Investigate the Disaster Management Process in the Gaza Strip

Abstract

Disasters, both natural and man-made, have been occurring with increasing frequency and effect in recent decades in many countries around the world. Among them, the Gaza Strip is yet to recover from the effects of 2008-2009 “Cast Lead” war. This research is conducted to investigate the disaster management process used by governmental institutions, municipalities, NGO’s, UN agencies and INGO’s working in the Gaza Strip. The main aim of this research is to identify the factors influencing the disaster management process and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, study the relationship between the groups of factors affecting the ‎disaster management process and propose recommendations to empower the disaster management ‎framework‎. This research has been conducted through literature reviews on the topic related to the disaster management process and post disaster reconstruction followed by a field survey. One hundred questionnaires were distributed to governances, municipality, NGO’s, UN and INGO’s agency's experts, eighty one questionnaires were received from respondents involved in the disaster management process and in the reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip with 81% response rate. The results show that the main factors affecting the disaster management process and the reconstruction program are the insufficient financial resources at all stages of disaster management, lack of local expertise in disaster management, the donor’s ability to fund the reconstruction projects, the weak government institutions during the immediate ‎post-disaster period, documentation system and archiving prior to towns and land holdings and historical monuments and quantities of materials needed for reconstruction. The study recommended to establishing center to be an effective national body for disaster management and coordination to prepare legislation necessary, policies and fundraising. The study also recommends giving a strong and effective role in the disaster risk reduction for the institutions of civil society in pre-‎disaster. The research recommended the governance authority to empower the rules and regulation for the public safety requirements with high standards. Also its recommended the UN and INGO, to build the capacity by transferring the international experience of disaster management for the local authorities involved in the disaster management, and finally establishes an effective, transparent and reasonably corruption-free financial ‎management system.‎