Social Work Perspective on Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience in Botswana
Kgosietsile Maripe *
Department of Social Work, University of Botswana, Botswana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Social work is committed to develop communities adhering to social justice, human rights, and respect for cultural diversity amongst people. It advocates for community sustainable development and protection from hazards/risks within the locality. While serving the person in the social environment, it is dedicated to the identification of hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities that could jeopardize livelihood sustainability and recovery from disasters. It takes cognizance of the burden climate Change places on the global social and physical environment and complicating other social pollutants with grave consequences on communities. Climate change with its damaging weather patterns has complicated the flooding, rains, drought episodes, and new health hazards that communities must prepare against. Botswana national disaster management policy and response plan promote community participation in disaster risk management. Despite, communities are vulnerable to diverse disasters (floods, windstorms, drought, torrential rains, and pollution) with a negative impact on their livelihoods and sustenance. Community vulnerability is increasingly complicated by climate change. The literature reveals that vulnerability resonates with the lack of hazards and risk knowledge, lack of preparedness and response systems, inadequate information on hazards and risks patterns in the community, and weak assessment of new threats and risks, and inadequate community disaster interventions. The paper proposes a community-based vulnerability and risk assessment management measures to build resilience.
Keywords: Human security, vulnerability, hazards, risks, environmental crises.