In the aftermath of the Qa'yamat:¹ the Kashmir earthquake disaster in northern Pakistan

Abstract

This article explores the local impact of the catastrophic earthquake in northern Pakistan on 8 October 2005. Drawing on field research, including interviews with 40 earthquake survivors, the post-disaster analysis presented here focuses upon risk awareness and the reactions of respondents to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that devastated areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir State, and North-West Frontier Province. The analysis provides insights into local perceptions of seismic hazard and exposure as well as survivors' priorities with regard to rebuilding and reconstruction. The article suggests that the tragedy of the devastating earthquake is entangled in a deeper knot of causal factors that are social, economic and political in nature. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, changing building styles, environmental degradation and lack of preparedness and mitigation are associated with the circumstances that place the population at risk. Remarks concerning present and future risk reduction efforts are included.

Natural Disasters and Political Engagement: Evidence from the 2010–11 Pakistani Floods

“…Such volunteerism was not unique to the 2010 flood; rather, it is a common feature in Pakistan's domestic response to major disasters. Halvorson and Hamilton (2010), for example, document extremely high levels of volunteerism following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. 9…”

Re-conceptualising “Building Back Better” to improve post-disaster recovery

“…Haigh et al (2009) identified the need for legislation to also be simplified and streamlined to assist recovery operations and reduce delays. The creation of national policies for employment creation (Boano, 2009) and resettlement (Frerks andKlem, 2005, GoSL, 2005b) Haigh et al (2009) and Halvorson and Hamilton (2010) also stress the importance of monitoring and evaluating recovery efforts and producing future recovery plans to create a resilient community who has the knowledge and resources to respond to a future disaster event.…”

“…Wisner et al (2004) defines vulnerability as the lack of capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a hazard. The destruction and loss of human lives from the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake in Pakistan was primarily due to the collapse of inappropriately built structures constructed on earthquake-prone land using sub-standard building materials and designed with little earthquake resistance (DN andPA, 2008, Halvorson andHamilton, 2010). Poorly planned and sometimes illegal developments and their resulting impacts on the environment worsened the damage from the Mumbai Floods in 2005.…”

“…After the initial post-disaster response activities during the emergency and restoration periods it is important to move quickly to the reconstruction and longterm recovery phase in order to restore a sense of normality in affected communities as soon as possible. Despite the increasing number of post-disaster reconstruction experiences encountered, this phase still remains inefficient and poorly managed (Halvorson and Hamilton, 2010, LloydJones, 2006, Sawyer et al, 2010. Traditionally, post-disaster reconstruction consisted of simply repairing the physical damage that has been induced by a disaster.…”

“…Despite the increasing number of disaster experiences, post-disaster activities remain inefficient and poorly managed and need to be improved according to Halvorson and Hamilton (2010), Lloyd-Jones (2006) and Sawyer et al (2010). The slogan "Build Back Better" first emerged during the multi-national recovery effort following the Indian Ocean Tsunami (Clinton, 2006, Lyons, 2009, as the need to improve current reconstruction and recovery practices and generate safer communities emerged.…”