Community based approaches to disaster mitigation
Community participation has been recognized as the additional element in disaster management necessary to reverse the worldwide trend of exponential increase in disaster occurrence of and loss from small- and medium-scale disasters, build a culture of safety, and ensure sustainable development for all. This paper gives a brief orientation on the why, what, who, when, how, and so what of community based disaster mitigation. Recent experiences and practices, particularly those in the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program, showcase significant elements from which lessons are drawn. Positive impact affirms the validity of the community based approaches to disaster mitigation, notwithstanding the difficulties, complexities and challenges faced to initiate, sustain and replicate.