Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Introduce by briefly writing India’s interest in creating a regional framework for disaster management in the region.
• Discuss the vulnerability of the South Asia region to various disasters.
• Suggest some solution as a way forward.
• Conclude suitably on a positive note.

Introduction

• South Asia is exposed to a variety of hazards due to the geo-climatic characteristics of the region.
• From a development perspective disaster management is vital for building a more equitable and sustainable future. Making investments in prevention and preparedness is a necessary part of systematic efforts to increase resilience to disaster.
• A regional framework can help India and other regional countries to lift the social-economic conditions of their people. It can also help India build good relations with its neighbours.

Body

Vulnerability of the South Asia region to various disasters

• South Asia’s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability, makes it one of the most disaster prone regions in the world.
  
  • South Asian countries are typically marked by large populations, high poverty, low literacy and poor indicators of human development.
  • Poverty is widespread especially in the rural areas of Indian sub-continent.
• Climate Change: The monsoon carries more than 70% of South Asia’s annual precipitation in a brief four-month period.
  
  • A poorly timed monsoon, can result in human suffering and economic loss due to either flooding or drought.
  • Cyclones are the second most commonly occurring hazard in the region.
  • Climate change has a direct effect on the monsoon pattern and cyclones occurrences in the region.
• Active Seismic Zones: The world‘s youngest mountain belt, the Himalaya and Hindu Kush, envelopes South Asia all along its northern fringe, from Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east.
  
  • With over 600 million people living along the fault line across the Himalayan belt, where the earthquake exposure is very high.
• Tsunami Challenge: In the South Asia Seas region, major population centers live on key fault lines and in coastal areas that are exposed to hazards like Tsunami in 2004.
• Lack of Coordination: Ineffective regional disaster relief mechanisms result in an uncoordinated relief effort which hampers disaster recovery process.

Way Forward

• Utilising existing Regional Disaster Relief Mechanisms in the South Asia region.
  
  • Institutions such as SAARC institutions (SAARC Disaster Management Centre, South Asia Rapid Response to Natural Disasters), Bimstec Centre for Weather and Climate can be utilised effectively.
• Risk Identification: Any effective strategy to manage disaster risk must begin with an identification of the factors that cause disasters.
  
  • Hazard mapping of the region will serve as the base layer of information and provides data on the probability of occurrence and intensity of a hazard event.
• Risk Mitigation: Reducing disaster risk calls for all stakeholders to alter their perceptions and prioritize resilience in a country’s planning and development efforts.
  
  • In this context, SAR should devise and implement a regional disaster risk reduction mechanism based on Sendai Framework.

Conclusion

• With climate uncertainty, humanitarian emergencies in the South Asia region are poised to grow. India must invest in regional frameworks for disaster management and take the lead in setting up a road map for greater cooperation.
• Building capacities through training and joint exercises and coordinating comparative advantages for collective action will help India leverage goodwill among its neighbours through its disaster relief programmes.