidable loss of life and the burden of disease and disability. A range of
technical guidelines for health action in crises and pre-deployment training courses are available.
A set of technical hazard sheets on earthquakes, drought, floods and landslides, is also available.

Health Care in Danger project

Publications include the Responsibilities of health-care personnel working in armed conflict and
other emergencies and Ethical Principles of health care in times of armed conflict and other
emergencies which WCPT supports.
Health Care in Danger project: new e-learning module (November 2014). The module introduces
health personnel to the principles underpinning ethical considerations when working in conflict
situations and other emergencies. Using a multimedia interface, the module presents various
dilemmas that health personnel face every day. Users can explore these issues in depth by
interacting virtually with experts in the field, studying real-life issues, and receiving guidance
that helps them to make decisions in difficult situations.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world’s largest
humanitarian organization made up of 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The
International Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the
power of humanity.
The IFRC coordinates and directs international assistance to victims of natural and technological
disasters, to refugees and in health emergencies. It combines its relief activities with
development work to strengthen the capacities of National Societies and through them the
capacity of individual people. The IFRC acts as the official representative of its member
societies in the international field. It promotes cooperation between National Societies, and
works to strengthen their capacity to carry out effective disaster preparedness, health and social
programmes.

The International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a Swiss-based humanitarian
organisation and founding member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
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Movement(1863). It is mandated by the international community to be the guardian and

promoter of international humanitarian law, working around the world to provide assistance to
people affected by violence.
The ICRC provides physical rehabilitation to people injured by explosive weapons or other types
of incident. ICRC organises, in collaboration with WHO, the Health Emergencies in Large
Populations (HELP) course to upgrade professionalism in humanitarian assistance programmes.
The ICRC runs programmes to support the development of physical therapy education and
welcomes the involvement of individuals or physical therapy institutions in supporting these
developments. Opportunities are added to the working and studying abroad page of our website
The ICRC publication Health care in danger: the responsibilities of health-care personnel
working in armed conflicts and other emergencies provides guidance, in simple language, on
rights and responsibilities in conflict and other situations of violence for health personnel.

International non-governmental agencies

Leading international non-governmental agencies work through volunteers to fight poverty in
developing countries. Their strong role in development works side by side with the recovery
from a disaster and prevention and preparedness for any future disasters.
CARE is a humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's
community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access
to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE
also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild
their lives. CARE works alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources,
women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.
Handicap International works in partnership with local organisations and government
institutions. It raises awareness of both governments and the general public on disability and
landmine issues, mobilises civil society and implements action in emergency situations.
Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) is a network of health care professionals, organisations,
corporations and donors united in a common commitment to improving global health through
education. The website includes a volunteer toolkit and an informative newsletter Volunteer
Connection.
IMA World Health is an inter-church not-for-profit organisation based in the United States of
America, which partners with USAID, the World Bank and many other organisations to build
sustainable health care systems.
International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to
refugees forced to flee from war or disaster and provides emergency response by experienced
personnel for short-term assignments.

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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides medical services in emergency situations. It recruits
some physical therapists and other health professionals as well as physicians.
Oxfam is an international confederation of 14 organisations working together and with partners
and allies around the world to bring about lasting change. Oxfam works directly with
communities and seeks to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their
lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.
Rehabilitation International (RI) is a global network of expert professionals who work to
empower people with disabilities and provide sustainable solutions for a more inclusive and
accessible society. It advocates for inclusion of people with disabilities in climate change and
disaster management planning.

National organisations
Most nations have a national disaster management plan. National disaster management plans are
aligned to the most commonly experienced disasters in that country or region and the resources
available. Look at the disaster management plan for your country and region. Links to the
national disaster management plan for Australia and India are provided here as examples.
Government funded aid programmes coordinate national responses to disasters in another
country. They may also run development projects that support countries in the recovery
following a disaster.

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CONCLUSION
The United Nations defines a disaster as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community
or a society. Disasters involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts,
which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies define disaster management as the organisation and
management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of
emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of
disasters.

Types of disasters
There is no country that is immune from disaster, though vulnerability to disaster varies. There
are four main types of disaster.

 Natural disasters: including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions that
have immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death
and suffering from (for example) floods, landslides, fires, tsunamis.
 Environmental emergencies: including technological or industrial accidents, usually
involving the production, use or transportation of hazardous material, and occur where
these materials are produced, used or transported, and forest fires caused by humans.
 Complex emergencies: involving a break-down of authority, looting and attacks on
strategic installations, including conflict situations and war.
 Pandemic emergencies: involving a sudden onset of contagious disease that affects
health, disrupts services and businesses, brings economic and social costs.
Any disaster can interrupt essential services, such as health care, electricity, water,
sewage/garbage removal, transportation and communications. The interruption can seriously
affect the health, social and economic networks of local communities and countries. Disasters
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have a major and long-lasting impact on people long after the immediate effect has been
mitigated. Poorly planned relief activities can have a significant negative impact not only on the
disaster victims but also on donors and relief agencies. So it is important that physical therapists
join established programmes rather than attempting individual efforts.
Local, regional, national and international organisations are all involved in mounting a
humanitarian response to disasters. Each will have a prepared disaster management plan. These
plans cover prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery.

Disaster prevention
These are activities designed to provide permanent protection from disasters. Not all disasters,
particularly natural disasters, can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be
mitigated with good evacuation plans, environmental planning and design standards. In January
2005, 168 Governments adopted a 10-year global plan for natural disaster risk reduction called
the Hyogo Framework. It offers guiding principles, priorities for action, and practical means for
achieving disaster resilience for vulnerable communities.

Disaster preparedness
These activities are designed to minimise loss of life and damage – for example by removing
people and property from a threatened location and by facilitating timely and effective rescue,
relief and rehabilitation. Preparedness is the main way of reducing the impact of disasters.
Community-based preparedness and management should be a high priority in physical therapy
practice management.

Disaster relief
This is a coordinated multi-agency response to reduce the impact of a disaster and its long-term
results. Relief activities include rescue, relocation, providing food and water, preventing disease
and disability, repairing vital services such as telecommunications and transport, providing
temporary shelter and emergency health care.

Disaster recovery
Once emergency needs have been met and the initial crisis is over, the people affected and the
communities that support them are still vulnerable. Recovery activities include rebuilding
infrastructure, health care and rehabilitation. These should blend with development activities,
such as building human resources for health and developing policies and practices to avoid
similar situations in future.
Disaster management is linked with sustainable development, particularly in relation to
vulnerable people such as those with disabilities, elderly people, children and other marginalised
groups. Health Volunteers Overseas publications address some of the common
misunderstandings about disaster management.
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