Tsunami survivors' perspectives on vulnerability and vulnerability reduction: evidence from Koh Phi Phi Don and Khao Lak, Thailand

Abstract

This paper presents the results of primary research with 40 survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in two communities: Khao Lak (n=20) and Koh Phi Phi Don (n=20), Thailand. It traces tsunami survivors' perceptions of vulnerability, determines whether residents felt that the tsunami affected different communities differently, identifies the populations and sub-community groups that survivors distinguished as being more vulnerable than others, highlights community-generated ideas about vulnerability reduction, and pinpoints a range of additional vulnerability reduction actions. Tsunami survivors most consistently identified the 'most vulnerable' community sub-populations as women, children, the elderly, foreigners, and the poor. In Khao Lak, however, respondents added 'Burmese migrants' to this list, whereas in Koh Phi Phi Don, they added 'Thai Muslims'. Results suggest that the two case study communities, both small, coastal, tourism-dominated communities no more than 100 kilometres apart, have differing vulnerable sub-groups and environmental vulnerabilities, requiring different post-disaster vulnerability reduction efforts.

Disaster and poverty : the differential impacts of disaster on the poor in the Gulf Coast region.

“…Children are particularly predisposed to the messages and images seen on television (Belfer, 2006). Children are not only at risk of losing their lives, but also more vulnerable because many of them lose their guardians (Steckley & Doberstein, 2011). Moreover, it is difficult to separate the influence of age, gender, and class, consequently the impact of disaster is more acute for girls (Pradhan et al, 2007;Wisner & Luce, 1993).…”

“…As a result of gendered roles, which might be very different and rigid or overlapping and fluid, men and women experience different vulnerabilities and have different capacities in societies (Anderson, 1994a;Ruwanpura, 2008;Seema, 2011;Steckley & Doberstein, 2011). Even during the worst storm, gender roles and expectation only briefly suspended, if at all (Always & Smith, 1998).…”

“…In general, there is consensus in the social science hazards literature that age and vulnerability to disasters are interconnected (Basher, 2008;Degg & Chester, 2005;Langan & Palmer, 2012;Loke, Lai, & Fung, 2012;Pekovic, Seff, & Rothman, 2007;Steckley & Doberstein, 2011;Torgusen & Kosberg, 2006;World Health Organization, 2008). It is evident from the changing global demographics that in future years the proportion of elderly people will increase exponentially who might be exposed to disasters (Barratt, 2007).…”

“…Women are responsible for larger share of domestic and childrearing work than men in the home and women also have a greater emotional attachment to their home than men, given that their lives became much more difficult after a disaster (Aksaray, Kortan, Erkaya, Yenilmez, & Kaptanoğlu, 2006;Samuels, 2012). Women may take on the role of looking after others even before they are ready to access relief centers and may themselves require support with childcare and household work (Rao, 2006;Steckley & Doberstein, 2011). Women's various roles as reproductive, productive, and community workers, as well as particular cultural values and traditions put different pressures on them in times of disaster (Cupples, 2007;Kotze, 1996;Stehlik et al, 2000).…”

“…In many disasters the morbidity of elderly people is much higher due to their physical inability and dependence on family members (Basher, 2008;Steckley & Doberstein, 2011). Despite representing only 12…”