Why some rural communities suffer more from environmental disasters

Environmental disasters affect both urban and rural communities, but rural communities tend to suffer more severely. In a study on a rural community in Odisha, India, a team of researchers examined factors income, housing, education, and access to basic services, to show how rural communities are exposed to the dangers of cyclones and how targeted actions can help communities recover faster and become more resilient.

Every year, cyclones disrupt activities in these regions, changing their livelihoods, causing damages and claiming lives. Though technology has improved through the early warning systems, these communities continue to experience these impacts.

"Cyclone is a natural and environmental disaster bound to happen. However, how communities act before, during and after the cyclone is very important to staying safe," says lead author, Kelechukwu Ibe, a PhD Research Scholar at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, India. "This is much more important in rural areas with fewer developmental projects, and it is shocking how rural communities have adapted to the associated dangers."

The researchers found that cyclones affect the everyday livelihood of the community. This starts from the preparation for the cyclone with the early warning systems, the stress they face during the cyclones and picking up their pieces after the cyclones.

"These households have learnt to live with the reality of the cyclones and its associated damages," Ibe says. "Given their socioeconomic status, they are limited in their adaptive capacities."

Notably, the rural community experience different degrees of effects from the cyclone: flooding, damage to rice fields, infrastructural destruction, communication bridges, livelihood and education activities disruption, health issues and even loss of lives.

Dr Shiva Prasad Kollur, the project guide of the study, says, "The study is a shift from the generic risk mapping into shining the light on priority groups which are often neglected."

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Contact the author: Dr Shiva Prasad Kollur, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Mysuru Campus, shivachemist@gmail.com.

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