DISASTER RECOVERY SUSTAINABLE HOUSING

Indubhushan Patnaikuni, Robert Oates

Abstract: Disasters due to Natural causes and man-made around the world make many people homeless every year. Disasters such as Pakistan floods in 2010, Haiti earthquake in 2010, Chile earthquake in 2010, Japan earthquake in 2011, Philippines hurricane Yolanda in 2012, the earthquake in Sichuan, China in 2008, the Cyclone Nargis, Mayanmar in 2008 and the 2004 Tsunami remind us of the enormous human suffering and the magnitude of destruction to infrastructure they can cause. In spite of the best efforts of the international disaster response mechanisms currently available, evidence suggests that the most vulnerable among the affected remain entrapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and hopelessness. For these people who are affected the most urgent need is to provide, food, medical assistance, maintaining hygiene and providing shelter within a short timeframe. However, the long-term recovery of affected people would largely depend on their ability to re-gain permanency in housing. This paper focuses on this aspect of response and recovery process and presents a product which is purpose designed not only in providing timely and speedy shelter but also could be used as the formwork in up-grading the temporary shelter to a permanent or semi-permanent home.

Keywords: HOUSING

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0328001