IMPACT OF CULTURE TOWARDS DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Number of natural disasters has risen sharply worldwide making the risk of disasters a global concern. These disasters have created significant losses and damages to humans, economy and society. Despite the losses and damages created by disasters, some individuals and communities do not attach much significance to natural disasters. Risk perception towards a disaster not only depends on the danger it could create but also the behaviour of the communities and individuals that is governed by their culture. Within this context, this study examines the relationship between culture and disaster risk reduction (DRR ). A comprehensive literature review is used for the study to evaluate culture, its components and to analyse a series of case studies related to disaster risk. It was evident from the study that in some situations, culture has become a factor for the survival of the communities from disasters where as in some situations culture has acted as a barrier for effective DRR activities. The study suggests community based DRR activities as a mechanism to integrate with culture to effectively manage disaster risk. Santruka Pasaulyje gerokai padaugejo stichiniu nelaimiu, taigi ju keliama rizika jaudina visa pasauli. Del tokiu nelaimiu daug nuostoliu ir žalos patiria žmones, ekonomika ir visuomene. Nepaisant nuostoliu ir žalos, kuria atneša nelaimes, kai kurie individai ir bendruomenes stichinems nelaimems neteike daug reikšmes. Iš nelaimes kylančios rizikos suvokimas priklauso ne tik nuo pavojaus, kuri tokia nelaime gali sukelti, bet ir nuo bendruomeniu bei individu elgsenos, kuria lemia ju kultūra. Atsižvelgiant i ši konteksta, darbe nagrinejamas ryšys tarp kultūros ir nelaimiu keliamos rizikos mažinimo. Siekiant ivertinti kultūra ir jos komponentus, išanalizuoti keli su nelaimiu rizika susije atvejai, tyrime plačiai apžvelgiama literatūra. Iš tyrimo paaiškejo, kad kai kuriais atvejais kultūra per nelaimes leme bendruomeniu išlikima, o kitais atvejais trukde efektyviam nelaimiu keliamos rizikos mažinimui. Tyrime bendruomeniu vykdoma nelaimiu keliamos rizikos mažinimo veikla siūloma kaip mechanizmas, leidžiantis integruojant kultūra efektyviai valdyti nelaimiu keliama rizika.