Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and

Recovery

SANDESH C H
SARATH KRISHNAN
SHIHAB K MARAKKAR
SIVAKUMAR A R

INTRODUCTION

Post-disaster rehabilitation and

recovery encompass support strategies
that are geared towards the restoration
of human-centered services and
infrastructure, as well as the restoration
of the physical and ecological integrity
of the affected ecosystem

OBJECTIVES
1. Understand that disaster management
should allow for improvement in order to
increase the resilience of human and ecological
systems.

2. Learn various concepts and guidelines in

post-disaster recovery and identify dangerous
assumptions that can hamper and dampen
rehabilitation efforts.

3. Specify and prioritize appropriate

rehabilitation and recovery strategies for
various disaster scenarios that will enable
human and biological communities to recover
and increase their resilience to future climatic

STEPS FOR POST RECOVERY

Assessment

The first step after stabilizing the situation by

providing sufficient relief is to assess the
damage.A meticulously executed assessment
exercise would provide an ideal base for the
rehabilitation efforts. This exercise is best carried
out through multi-disciplinary teams which go
into all aspects of damage (social, economical,
psychological) in participation with the local
community
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Co-ordination

6.5.1 Following any major disaster, a number of

players arrive on the scene and as already

stated, ensuring proper coordination amongst

them thus becomes very important. Recovery

activities are taken up by government agencies,

local bodies, international agencies, voluntary

organizations and others, through separate,

overlapping and uncoordinated interventions.
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Shelter

Shelter is one of the most visible and immediate

needs in post-crisis settings. Relief efforts are
often focused on providing shelter quickly,
without taking into account the impact of short
term shelter strategies. Long-term shelter
strategies help not only to focus on
determination and implementation of realistic
and permanent reconstruction plans for the
affected communities, but are also concerned
with rebuilding community confidence and
support structure for civic responsibility and
urban governance
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Accountability

A system of accountability needs to be evolved

during the relief and rehabilitation phase. This
system should ensure that the relief material
reaches the target groups and that the funds are
being utilized efficiently and optimally. A
grievance redressed mechanism should also be
put in place

Evaluation

After the recovery phase, it is necessary to

conduct a detailed evaluation of all aspects of
crisis management. This should bring out the
strengths and weaknesses of the disaster
management machinery and also provide the
basis for future improvements. Such an
evaluation should be carried out by an
independent professional agency like the NIDM,
in all major disasters. This assessment should
also include a quick audit of the expenditure
incurred
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RECONSTRUCTION PHASE
Reconstruction is a much longer-term activity
that will involve permanent rebuilding,
improved infrastructure, and recovery with
enhanced preparation for the next climate
change-related event. It should aim to build
a better standard than what existed before
(build back better principle) and be guided
by the ecosystem approach to recovery and
rehabilitation.

(a) The short term focus of the reconstruction

programme was to address the immediate needs
such as temporary shelters before the onset of
the monsoon, debris removal, repair of houses
and public buildings and emergency repair of
irrigation structures.
(b) The medium term objectives of the programme
emphasized the repair and reconstruction of
houses, public infrastructure, and social
infrastructure and initiating efforts towards
disaster mitigation and reduction.
(c) The long term objective of the reconstruction
programme was further strengthening

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Measures to rehabilitate human communities and

natural ecosystems are critical in post-disaster
situations in order to support human lives and
sustain the delivery of ecosystem goods and
services such as food, fuel and protection from
natural events. A key concept here is climateresilient recovery (CRR) where communities
are not only provided with assistance to
recover from climatic change events but are
also equipped to deal with future disasters
better

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Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration encompasses intentional
human interventions that are aimed to assist the
recovery of ecosystems and habitats after
disturbance or damage. Recovery is reckoned to
have been achieved when the system contains
sufficient living (e.g., microbial, animal and plant
life) and non-living (e.g., soil, water, air)
components that will allow development without
further intervention or subsidy (SER 2004).
Restoration can promote the preservation of the
biodiversity of the ecosystem, conservation of
endemic and indigenous species, and the
sustainable management of the ecosystem.

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Incorporation of Indigenous Ideas and

Practices

Traditional and local conceptions (or

misconceptions?), technology and practices may
either hamper or enhance disaster management
efforts. Regardless of their effects, it is important
that they should be taken into consideration and
respected at all times. And, if beneficial, these
might even be useful to be developed further and
then integrate in pre- and post-disaster
planning .

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THANK YOU

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