Search Results (6)

In large-scale seismic scenarios, the operational continuity of evacuation shelters is frequently compromised by limited governmental capacity, necessitating the strategic integration of Disaster Relief Volunteers (DRVs). Traditional assessments often rely on coarse regional aggregates, overlooking the critical spatial mismatch between volunteer availability and localized demand. In this study, a high-resolution, spatially explicit framework was developed to evaluate urban operational resilience in New Taipei City. Utilizing the TERIA platform, a nocturnal magnitude 6.8 Shanjiao Fault rupture was simulated, identifying that approximately 460,000 individuals would be affected, with shelter demand reaching 300,000—double the current capacity. Service areas were delineated using ArcGIS Network Analyst (Dijkstra’s algorithm) based on an 800 m walking threshold, further refined by a secondary assignment rule to redistribute “shadow demand” from peripheral populations. Quantitative analysis of the newly introduced “DRV shortfall” metric reveals that 74% of shelters (148/200) face concurrent spatial and manpower saturation. Notably, 42 analysis units lack resident volunteers entirely, with the most severe shortfall magnitude reaching 361 DRVs at a single “high-risk convergence node”. These results uncover a profound deficiency in urban disaster resilience driven by significant spatial mismatch. This research contributes a three-fold advancement: (i) the high-resolution coupling of volunteer residential data with dynamic demand patterns; (ii) the formalization of the DRV shortfall as a standardized metric for resource adequacy; and (iii) the formulation of a strategic policy framework for multi-shelter activation sequencing, “Support Hub” designation, and resource synchronization in hyper-dense urban environments. Full article

Natural disasters often strike unexpectedly, leaving thousands of victims and affected individuals each year. Effective disaster preparedness is critical to reducing these consequences and accelerating recovery. This paper presents Eghatha, a blockchain-based decentralized system designed to optimize humanitarian aid delivery during crises. By enabling secure and transparent transfers of donations and relief from donors to beneficiaries, the system enhances trust and operational efficiency. All transactions are immutably recorded and verified on a blockchain network, reducing fraud and misuse while adapting to local contexts. The platform is volunteer-driven, coordinated by civil society organizations with humanitarian expertise, and supported by government agencies involved in disaster response. Eghatha’s design accounts for disaster-related constraints—including limited mobility, varying levels of technological literacy, and resource accessibility—by offering a user-friendly interface, support for local currencies, and integration with locally available technologies. These elements ensure inclusivity for diverse populations. Aligned with Morocco’s “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, the system contributes to both immediate crisis response and long-term digital transformation. Its scalable architecture and contextual sensitivity position the platform for broader adoption in similarly affected regions worldwide, offering a practical model for ethical, decentralized, and resilient humanitarian logistics. Full article

The 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were devastating events that caused widespread destruction. This mixed-methods study examined post-traumatic growth (PTG) in volunteers who participated in the relief efforts. A total of 169 volunteers participated in the quantitative phase, completing a standardized PTG measure. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 volunteers during the qualitative phase. The study found that gender had a significant effect on total PTG scores. Additionally, gender, earthquake experience, and volunteer organization were significant factors in the “change in self-concept” sub-dimension. Gender was the only significant factor in the “change in philosophy of life” sub-dimension. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants experienced trauma symptoms after the earthquake but also reported positive changes in self-concept and life philosophy. This study suggests that disasters can lead to PTG, despite the presence of trauma symptoms. Further research is needed to explore PTG in different disaster response groups. Full article

On 1 January 2024, a large earthquake occurred in Japan’s Noto region. Many buildings collapsed as a result of violent shaking. Electricity and water supplies were cut off, and communications were disrupted. On 5 January, four days after the earthquake, we visited Noto and conducted disaster-relief activities. This report integrates and discusses the results of the site visits, information broadcasts by public institutions, and previous research. Evacuation centers lacked water and proper sanitation, leading to health issues, including infectious diseases. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) were delayed in implementing infection control measures. Isolated evacuation centers faced communication and supply challenges. Infrastructure restoration, power supply, and toilet facilities at evacuation centers were delayed because of geographical challenges. It is important to have a team that can determine and carry out the necessary activities on site, even without instructions from the DMAT. It is believed to be effective to decide in advance how volunteer teams and the private sector will conduct their activities, assuming that they will be unable to contact public institutions during a disaster. In large-scale disasters, evacuees must operate evacuation centers autonomously. To achieve this, it is necessary for residents to regularly come together as a community. Systematically recording and accumulating these experiences will contribute to improved disaster prevention and mitigation planning. We hope that the experiences we obtained through the abovementioned disaster will be useful for preparing for future disasters. Full article

A majority of the workforce in the humanitarian aid consists of volunteers who partly suffer from health problems related to their voluntary service. To date, only a fraction of the current research focuses on this population. The aim of this qualitative explorative study was to identify burdening and protective organisational factors for health and well-being among humanitarian aid volunteers in a Greek refugee camp. To this end, interviews with 22 volunteers were held on site and afterwards analysed by using qualitative content analysis. We focused on international volunteers working in Greece that worked in the provision of food, material goods, emotional support and recreational opportunities. We identified burdening factors, as well as protective factors, in the areas of work procedures, team interactions, organisational support and living arrangements. Gender-specific disadvantages contribute to burdening factors, while joyful experiences are only addressed as protective factors. Additionally, gender-specific aspects in the experience of team interactions and support systems were identified. According to our findings, several possibilities for organisations to protect health and well-being of their volunteers exist. Organisations could adapt organisational structures to the needs of their volunteers and consider gender-specific factors. Full article

This long-term study established a sustainable and resilient framework for enhancing organizational capacity and adaptability, based on adaptive thinking, for a school disaster prevention system (SDPS) for academic institutions located in a potential natural disaster area. Due to the movement of continental plates and the effects of tropical depressions, disasters occur frequently in Taiwan. We established a conceptual framework under aspects of organizational resilience for a SDPS for school institutions located in a potential disaster area under a choice experiment (CE) framework. We then evaluated the heterogeneity of staff perspectives on an adaptive disaster-mitigation program, as revealed by their preferences and estimated the marginal effects associated with various potential scenarios for such a program. We found that integrating stakeholder concerns about environmental issues, cooperating with local government drills, providing training to be disaster relief volunteers and cooperating with local government to implement disaster-prevention and protection projects were all valid program characteristics. This study also confirmed the existence of heterogeneity in the preferences of participants for adaptive management in SDPS context, as evidenced by their willing attitudes toward participation in education and training courses, participation in implementing disaster prevention and protection projects and undergoing training to be disaster relief volunteers. Specifically, the potential disaster prevention transformation program embodying these features was associated with the highest marginal willingness to work (MWTW). These outcomes can assist in the development and implementation of evaluation frameworks for organization-based management strategies in the context of SDPS. Full article