From disaster relief to disaster risk reduction: a consideration of the evolving international relief mechanism
Abstract
Disaster risk reduction is an ever-growing concept and finds its application within
various disciplines. This article investigates the development of disaster risk reduction
and some of the most important aspects which shaped it. The early years of international
disaster relief are discussed and it is shown how a change in this system was necessitated
by a variety of factors and international disasters, which exposed its weakness. The
article argues that disaster relief and development aid were inextricably linked and it is
this linkage which provided a catalyst for questioning the manner in which relief, and
development assistance, were provided. The later emphasis on disaster preparedness
and management is discussed, and international policies and mechanisms, which
contributed to a gradual shift in focus towards disaster risk reduction, enjoy attention.
The article concludes that solutions to disaster risks lie within a rigorous transdisciplinary
focus.
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