Developing an improved disaster management framework to enhance resilience in Kuwait

Alfaras, M

Abstract

Disaster management is considered as a priority worldwide where the aim of national governments has been to reduce the loss of life and properties. Different researchers and experts have tried over decades to develop several disaster management models, which is also known as disaster management life cycle (the phases). This has been used to support the emergency planners in understanding disaster management requirements for each phase. Despite all the efforts spent on developing a comprehensive disaster management model, disasters still cause severe damage globally. In Kuwait, the strategic disaster management committee lacks any clear disaster management standards and guidelines. This has resulted in citizens being exposed to different types of hazards and life threatening dangers. There are several factors which have caused the poor performance of crises management in Kuwait and some of the major factors include; a poor disaster management framework, lack of coordination, communication between key stakeholders, and outdated disaster management acts. The aim of this research is to improve the current disaster management framework in Kuwait, with a view to enhancing government’s response through using comprehensive disaster management practices.
To better understand how this research will improve the current disaster management framework, it was thought necessary to scrutinise the experience from the strategic disaster management committee perspectives in uncompromised detail, which led to the use of interpretivism approach to develop theory from practice. Also, to this end a qualitative methodology was adopted with the aim of exploring how disaster management practices can be improved. The data collection mechanism used was a semi-structured interview carried out with 26 participants from the strategic disaster management committee in Kuwait. The data analysis procedure was performed by combining the review of documentary evidence, cognitive mapping along with content analysis. In addition, a focus group technique was used for validating the final framework. These results showed that the current disaster management framework was limited because it lacked the following: acceptable disaster management model, scientific support, accountability of stakeholders in the disaster management and, most importantly, lack of any unified disaster management act. The author argues that this research has added significant empirical guidelines within the disaster management field. As a consequence of this, the study also formulated a theoretical understanding of disaster management by taking into account all phases of the disaster management life cycle. It also incorporates the strengths of the local government through engaging with key strategic stakeholders who are able to understand disaster management models and needs. Finally, this research can be used as a road map for emergency planning that can integrate theoretical factors in the disaster management model such as; the disaster management life cycle.

Citation

Alfaras, M. Developing an improved disaster management framework to enhance resilience in Kuwait. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2020