Rebuilding and strengthening health systems and providing basic health services in fragile states

The international community has compelling humanitarian, political, security and economic reasons to engage in rebuilding and strengthening health systems in fragile states. Improvements in health services and systems help to strengthen civil society and to restore legitimacy to governments. Effective engagement with fragile states to inform the design of health programmes and selection of interventions depends on donor coordination and an understanding of health system challenges. Planning requires consideration of allocation (services to be delivered), production (organisation of services), distribution (beneficiaries of services) and financing. The criteria for selecting interventions are: their impact on major health problems; effectiveness; the possibility of scale-up; equity; and sustainability. There are various options for financing and models of engagement, but support should always combine short-term relief with longer-term development. Stakeholders should aim not only to save lives and protect health but also to bolster nations' ability to deliver good-quality services in the long run.     

Extreme weather events and related disasters in the Philippines, 2004–08: a sign of what climate change will mean?

Being an archipelagic nation, the Philippines is susceptible and vulnerable to the ill-effects of weather-related hazards. Extreme weather events, which include tropical cyclones, monsoon rains and dry spells, have triggered hazards (such as floods and landslides) that have turned into disasters. Financial resources that were meant for development and social services have had to be diverted in response, addressing the destruction caused by calamities that beset different regions of the country. Changing climatic patterns and weather-related occurrences over the past five years (2004-08) may serve as an indicator of what climate change will mean for the country. Early recognition of this possibility and the implementation of appropriate action and measures, through disaster risk management, are important if loss of life and property is to be minimised, if not totally eradicated. This is a matter of urgent concern given the geographical location and geological characteristics of the Philippines.     

Epidemiology of tornado destruction in rural northern Bangladesh: risk factors for death and injury

The epidemiology of tornado-related disasters in the developing world is poorly understood. An August 2005 post-tornado cohort study in rural Bangladesh identified elevated levels of death and injury among the elderly (≥ 60 years of age) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 8.9 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI): 3.9-20.2) and AOR = 1.6 (95 per cent CI: 1.4-1.8), respectively), as compared to 15-24 year-olds, and among those outdoors versus indoors during the tornado (AOR = 10.4 (95 per cent CI: 5.5-19.9) and AOR = 6.6 (95 per cent CI: 5.8-7.5), respectively). Females were 1.24 times (95 per cent CI: 1.15-1.33) more likely to be injured than males. Elevated risk of injury was significantly associated with structural damage to the house and tin construction materials. Seeking treatment was protective against death among the injured, odds ratio = 0.08 (95 per cent CI: 0.03-0.21). Further research is needed to develop injury prevention strategies and to address disparities in risk between age groups and between men and women.     

城市风暴潮灾害快速评估的模糊决策方法——以厦门市为例

综合考虑了反映风暴潮灾害的自然特征和社会属性的4个指标,将其作为评估指标,建立了基于模糊决策的风暴潮发生过程中城市灾害的快速评估模型,并以街道为最小评估单元,对厦门市进行了一次模拟风暴潮的灾害综合快速评估。由于模型考虑了少量具有代表性的因素,故能保证评估过程的快速性、评估结果的时效性,能为政府在有限的时间和资源下做出救灾减灾的优先工作策略提供决策依据。     

Facilitating disaster preparedness through local radio broadcasting

The 2008 Disaster Mitigation Preparedness (DMP) study took place in Aceh province, Indonesia. It sought to help develop radio programmes and messages to increase resilience to disasters. The role of radio was evaluated during and after the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster. The study team interviewed 984 tsunami survivors from nine sub-districts of Banda Aceh, and local nongovernmental organisations convened eight focus groups around the area of Aceh Besar. Six key informant interviews were held with government disaster management agencies. The DMP survey is the first of its kind to interview a representative random sample of Banda Aceh residents. It reveals the importance of community and social networks, during disaster situations, when essential communications are down. A disaster warning information system based on a multi-media approach needs to be developed. The wider community should be involved in the planning, education and training of Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar residents to facilitate appropriate personal and community survival strategies.     

农村社区自然灾害应急演练方法的初步研究——以四川省广元市马口村自然灾害应急演练为例

通过对2009年11月12日在四川省广元市三堆镇马口村举行的自然灾害应急演练进行初步的分析研究,总结出了从前期准备、正式实施到演练评估的农村社区自然灾害应急演练基本流程和方法。在马口村自然灾害应急演练的前期准备阶段,根据当地实际情况选择了滑坡、泥石流为演练的自然灾害背景,制定了3级响应演练模式,并细化了各级响应的启动标准。在演练的正式实施阶段,采用了参与式的演练方案设计方法,充分调动了当地群众的积极性。演练结束后在现场发放调查问卷,对演练进行了多方面、多角度的评估,演练基本达到了预定目标。     

昆明市东川区农业旱灾风险区识别研究

昆明市东川区是云南省农业旱灾危害较为严重的区域之一。利用2000-2007年东川区各乡镇历史灾情等数据资料,应用风险分析理论、效用理论、因子-成份分析方法等理论方法,在分别研究致灾风险度、承灾体易损性及地域人群对农业旱灾心理反响等基础上,构建了东川区农业旱灾风险评价模型。初步揭示出东川区农业旱灾风险度呈现出自南向北、自西向东逐渐增强的空间态势;识别出极高风险区、高风险区、中风险区和低风险区等4个农业旱灾风险区;发现东川区各地农业旱灾综合风险度、致灾风险度、承灾体易损度以及地域人群对旱灾的心理响应值等指数之间普遍存在着明显的正相关。     

基于灾害系统的中国南北方雪灾对比研究——以2008年南方冰冻雨雪灾害和2009年北方暴雪灾害为例

基于2008年中国南方低温雨雪冰冻灾害和2009年北方暴雪灾害典型雪灾案例,确定了这两场雪灾影响范围.从区域致灾因子、孕灾环境、承灾体和灾情等方面进行灾害系统对比分析,结果表明:南北方雪灾受灾区域覆盖面积广,重灾区前者为南岭地区,后者为华北平原中部;两场雪灾范围叠加区为南北方过渡地带.南北方雪灾均呈链发式,前者以"雨雪...     

内蒙古中西部地区土壤紧实度初步研究

沙尘暴的发生与沙尘暴源地的下垫面状况密不可分,下垫面要素中土壤紧实度等地表状况指标是沙尘暴灾害下垫面因子的危险度研究的重要内容。选取沙尘暴源地的内蒙古中西部地区为研究区域,于2004年4月进行了土壤紧实度实地采样,对获取的36个采样点的数据进行了统计分析,发现在不同的植被覆盖类型下,地表的土壤紧实度值具有明显的分异特征和分布范围。以1∶10万的内蒙古土地利用类型图为依托进行重分类,对研究区域的土壤紧实度值进行空间上的了反演。并通过2009年第二次实地采样对该反演的精度进行了验证,排除干扰因素后,发现土壤紧实度的反演结果良好,因此可以获得空间范围上土壤紧实度的一个粗略范围值。研究结果可为日后进行土壤紧实度对沙尘暴的影响和贡献等级划分以及沙尘暴下垫面脆弱性风险评估和区划提供数据支持。     

应对重大灾害的轴辐式应急物资储备网络体系

分析了应对重大灾害的应急物资需求的特点和我国现有应急物资储备体系的现状和不足,基于轴辐网络优势,构建了轴辐式应急物资储备网络体系,分析了应急轴辐网络储备体系运行的四个阶段,同时提出了建立轴辐式应急物资储备网络相关具体措施建议,实现中央和地方应急储备库物资、各职能部门储备物资、军队物资、各社会团体储备物资、国内外捐助物资以及企业物资生产能力储备等专业应急物资储备和社会应急物资储备的有效整合,以有助于在较短时间内积聚大量应急物资,扩大应急物资的服务辐射范围,提高应急物资调度效率,以有效应对各类重大灾害。