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Risk Perception And Urban Disaster Management In The City Of Bukavu, D.R.Congo
Abstract
The rapid expansion of cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is accompanied by a range of problems and an increase in natural or anthropogenic disasters. For more than a decade, the city of Bukavu has been experiencing a growing upsurge in natural disasters, including flood and landslides in rainy season, while dry season is marked with episodes of houses fires ravaging entire neighbourhoods with loss of human lives and significant material damages. Beyond the known causes, in July 2023 we have interviewed 454 participants to examine the community experience of disaster and its risk`s perception to gauge their preparedness. Findings show that 83.5% have already witnessed a disaster. About the causes, natural and anthropogenic are generally known by the entire population, including 13,3% of respondents evoking the climate change. However, 60% of the participants attribute disasters to supernatural causes, including evil spirits and the end of the time; this varies significantly with the level of education (p<0.05). Although, 58,7% perceive the risk of disaster, 49% think of prayer among of the prevention strategies while 40,3% said it’s a state duty. Local authorities admitted their weakness in disaster prevention due to laxity in enforcing urban regulations, funds limitation and absence of contingency plan. To remedy this situation, it is important to the authorities to raise awareness, while fighting against corruption would make possible to clean up the urban planning and housing sectors, as well as the application of land laws. Measures to retrace avenues should be restarted.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v53.1.7496
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