Disaster and Conflict Management

Disaster studies and the practice of disaster risk reduction (DRR) have long recognized the social construction of disasters and the political dimensions of disaster risk. But too often the discipline of natural hazard-related disasters (‘disasters’) – both academic and practitioner in origin – fails to systematically consider conflict, treats conflict as an externality or avoids any meaningful reference to it altogether. Efforts to raise awareness that those most vulnerable to natural hazards also live in contexts affected by conflict and fragility, and critical insights into the disaster–conflict interface by academics, have had limited traction in shifting the political discourse, practical approaches or the focus of disaster research. Within disaster studies, much of the literature on the intersection of disasters and conflict starts with an individual hazard event and explores how disaster impacts affect dynamics of peace and conflict: whether increasing the intensity of conflict or leading to peaceful resolution. Even in studies that conceptualize disasters as a product of their environment, when researching disasters in conflict contexts there is a tendency to revert to treating the disaster event as an externality to the conditions of conflict. Although a wealth of literature explores different aspects of conflict, and even the disaster–conflict interface, from other sectors, paradigms or disciplines – such as food and livelihood security, foreign policy and complex political emergencies – hazards, threats and risks are conceptualized in ways which do not speak directly to those concerned with the study, policy or practice of DRR.

In this course, we will look at the disaster-management processes, paying close attention to the basic disaster types, tools, methods, and insights to help you quickly learn how it involves both logic and emotion. When you complete the course, you will have practical tools to quickly determine the type of disaster you are trying to manage, the available tools and methods you may use, and the way to effectively engage your teams in the process.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

• Define Disaster management and explain its function in society;
• Explain Conflict management
• Describe Disaster-Management in Organizational framework

Course Curriculum