PHLT611: Special Issues in Public Health – I
Unit 05: Disaster Management: Natural and Manmade Disaster – Pre, Post
Preparedness.
Disaster, as defined by the United Nations, is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or
society, which involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts that exceed
the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources . Disaster management
is how we deal with the human, material, economic or environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the
process of how we “prepare for, respond to and learn from the effects of major failures” . Though often
caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. According to the International Federation of Red
Cross & Red Crescent Societies a disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people. The
combination of hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative consequences of
risk results in disaster.
(VULNERABILITY+ HAZARD ) / CAPACITY = DISASTER
Natural disasters and armed conflict have marked human existence throughout history and have always
caused peaks in mortality and morbidity. This article examines the advances in the humanitarian
response to public health over the past fifty years and the challenges currently faced in managing
natural disasters and armed conflict.
Types of Disaster
Natural Disasters
According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies Natural Disasters are
naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events that have
immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering. These
disasters can be:
• Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic Activity)
• Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and Floods)
• Climatological (e.g. Extreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)
• Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges)
• Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues)
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction characterises Natural Disasters in relation to
their magnitude or intensity, speed of onset, duration and area of extent e.g. earthquakes are of short
duration and usually affect a relatively small region whereas droughts are slow to develop and fade
away and often affect large regions ].
Man-Made Disasters
Man-Made Disasters as viewed by the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies
are events that are caused by humans which occur in or close to human settlements often caused as a
result of Environmental or Technological Emergencies. This can include:
Unit 05: Disaster Management: Natural and Manmade Disaster – Pre, Post
Preparedness.
Disaster, as defined by the United Nations, is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or
society, which involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts that exceed
the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources . Disaster management
is how we deal with the human, material, economic or environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the
process of how we “prepare for, respond to and learn from the effects of major failures” . Though often
caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. According to the International Federation of Red
Cross & Red Crescent Societies a disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people. The
combination of hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative consequences of
risk results in disaster.
(VULNERABILITY+ HAZARD ) / CAPACITY = DISASTER
Natural disasters and armed conflict have marked human existence throughout history and have always
caused peaks in mortality and morbidity. This article examines the advances in the humanitarian
response to public health over the past fifty years and the challenges currently faced in managing
natural disasters and armed conflict.
Types of Disaster
Natural Disasters
According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies Natural Disasters are
naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events that have
immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering. These
disasters can be:
• Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic Activity)
• Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and Floods)
• Climatological (e.g. Extreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)
• Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges)
• Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues)
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction characterises Natural Disasters in relation to
their magnitude or intensity, speed of onset, duration and area of extent e.g. earthquakes are of short
duration and usually affect a relatively small region whereas droughts are slow to develop and fade
away and often affect large regions ].
Man-Made Disasters
Man-Made Disasters as viewed by the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies
are events that are caused by humans which occur in or close to human settlements often caused as a
result of Environmental or Technological Emergencies. This can include:
