Disaster risk management in Southeast Asia

Assignment Question Southeast Asia sits at the confluence of multiple natural hazard regimes and complex socio-economic vulnerabilities. In the past five years, the region has experienced a cascade of disasters: Typhoon Rai (Odette) devastated coastal and upland communities in the Philippines; record-breaking monsoon floods in Vietnams central provinces overwhelmed critical infrastructure; the 2018 Sulawesi earthquaketsunami exposed gaps in early warning and land-use planning; the 20202023 Mekong Basin drought altered sediment transport and livelihoods; and transboundary haze events linked to peatland fires in Indonesia created chronic health risks across Malaysia and Singapore. These events unfolded amid rapid urbanisation, informal settlements in floodplains and coastal zones, aging infrastructure, and uneven governance capacities across subnational levels. You are advising the national/subnational authorities in your country (select ONE: Philippines, Indonesia, or Myanmar) under a collaboration with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). Drawing on ASEAN frameworks (AADMER), the Sendai Framework, and your chosen countrys DRM program, you are to produce a policy brief. As part of your preparation for the brief, you will address the issues below. Question 1 a) Briefly illustrate FOUR (4) critical gaps in disaster risk management policies and practices in your chosen country by using a concrete example tied to recent hazard events. These gaps may relate to preparedness, mitigation, response, and/or recovery in your country. Then, examine equity implications (who is most affected and why) and feasibility constraints, including capacity, financing, data, and coordination. (20 marks) – 500 words Question 2 a) Analyse FIVE (5) prioritised, actionable risk management strategies for a five-year horizon that directly address the diagnosed gaps you have identified in the previous question. For each strategy, explain the particular hazards that can be addressed by the strategy and provide a clear justification for that strategy. (40 marks) – 1000words b) Identify and examine TWO (2) potential risk reduction mechanisms (from structural, non-structural, nature-based, financial, or institutional categories) for the strategies identified in part 2a. (30 marks) -750words Choose one country, Philippines, Indonesia, or Myanmar, do not exceed 2500words in total