Volcanic risk perception in rural communities along the slopes of mount Cameroon, West-Central Africa

Njome, M. S.; Suh, Cheo Emmanuel; Chuyong, George B.; Wit, Maarten J. de

doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2010.08.007

Cited by 68 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In order that no one-sided decision occurs, the rationality of residents living in areas which are prone to volcanic disasters needs to be understood (Donovan 2010;Njome 2010;Warsini 2014;Simpson 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Rationality of Residents Living in the Area Prone to Merapi Volcanic Disaster

et al. 2017

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The research concerned here was to know the economic rationality of residents who dwelled again in their former village after the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 and refused to be relocated by the government. A combined research method, namely, a combination between a qualitative method and a quantitative one, was used to uncover the rationality. The qualitative part of the research was conducted first by deciding informants considered knowledgeable about the matter under research. Then the informants were interviewed in turns decided via snowball sampling. Some secondary data were used to support the qualitative research. As for the quantitative part of the research, it was conducted afterwards by turning members of the households in the village into respondents. The finding of the research is as follows. The residents perceive the disaster not only as a dangerous natural phenomenon but also as an economic blessing because tourists' visits to the areas suffering from the impact of the disaster enable residents to have activities that have economic value. That economic rationality was what motivated them to return to their village though its condition is categorized by the government as unfit for dwelling.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Rationality of Residents Living in the Area Prone to Merapi Volcanic Disaster

et al. 2017

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“…In order to understand this apparent disconnect between appropriate response and the behavior of local peoples, efforts are made to understand the risky behavior. At this point there are often a series of surveys conducted that seek to determine the risk awareness of peoples living in the potential hazard zone (Njome et al 2010;Dominey-Howes and Minos-Minopoulos 2004;Davis and Ricci 2004). Local understandings of the risk are assessed through questions (usually asked as a part of a formal questionnaire) that determine whether they have an accurate understanding of the nature of the threat, its likelihood (assessed according to whether they can accurately describe the determined probabilities), and crucially whether they would then react to an event in the desired manner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fearing the knock on the door: critical security studies insights into limited cooperation with disaster management regimes

2015

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In seeking to provide for the safety of local communities in the global south, there has been an apparent policy focus on making early warning systems more robust, and improving the operation of disaster management programmes. However, the critical security studies literature has highlighted the ways in which security practices, including those nominally implemented on behalf of local communities can have negative impacts on peoples. Human security literature, in particular, highlights the ways in which the state security apparatus, which is often relied upon to notify and enforce evacuations, may often be perceived as a serious risk to communities. At the same time individuals live within complex security situations where daily threats to peoples' lives may outweigh geological hazards. Grounded within critical literature on the social construction of risk (Lupton; Beck, Douglas), the ways in which volcanic risk is calculated, communicated, and enacted upon, will be assessed in relation to the local communities' security dilemmas. Drawing on field work in communities at risk from lahars generated from Cotopaxi in Sangolqui, Ecuador, explores the ways in which competing claims of what constitutes security challenge the operating assumptions in emergency preparedness. In June 2012, 158 primary interviews were undertaken as a part of the EU funded VUELCO project in Ecuador. The findings were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, drawing most heavily on interpretive methodologies to argue that the scientific representation of volcanic hazards, and the resultant disaster management strategies, do not account for local context. Indeed, the majority of interviewees indicated a lack of trust in either scientific expertise or government representatives, on questions of security. By incorporating a broader narrative of security beyond a narrow focus on natural hazards, disaster preparedness and communication plans can be more effective.

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“…The local tribes around the mountain, for instance, believe eruptions are caused by the mountain God (Epasa Moto). Consequently, when he is angry, their tribal chief offers sacrifices to appease 'Epasa Moto' to prevent the destruction of their villages (Atanga et al 2010;Njome et al 2010). Volcanic eruptions on Mt.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This prompted anger amongst the relocated villagers, who subsequently blamed the government for lack of readiness, inadequate resourcing, and/or an unwillingness to adequately cater for their needs in the camps. The consequence was mistrust and miscommunication between the communities, local scientists and emergency managers (Atanga et al 2010;Njome et al 2010).…”

Section: Flaws In Crisis Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blaming Active Volcanoes or Active Volcanic Blame? Volcanic Crisis Communication and Blame Management in the Cameroon

Miles

Gordon

Bang

2017

Advances in Volcanology

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This chapter examines the key role of blame management and avoidance in crisis communication with particular reference to developing countries and areas that frequently experience volcanic episodes and disasters. In these contexts, the chapter explores a key paradox prevalent within crisis communication and blame management concepts that has been rarely tested in empirical terms (see De Vries 2004; Brändström 2016a). In particular, the chapter examines, what it calls, the 'paradox of frequency' where frequency of disasters leads to twin dispositions for crisis framed as either: (i) policy failure (active about volcanic blame on others), where issues of blame for internal incompetency takes centre stage, and blame management becomes a focus of disaster managers, and/or: (ii) as event failure (in this case, the blaming of lack of external capacity on active volcanoes and thereby the blame avoidance of disaster managers). Put simply, the authors investigate whether perceptions of frequency itself is a major determinant shaping the existence, operation, and even perceived success of crisis communication in developing regions, and countries experiencing regular disaster episodes. The authors argue frequency is important in shaping the behaviour of disaster managers and rather ironically as part of crisis communication can shape expectations of community resilience and (non)-compliance. In order to explore the implications of the 'paradox of frequency' further, the chapter examines the case of the Cameroon, where volcanic activity and events have been regular, paying particular attention to the major disasters in 1986 (Lake Nyos Disaster -LND) and 1999 (Mount Cameroon volcanic eruption -MCE).

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Volcanic risk perception in rural communities along the slopes of mount Cameroon, West-Central Africa

Cited by 68 publications

References 53 publications

Economic Rationality of Residents Living in the Area Prone to Merapi Volcanic Disaster

Economic Rationality of Residents Living in the Area Prone to Merapi Volcanic Disaster

Fearing the knock on the door: critical security studies insights into limited cooperation with disaster management regimes

Blaming Active Volcanoes or Active Volcanic Blame? Volcanic Crisis Communication and Blame Management in the Cameroon

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