The terms defined by the United Nations
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in the handbook on
terminology (UNISDR2009) or in UNISDR’s proposed updates to terminology (UNISDR2015b).
Disasters
The UNISDR (2009) defines disaster as:
“A serious disruption of the functioning
of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community
or society to cope using its own resources.”
UNISDR considers disaster to be a result
of the combination of many factors such as the exposure to hazards, the
conditions of vulnerability that are present, and insufficient capacity or
measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. Disaster
impacts may include loss of life, injuries, disease and other negative effects
on human physical, mental and social well-being, together with damage to
property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic
disruption and environmental degradation.
The DM Act 2005 uses the following
definition for disaster:
"Disaster" means a
catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from
natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in
substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of,
property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature
or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the
affected area.”
Disaster
Management
The UNISDR defines disaster risk
management as the systematic process of using administrative decisions,
organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies,
strategies and coping capacities of the society and communities to lessen the
impacts of natural hazards and related environmental and technological
disasters. This comprises of all forms of activities, including structural and
non-structural measures to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and
preparedness) adverse effects of hazards. A definition for the term ‘Disaster
Management’ is not included in the UNISDR’s
handbook of terminology. However, the proposed, but not yet adopted,
‘Updated Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction’ of UNISDR3 has proposed the
following definition for the term Disaster Management (UNISDR 2015b):
“The organization, planning and
application of measures preparing for, responding to and, initial recovery from
disasters.” As per this definition, ‘Disaster Management’ focuses on creating
and implementing preparedness and others plans to decrease the impact of
disasters and build back better. Failure to create/apply a plan could result in
damage to life, assets and lost revenue. However, it may not completely avert
or
eliminate the threats. The term Disaster
Management as used in the NPDM 2009 and the DM Act 2005 document is
comprehensive covering all aspects – disaster risk reduction, disaster risk
management, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and post-disaster
recovery. This document uses the term with the same meaning as defined in the
DM Act 2005: “A continuous and integrated process of planning, organising,
coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary or expedient"
for the following: 1) Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster, 2)
Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or
consequences, 3) Capacity-building, 4) Preparedness to deal with any disaster,
5) Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster, 6)
Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster 7) Evacuation,
rescue and relief, and 8) Rehabilitation and reconstruction.”
Disaster
Risk Reduction (Mitigation)
Disaster Risk Reduction, as per UNISDR,
consists of a framework of elements that will help to minimize vulnerabilities
and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit
(mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad
context of sustainable development.