Ethnicity and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study of Rural Communities of Pakistan

Abstract

The numbers of natural hazards occurrence have increased worldwide, thus constructing the risk of disaster a universal concern. These disasters caused substantial losses and harm to human society and the economy. Climate change is a global phenomenon and affects people worldwide. Therefore, it cannot be limited to particular proximity and thus needed global attention. Despite the losses and damages from natural hazards and climate change, some individuals or groups do not attach much significance to these threats. To reduce the risk of climate change and natural hazards, vulnerability and its linked components need to understand. Vulnerability assessment methods are complex and diverse in nature and ultimately mirrored in the quantifying of results. The main purpose of this study is to assess the vulnerabilities, i.e., social, economic, and attitudinal, examine risk perception, and identify coping and adaptive strategies of three different ethnic groups against climate change and natural hazards. The study identifies three different ethnicities based on linguistic differences, i.e., Punjabi, Pashtun, and Hindko groups, as per their population statistics. The identified ethnic groups are well reflected by Attock, Swabi, and Haripur for Punjabi ethnicity, Pashtun ethnicity, and Hindko ethnicity, respectively. Based on well-defined indicators for each dimension, indices were developed, and a detailed household survey was conducted for three ethnicities. The study analyses the obtained data using descriptive statistics, and to correlate the three different ethnic groups variable, a correlation coefficient chi-square value and P-value is checked. It is apparent from the study that in some situations, cultural beliefs and perceptions become a factor of survival for different ethnic groups. In contrast, in some cases, they act as a barrier to effective DRR activities. The study emphasizes those ethnic-based DRR activities as a procedure to integrate with beliefs to effectively manage disaster risk.