Urban Rural Development Plan: Interface between the IUDF and Disaster Management

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1 Urban Rural Development Plan: Interface between the IUDF and Disaster Management Jurgens Dyssel 01 February 2018

2 Presentation Outline 1. Disaster risk context of SA 2. Impact of urbanisation on SA s disaster risk profile 3. Global approach to building urban resilience through the Ten Essentials for making cities resilient 4. Some key measures to support implementation of the IUDF 5. Concluding remarks 2

3 Disaster risk context of SA SA shares boundaries with six countries, four to the north i.e. Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and two effectively landlocked within i.e. Swaziland and the Kingdom of Lesotho. Disaster risks in SA are inextricably linked to risks within the six neighbouring countries and the broader SADC region. A 2011 study by the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) revealed that SA faces a wide-range of natural and anthropogenic hazards which include droughts, floods, dam failures, urban and rural fires, mining-induced earthquakes and sinkholes, epidemics, large scale transportation accidents, and spillages of hazardous waste that could potentially lead to disaster events. This study revealed that most frequently occurring disasters are as a result of impacts of these hazards: floods, droughts and veldfires (in order of frequency). 3

4 Impact of urbanisation on SA s disaster risk profile Within the South African context, urbanisation is one of the key drivers of disaster risks. Urbanisation also results in the increase of informal settlements often located in hazard prone areas. The NDP acknowledged that due to a variety of socio-economic factors including lack of affordable land and proximity to income-generating opportunities, most incoming migrants can only afford to live in informal settlements which are largely unsafe and un-serviced. The vulnerability of migrants to disasters is magnified by their lack of cultural, social and economic capital which is essential for anticipating, coping and recovering from disasters. 4

5 Impact of urbanisation on SA s disaster risk profile Flooding is one of the hazards that urbanisation has accentuated. Occupation of floodplains and lack of attention to waste management and to the construction and maintenance of drainage channels are also aggravating the flood problem in urban areas. The growing rural-urban interface is also magnifying the veldfire risks in the country. Fires remains a key challenge facing communities in informal settlements Tenure insecurity also compound vulnerability of the poor as they face constant risk of eviction which hampers investments in DRR. 5

6 Global approach to building urban resilience through the Ten Essentials for making cities resilient These Essentials were developed in order to accelerate implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR ( ) at local level. Essential 1: Organise for Disaster Resilience, o Establish and strengthen the local level institutional and coordination capacity; Build alliances and networks, etc Essential 2: Identify, Understand and Use Current and Future Risk Scenarios o Identify the most probable and most severe (worst-case) scenarios. Essential 3: Strengthen Financial Capacity for Resilience o Ensure a budget for resilience 6

7 Global approach to building urban resilience through the Ten Essentials for making cities resilient Essential 4: Pursue Resilient Urban Development and Design o Place urban planning and land-use management at the core of urban resilience. o Conduct systemic and specific vulnerabilities mapping especially in Informal Settlements. Essential 5: Safeguard Natural Buffers to Enhance Ecosystems Protective Functions o Raise awareness of the impacts of environmental change and degradation of ecosystem on disaster risk. 7

8 Key lessons from the Ten Essentials for building resilient cities Essential 6: Strengthen Institutional Capacity for Resilience o Identify the specific nature of each vulnerability and map against the respective institution(s) Essential 7: Understand and Strengthen Societal Capacity for Resilience o Integrate disaster risk reduction and resilience into formal education and other orientation programs Essential 8: Increase Infrastructure Resilience; Essential 9: Ensure Effective Disaster Response Essential 10: Expedite Recovery and Build Back Better 8

9 Some key measures to support the implementation of the IUDF Integration of urban risks concerns in multi-sectoral planning and development initiatives. Enforcing building regulations and land-use principles. Reducing disaster risks through community education that seeks to change behaviour of communities towards hazards and disaster risks. Reducing disaster risks (fires) through installation of smoke alarms, removal of unsafe and non-compliant paraffin stoves, etc. Build capacity of disaster management centres and fire services in urban areas to enable them to better respond to growing risks prevalent in their areas. Integration of DRR measures in long-term strategic planning initiatives 9

10 Concluding remarks Building urban resilience is a multi-sectoral initiative. Adequate allocation of resources to municipal disaster management centres and fire services is critical for the effective management of urban risks. Establishment of DRR focal points at key sectors involved in urban risk management i.e. Human Settlements, Infrastructure Development, etc. Preparation of disaster risk management plans by key sectors operating in urban areas. Community education is critical to change behaviour of communities towards hazards. 10

11 Thank You!