IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v86y2017i1d10.1007_s11069-016-2674-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Disaster prevention, disaster preparedness and local community resilience within the context of disaster risk management in Cameroon

Author

Listed:
  • Festus Tongwa Aka

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI)
    Geotechnology, Environmental Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction (GEADIRR))

  • Gaston Wung Buh

    (Geotechnology, Environmental Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction (GEADIRR))

  • Wilson Yatoh Fantong

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

  • Issa

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

  • Isabella Tem Zouh

    (Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection)

  • Serges Laurent Bopda Djomou

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

  • Richard Tanwi Ghogomu

    (Geo-Environmental Management and Disaster Awareness (GEMDA))

  • Terry Gibson

    (Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction)

  • Mary-Ann Marmol del

    (Ghent University)

  • Luc Nkamdjou Sigha

    (International Commission of Congo-Oubangui-Sangha Basin (CICOS))

  • Takeshi Ohba

    (Tokai University)

  • Minoru Kusakabe

    (University of Toyama)

  • Yutaka Yoshida

    (Yoshida Consulting Engineering Office)

  • Gregory Tanyileke

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

  • Joseph Metuk Nnange

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

  • Joseph Victor Hell

    (Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI))

Abstract

Cameroon was one of the 57 countries that participated in the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) Views from the Frontline (VFL) 2013 project on everyday disasters, community resilience and disaster preparedness. Working with 6 other civil society organizations, Geotechnology, Environmental Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction administered 400 questionnaires to frontliners in 7 administrative regions of the country on 14 disaster indicators that assessed the underlying causes of disasters and the level of preparedness and resilience of the communities. Scores from the 89% of informants who responded show that Cameroon occupied the 43rd position globally, was 15th out of the 23 African countries, and was 7th out of the 9 West African countries surveyed. Cameroon average scores for all 14 indicators were lower (poorer) than the West African average, suggesting that a lot more effort is needed in managing disaster risks in the country, i.e., reducing vulnerabilities and increasing preparedness and resilience. At the national level, the Center and Adamaoua Regions recorded the lowest scores of the survey. Above-average scores recorded for some indicators in the Southwest, Northwest and Far North Regions are interpreted to be due to disaster prevention activities like monitoring via early warning systems, resilience building and outreach exercises carried out for disasters like landslides, floods, gas explosions from lakes, and volcanic eruptions, in these areas. Cameroon presently has many laws relating to disaster risk management matters, but an analysis of how the laws are applied shows that the expected results have not been attained, mainly because of over-centralization and a reactive, rather than a proactive approach to disaster risk management. Given her current disaster risk profile, Cameroon has to increase research, better manage, and make disaster risks a central tenet in her development project decision-making, if the goal earmarked in her development vision to become a newly industrialized country by 2035 has to be realized. We propose the creation of an autonomous statutory National Disaster Risk Management Agency which will have a local community-driven bottom-top approach to disaster risk management, and disseminate appropriately tailored disaster risk information to promote a proactive community-based resilience and disaster prevention framework. This will fulfill the post-2015 Sendai framework priority of action No. 2 (strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk) and appropriately prepare Cameroon to face the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Suggested Citation

  • Festus Tongwa Aka & Gaston Wung Buh & Wilson Yatoh Fantong & Issa & Isabella Tem Zouh & Serges Laurent Bopda Djomou & Richard Tanwi Ghogomu & Terry Gibson & Mary-Ann Marmol del & Luc Nkamdjou Sigha & , 2017. "Disaster prevention, disaster preparedness and local community resilience within the context of disaster risk management in Cameroon," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 86(1), pages 57-88, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:86:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-016-2674-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-016-2674-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-016-2674-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-016-2674-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pierre Thierry & Laurent Stieltjes & Emmanuel Kouokam & Pierre Nguéya & Paul Salley, 2008. "Multi-hazard risk mapping and assessment on an active volcano: the GRINP project at Mount Cameroon," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 45(3), pages 429-456, June.
    2. V. Che & M. Kervyn & G. Ernst & P. Trefois & S. Ayonghe & P. Jacobs & E. Ranst & C. Suh, 2011. "Systematic documentation of landslide events in Limbe area (Mt Cameroon Volcano, SW Cameroon): geometry, controlling, and triggering factors," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 59(1), pages 47-74, October.
    3. Molua, Ernest L. & Lambi, Cornelius M., 2007. "The economic impact of climate change on agriculture in Cameroon," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4364, The World Bank.
    4. Festus Aka & Tetsuya Yokoyama, 2013. "Current status of the debate about the age of Lake Nyos dam (Cameroon) and its bearing on potential flood hazards," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(1), pages 875-885, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wei Chen & Guofang Zhai & Chongqiang Ren & Yijun Shi & Jianxin Zhang, 2018. "Urban Resources Selection and Allocation for Emergency Shelters: In a Multi-Hazard Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Hui Xu & Yang Li & Yongtao Tan & Ninghui Deng, 2021. "A Scientometric Review of Urban Disaster Resilience Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-27, April.
    3. Ayşe Ütük & Hayri Baraçlı, 2024. "Evaluation of the Knowledge and Awareness of Firefighters in Turkey in Disaster Risk Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti & N. Nurmala & A. Arviansyah & Sigit Sulistiyo Wibowo, 2022. "Indicators of community preparedness for fast-onset disasters: a systematic literature review and case study," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(1), pages 787-821, January.
    5. Beth Barnes & Sarah Dunn & Sean Wilkinson, 2019. "Natural hazards, disaster management and simulation: a bibliometric analysis of keyword searches," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 97(2), pages 813-840, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jan Maes & Jeff Mbella Molombe & Kewan Mertens & Constanza Parra & Jean Poesen & Vivian Bih Che & Matthieu Kervyn, 2019. "Socio-political drivers and consequences of landslide and flood risk zonation: A case study of Limbe city, Cameroon," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 37(4), pages 707-731, June.
    2. Genesis T. Yengoh & Frederick Ato Armah & Edward Ebo Onumah, 2010. "Paths to Attaining Food Security: The Case of Cameroon," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Tite Ehuitché Béké & Aïssata Sobia, 2020. "The Economic Impact of Climatic Variations on Ivorian Rice Farming," Journal of Agricultural Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(2), pages 88-109, June.
    4. Ani Melkonyan & Malcolm Asadoorian, 2014. "Climate impact on agroeconomy in semiarid region of Armenia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 393-414, April.
    5. Innocent Ngiehnu Nchu & Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi & Gerald Kapp, 2019. "Diagnosing Climate Adaptation Constraints in Rural Subsistence Farming Systems in Cameroon: Gender and Institutional Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Bate Godwill Bate & Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi & Sani Gur Amawa, 2019. "Determinants and Policy Implications of Farmers’ Climate Adaptation Choices in Rural Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Byela Tibesigwa & Martine Visser & Jane Turpie, 2017. "Climate change and South Africa’s commercial farms: an assessment of impacts on specialised horticulture, crop, livestock and mixed farming systems," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 607-636, April.
    8. Witt, Rudolf & Waibel, Hermann, 2009. "Climate Risk And Farming Systems In Rural Cameroon," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-423, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    9. Amjath-Babu, T.S. & Krupnik, Timothy J. & Kaechele, Harald & Aravindakshan, Sreejith & Sietz, Diana, 2016. "Transitioning to groundwater irrigated intensified agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: An indicator based assessment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 125-135.
    10. Baoyin Liu & Yim Siu & Gordon Mitchell & Wei Xu, 2013. "Exceedance probability of multiple natural hazards: risk assessment in China’s Yangtze River Delta," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 69(3), pages 2039-2055, December.
    11. Mora-Rivera, José Jorge, 2013. "efectos del cambio climático sobre la renta de la tierra de guatemala: un enfoque ricardiano," eseconomía, Escuela Superior de Economía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, vol. 0(38), pages 7-38, segundo t.
    12. Vázquez-Montenegro, Ranses José & Durán-Zarabozo, Odil & Baca, Marcio, 2015. "Modelos de impacto en la agricultura teniendo en cuenta los escenarios de la agricultura del cambio climático," Revista Iberoamericana de Bioeconomía y Cambio Climàtico, National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Leon, vol. 1(1), pages 1-50, July.
    13. Munum Hassan & Kinza Saif & Muhammad Saad Ijaz & Zouina Sarfraz & Azza Sarfraz & Karla Robles-Velasco & Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda, 2023. "Mean Temperature and Drought Projections in Central Africa: A Population-Based Study of Food Insecurity, Childhood Malnutrition and Mortality, and Infectious Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-21, February.
    14. Genesis T. Yengoh, 2012. "Climate and Food Production: Understanding Vulnerability from Past Trends in Africa’s Sudan-Sahel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Muli, Celestine & Gerber, Nicolas & Sakketa, Tekalign Gutu & Mirzabaev, Alisher, 2018. "Ecosystem tipping points due to variable water availability and cascading effects on food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Working Papers 278230, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    16. Mubenga-Tshitaka, Jean-Luc & Gelo, Dambala & Dikgang, Johane & Mwamba, Muteba, 2021. "Panel threshold effect of climate variability on agricultural output in Eastern African countries," MPRA Paper 108721, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Mark Carey & Christian Huggel & Jeffrey Bury & César Portocarrero & Wilfried Haeberli, 2012. "An integrated socio-environmental framework for glacier hazard management and climate change adaptation: lessons from Lake 513, Cordillera Blanca, Peru," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 733-767, June.
    18. Guangyun Gao & Shaofeng Yao & Yujun Cui & Qingsheng Chen & Xianlin Zhang & Kewen Wang, 2018. "Zoning of confined aquifers inrush and quicksand in Shanghai region," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 91(3), pages 1341-1363, April.
    19. Jagdeep Kaur Brar & Antoine Kornprobst & Willard John Braun & Matthew Davison & Warren Hare, 2021. "A Case Study of the Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Loan Credit Risk," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(23), pages 1-23, November.
    20. Di Falco, Salvatore & Bulte, Erwin, 2013. "The Impact of Kinship Networks on the Adoption of Risk-Mitigating Strategies in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 100-110.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:86:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-016-2674-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.