Tweaking Household Assets to Recover from Disasters: Insights from Attabad Landslide in Pakistan

Abstract

We assessed change in the asset profile of households of Gulmit village while they were attempting their recovery from Attabad landslide disaster, which occurred during 2010 in Pakistan. Primary data came from 183 randomly selected households of the disaster affected village through field work conducted in 2013. The physical, social, financial, natural, and human capitals were evaluated using weighted average indexes and cumulative indexes developed for accounting pre- and post-disaster situations. The findings reveal that all these capitals are interlinked. Any change in physical capital caused redundancy of natural capital negatively affecting livelihood opportunities locally. Loss of income and savings was result of negative impacts on financial capitals. The study further found that social capital is crucial but perishable. Human capital appears to be the most crucial hedge against vulnerabilities as healthy, qualified and skilled humans can choose alternative livelihoods in the face of climate changes, explore options, and divert their occupations while attempting recovery from disasters. Furthermore, relief packages and food aid interventions are necessary but not sufficient condition for effective disaster recovery. The relief operations are important in short term and helpful during the period when communities are passing through the coping stage. The restoration of physical capital (crucial infrastructure) and human capital are the most important aspects to focus upon for building resilient communities and mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change induced disasters.