Fragility is a crucial aspect of Disaster Risk Reduction, because people living in the context of fragility, conflict, and violence are most vulnerable. To handle this context better, not only the disasters must be kept in mind but also risk drivers like climate change or urbanization. These participants from different backgrounds like research or policy will discuss this topic, for example:

• Kassem Chaalan (Lebanese Red Cross, Director Disaster Risk Reduction)
• Caitlin Sturridge (Overseas Development Institute, Senior Research Fellow)
• Martin Ras (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Programme Management Officer)

Dr. Diana Mantel

Ras starts with first results about the progress of the Sendai Targets in different countries. “It is important to look deeper into the data of these countries”, explains Ras. Some countries, for example, didn’t send data. Most of the funding goes to the not fragile situations, as Ras emphasizes. Another problem is that countries with fragile or extremely fragile situations get less funding.

Caitlin Sturridge gives more insights from Cabo Delgado Province Mozambique. “Understanding disaster risk requires us to not only consider to heal our exposure and vulnerability but also society’s capacity to protect itself from disasters.” The ability to resist, absorb, accommodate and recover is defined as resilience. Often, there are misconceptions about people suffering in crises, like staying passive, while they are often extremely good at adapting to the circumstances. Some recommendations here are a transition from food-based aid to cash transfers so that existing strategies can be built. Labels like “passive”, “victim” or “beneficiary” should not be used often or at all, and think of longer-term development assistance that promotes livelihoods and job opportunities.

Dr. Diana Mantel