Essay – Rehabilitation and reconstruction of post-natural disasters
Rehabilitation and reconstruction of post-natural disasters Essay: Rehabilitation ad reconstruction are two valuable measures for the recovery stage after any natural disaster. The activities included in reconstruction and rehabilitation aim at long term recovery and provide utmost protection. Disaster management is the primary stage to prevent the effects of natural calamity where both the government and non-government agencies cooperate and contribute funds. Volunteer communities and self-help groups come ahead to make disaster recovery and disaster response fast. It has to be aimed that the reconstruction and rehabilitation measures must be development oriented. To meet the goals of reconstruction and rehabilitation the relationship between this two components should be understood first. It explains the arising issues by natural disaster. The concept and principles of reconstruction and rehabilitation make the recovery process faster.
Importance of rehabilitation and reconstruction:
Disaster recovery comes under disaster management cycle which includes disaster response and overall development. It is achievable with long-term strategic plan and functions for implementing disaster recovery programme. Rehabilitation and reconstruction are integral part of recovery as connects response and long term development. Rehabilitation means creating local services as per the needs of immediate action. It involves actions like building volunteering groups, repairing physical damage, revive economic facilities, restore community facilities, provide food and shelter, provide social and psychological support to the survivors.
Reconstruction explains long-term developmental goals to help people of the affected areas in building their houses, meeting their basic needs, financial assistance etc. it also includes measures for reducing the risks and effects of any future disaster. Rehabilitation may not necessarily restores the damaged resources in its previous form. It can arrange initiatives for temporary protection of infrastructure for providing security. For example, telegraph wires are broken in hurricane when rehabilitation will take immediate action of fixing it earlier to continue emergency services. But reconstruction measure will be installing more upgraded and strong telegraph wires with less risks of destruction in any future natural disaster. Reconstruction must be with long-term developmental goals to reduce future risks by availing all facilities. It is not possible to return previous stage through reconstruction and rehabilitation after disaster. There are several factors to consider in the recovery plan of reconstruction and rehabilitation after disaster which are social, political, economic and cultural.
Measures taken for rehabilitation:
Physical rehabilitation includes reconstruction of infrastructure like houses, buildings, railway tracks, water supply, communication, telecommunication, roads, electricity, network etc. it also includes strategies in water management, irrigation system, canal irrigation, crop stabilisation, crop production techniques, employment opportunities and social protection. Social rehabilitation is important part of disaster recovery which reflect community function and it is ignored in recovery plans mostly. Disaster affects people of all age groups like children, young adults, and old age persons etc. who become vulnerable after disaster and require adequate support. Family support system often breaks down due to lose of life and resources. For this part community support groups, day care centres, volunteer groups, old age homes, anganwadi etc. are vital parts of social rehabilitation. The psychological trauma of losing close ones in disaster affect people much deeply which leaves scars in their hearts. It is important to create psychological and social support programmes within rehabilitation plan.
Measures taken for reconstruction:
Reconstruction means not only constructing material things but also uplifting social and economic turmoil. Reconstruction takes away long-term development goals in any form of reforming like social, environmental, psychological and physical. Within reconstruction plan there will be development in infrastructure, improving social and psychological stage of people, creating long term job goals, more employment opportunities which will bring benefits. The benefits of reconstruction are aimed at bringing long term developmental goals in any sphere within the lives of affected people. Like building strong infrastructure which can protect natural disaster at higher level. People become mentally and economically strong to cope any consequences and face difficulties after natural disaster.
Conclusion:
Both reconstruction and rehabilitation are important parts of providing recovery plan after natural disaster. Rehabilitation provides immediate help and support for any issue whereas reconstruction calls long term goals in any part of destruction. Besides any development of material things people’s social and psychological need should also be met for giving them fast recovery. It often affects people for long time to lose their friends, family members, wealth and resources. In that stage, they need moral and psychological help to cope with the situation and recover from that trauma in near future.
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