Anthropological study to disaster management is the new and holistic approach. It helps to explore the synergistic relation of anthropology and disaster.

1. Anthropology of Disaster,
Importance & DRM:
A Case Study of Nepal

2. Aim

3. Scope & Sequence
Introduction
Methodology
Anthropology of Disaster in
Context of Nepal
Gorkha Earthquake 2015 A Case
Study
DRM in Anthropological
Perspective
Findings, Recommendation and
Conclusion

4. Introduction
Anthropology
• Anthropologia Latin- -
Humanity & Human
beings
• Fields-Archaeology,
Biology, Culture &
Linguistic
• Evolution, Attachment,
Interaction with time
Disaster
• Sudden disruption of
the functioning of the
society causing
widespread human,
material and
environmental damage
which overwhelms the
existing coping
mechanism
Synergic Meaning
• Multidisciplinary
Emerging & Holistic
• Disaster not an isolated
event but a Process
• Architect of Socio-
culture, Politico-
economic &
Psychology
• Human Primary
Victim

5. Study Problems & Objectives
Statement
Problems
What is the
anthropological approach
to disaster study?
Why anthropology of
disaster is important in
context of Nepal?
How disaster risks can be
managed in
anthropological
perspective?
Objectives
To describe the
anthropological approach
to disaster study.
To study the importance of
anthropology of disaster in
Nepal’s context.
To explore the ways to
manage the disaster risks
in anthropological
perspectives
Significance
Emerging & pertinent issue addresses root causes of disaster.
 Interrelated, complementary and place specific provides flat
form for further research.
 Applied efforts in entire spectrum of DM/ Useful for many

6. • Adaptation Strategy, Anthropology,
Capacity Development, Disaster,
DRM, Hazard, Psycho-social
condition, Socio-cultural awareness,
vulnerability, Risk
Keywords
• Anthropological perspective only
• Secondary Data
• In context of Nepal
• Overwhelming nature of disaster
Limitations
• Synthesis
• Meta-analysis
• Research Gap
Literature
Review

7. Conceptual Framework
Destructive
Agent
Population
Vulnerability
Disaster
Manmade/NaturalPolitically,
Socially,
Culturally
Psychologically
Constructed
Natural Process
Exposure and
Vulnerability
makes it disaster
Disaster Risk Management
Systematic Process
Administrative Directives
Organizational Skills
Operational Capacity
Implement Strategy
Policy & Coping Capacities
Anthropology of Disaster: A
Holistic Approach
Anthropology Environment Disaster

8. Study Design
Identification of the Problem
Anthropological approach to
disaster study
Literature Review
Examine the related studies
and identify the research gap
Research Methodology
Qualitative
Explorative and Descriptive
Data Collection
Qualitative
Case Study, Interview, FGD,
Secondary source
Report Writing
&
Submission / Presentation
Findings
Conclusion &
Recommendations
Data Analysis
Editing and Developing Theme
Manual Content Analysis

9. EthicalConsiderations
Without Vested
Interest
Informed Consent
Voluntary & Rights
to Withdraw
Culture & Gender
Sensitivity
Appreciation for
Contribution
Honest Reporting
Reliability
Appropriate
Methods, Tools &
Technique
Triangulation
Result Consistency
Credible &
Transparent Data
Validity
Bias Minimization
Variable Relations
Generalizing
Findings
Ethics, Reliability & Validity

10. In Context of Nepal
Anthropogenic character
• Diverse socio-cultural
Practice
• 81% Rural Demography
• 23.8% below poverty line
• 44.6% Native Nepali
Speaker
• Tolerance & Social Harmony
• Political transition
Disaster Vulnerability
• Diverse topography/ Fragile
Geology prone to disaster
• 80% at risk of natural
Disaster
• 4th in climate change risk
• 11th in Earthquake risk
• 30th for Landslide & Flood
• Kathmandu among 21
vulnerable cities in world
• Disaster Hot Spot

11. Disaster Vulnerability in Nepal
Types of Disaster
No. of
Events
Human Casualties Property Damage
Death Missing Injury House
Damage
Economic Loss
(Rs)
Family
Affected
Boat Capsize 4 7 1 8 0 0 8
Earthquake (4>) 35 8,970 195 22,302 1,072,093 706,461,000,000 1,072,093
Epidemic 5 20 0 35 0 0 20
Fire 1,856 104 0 278 2,997 2,420,480,490 3,898
Flood 244 101 39 23 2,628 47,296,501 7,141
Landslide 290 276 42 226 2,980 811,084,600 1,936
Heavy Rainfall 118 9 0 24 2,486 18,969,500 683
Wind Storm 43 2 0 9 2,547 24,186,000 191
Lightning 299 185 0 369 65 5,271.000 415
Hail Storm 16 0 0 0 - - -
Drowning 5 5 3 0 - - 7
High Altitude 10 13 0 0 0 - 9
Others 15 6 1 4 1 0 19
Total 2,940 9,698 281 23,317 1,085,797 709,788,288,091 1,086,420
Human Casualties and Property Damage by Disaster (2015-2017)
Source: MoHA 2017

12. Gorkha Earthquake 2015
Case Study
Manufacture
Production
Trade
Agriculture
Economy
Infrastructure
Public Health
Mental Health 25Apr 2015
7.8 RS, Barpak
14/31 Districts
8.970/22,62 Casualty
Economic Loss of $70 B
1,072,093Houses
Anthropological
Perspectives in surface
 Multi-national
Response
National Aspiration to
upgrade LDC to
developing
 Poverty Reduction
Commitment 23.8 to 18%
 Exposed Settlements-
2,751
 Earthquake or
Class quake?

13. Causes of Disaster Vulnerability
Population
Growth
Haphazard
Settlement
Unplanned
Urbanization
Mass Migration
Environment
Degradation
Conflicts and
Terrorism
Risk Taking
Behavior
Fragile Geology
Mismanagement
of Resources
Widespread
Poverty
Lack of good
Governance

14. DRM in Anthropological Perspective
Hazard
Assessment
IK & T
Knowledge
CBDRR
Land use Plan
Sensitization
Capacity Building
Collaboration of
Stakeholders
Cultural
Sensitivity

15. Findings & Recommendations
Findings
Disaster discloses fundamental features of
society & culture/embedded root causes
 Not an isolated event but a process/ byproduct
of irrational, unsafe practices
Anthropogenic causes creates & alters the
magnitude of disaster/ Disaster affects civilization,
revives pol, socio-cultural Practices
Area Specific Phenomenon/ Single study does
not fit/ Needs further study
Proactive/ Local participation, ownership &
Accountability/ Culture sensitive
Recommendations
 Disaster resilience infrastructure
Disaster information management
 Assessment, monitor, EW
 Land use management plan
 Public Awareness Pgm in DRM
Capacity building/ Preparedness
 Cooperation at all level
Promote IK & CBDRR
 Livelihood & poverty alleviation
Disaster governance

16. Conclusion
Not act of
God Natural process
& act of men
 Paradigm Shift
Lack of preparedness, risk taking behavior
and resource crunch
 Local people are first responder & real heroes

17. Setting of FGD
1. Composition of Focus Group.
3 X Groups 6 persons each.
2. Members Selection. Students of ICMS will be the members who have fair amount of
understanding in disaster risk management. The group members have origin from different part
of the country with different socio-cultural background and linguistic dialects. Being the
students of crisis/ disaster management the level of interest and understanding is assumed to
be same within group.
3. Time Allotment. 45 minutes to each group discussion (Flexibility will be there).
4. Moderator. 1X member of research group.
5. Recorder and Observer. 1/1 members of research group.
6. Discussion Agendas.
6.1 Anthropology of disaster.
6.2 Socio-cultural background and disaster vulnerability in Nepal.
6.3 IK and CBDRR practiced in Nepalese Community.
6.4 Importance of anthropological approach to disaster study.
6.5 Ways for DRM in anthropological perspectives.
7. Key Points and Conclusion.

18. Plan for Key Informant Interview
1. Selection of Key Informant. (Proposed)
Dr. Krishna Devkota, DRM expert of Nepal Red Cross Society
2. Approach to the Key Informants.
Namaste, we are student of ICMS first semester. We are conducting a research on
"Anthropology of Disaster" in Nepal's context. Our aim is to explore and describe on this
pertinent issue, disseminate the findings and ultimately sensitize the societies for
enhancing better disaster resiliency. We would like to request you to contribute your
valuable insights voluntarily. Your contribution in this regard will be highly appreciated.
3. Study Questions.
3.1 How do you define anthropology of disaster?
3.2 Why the anthropological approach to disaster study is important?
3.3 How do you analyze the socio-cultural context of Nepal in terms of disaster
vulnerability and resiliency?
3.4 How can we manage the risks of disaster in anthropological perspectives?
4. Conduct Interview.
5. Organize and analyze Interview Data.
6. Interview Summary

19. References
Nepal: Official figures for casualties and damage - Humanitarian Data Exchange. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 31, 2018, from https://data.humdata.org/dataset/official-figures-for-casualties-
and-damage
Oliver-Smith, A. (1996). Anthropological Research on Hazards and Disasters. Annual Review of
Anthropology, 25(1), 303–328. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.25.1.303
Oliver-Smith, A., & Hoffman, S. (2008). The Angry Earth : Disaster in Anthropological
Perspective (Vol. 327). New York: Rutledge.
Shaw, R., Sharma, A., & Takeuchi, Y. (2009). Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk Reduction:
from Practice to Policy. New York: Nova Science Publication.
Tandam. (2016). Mid-hilly region at high risk of landslides this monsoon - The Himalayan Times.
Retrieved March 31, 2018, from https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/mid-hilly-
region-high-risk-landslides-monsoon/
Terminology - UNISDR. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2018, from h
ttps://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/terminology
Thapa, A. (2018, March 25). Women are Joining Hands with Counterparts in Masonry Work after
Nepal Earthquake 2015.
Thapalia, R. (2018, April 15). Culture Sensitivity in Disaster Response.

20. Queries ?
Comments !