Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States
The explosive volcanic eruptions of La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent and the Grenadines, in April 2021 caused the displacement of thousands of people, resulting in heavy disruption of livelihoods and economic activities, destruction of critical infrastructure, and volcanic ash deposits that affected...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Mountain Society
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Mountain Research and Development |
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| Online Access: | https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00001.1 |
| _version_ | 1798036795643920384 |
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| author | Victoria L. Miller Erouscilla P. Joseph Niroj Sapkota Joerg Szarzynski |
| author_facet | Victoria L. Miller Erouscilla P. Joseph Niroj Sapkota Joerg Szarzynski |
| author_sort | Victoria L. Miller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The explosive volcanic eruptions of La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent and the Grenadines, in April 2021 caused the displacement of thousands of people, resulting in heavy disruption of livelihoods and economic activities, destruction of critical infrastructure, and volcanic ash deposits that affected the entire mountainous island of St Vincent and the neighboring island of Barbados. The resulting triple crisis in the region included volcanological risks, the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, and hydrometeorological risks due to the approaching hurricane season. This article analyzes the scientific and operational activities that The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre undertook after effusive activity was detected in December 2020, as well as the actions taken during an official response mission of the United Nations, led by the Joint Environment Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva and upon request for international environmental assistance from the Government of St Vincent. It examines the interplay and collaboration between these 2 organizations and other disaster risk reduction agencies. The article also highlights how the interconnected, systemic nature of risks and disasters emphasizes the ultimate need for regional coordination and collaboration across sectors, including scientific monitoring networks; national, regional, and international emergency preparedness and response agencies; academia; and the private sector. The presented case study for elucidating the ongoing lahar hazard at La Soufrière volcano supports a long-term view for planning and mitigation in this challenging topography. This will help to ensure that the volcanic risks in the Caribbean region are appropriately considered a major component of the multihazard approach undertaken by national authorities and scientists to manage community safety and sustainable economic development through adequate means of disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:17:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be75e4eeb9d04f6385551246977c58fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0276-4741 1994-7151 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:17:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | International Mountain Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mountain Research and Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-be75e4eeb9d04f6385551246977c58fd2022-12-22T04:02:45ZengInternational Mountain SocietyMountain Research and Development0276-47411994-71512022-05-01422D22D31https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00001.1Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing StatesVictoria L. Miller0Erouscilla P. Joseph1Niroj Sapkota2Joerg Szarzynski3Seismic Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Gordon Street, St Augustine, 331323, Trinidad and Tobago; Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Hope Drive, Flemmings, Montserrat; victoria.miller.mvo@gmail.comSeismic Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Gordon Street, St Augustine, 331323, Trinidad and TobagoUnited Nations Central Emergency Response Fund Secretariat, New York, USAUnited Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyThe explosive volcanic eruptions of La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent and the Grenadines, in April 2021 caused the displacement of thousands of people, resulting in heavy disruption of livelihoods and economic activities, destruction of critical infrastructure, and volcanic ash deposits that affected the entire mountainous island of St Vincent and the neighboring island of Barbados. The resulting triple crisis in the region included volcanological risks, the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, and hydrometeorological risks due to the approaching hurricane season. This article analyzes the scientific and operational activities that The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre undertook after effusive activity was detected in December 2020, as well as the actions taken during an official response mission of the United Nations, led by the Joint Environment Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva and upon request for international environmental assistance from the Government of St Vincent. It examines the interplay and collaboration between these 2 organizations and other disaster risk reduction agencies. The article also highlights how the interconnected, systemic nature of risks and disasters emphasizes the ultimate need for regional coordination and collaboration across sectors, including scientific monitoring networks; national, regional, and international emergency preparedness and response agencies; academia; and the private sector. The presented case study for elucidating the ongoing lahar hazard at La Soufrière volcano supports a long-term view for planning and mitigation in this challenging topography. This will help to ensure that the volcanic risks in the Caribbean region are appropriately considered a major component of the multihazard approach undertaken by national authorities and scientists to manage community safety and sustainable economic development through adequate means of disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00001.1humanitarianla soufrièrelaharland use planningmultihazardrisk sensitivesmall-island developing statesvolcanic hazards |
| spellingShingle | Victoria L. Miller Erouscilla P. Joseph Niroj Sapkota Joerg Szarzynski Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States Mountain Research and Development humanitarian la soufrière lahar land use planning multihazard risk sensitive small-island developing states volcanic hazards |
| title | Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States |
| title_full | Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States |
| title_short | Challenges and Opportunities for Risk Management of Volcanic Hazards in Small-Island Developing States |
| title_sort | challenges and opportunities for risk management of volcanic hazards in small island developing states |
| topic | humanitarian la soufrière lahar land use planning multihazard risk sensitive small-island developing states volcanic hazards |
| url | https://bioone.org/doi/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00001.1 |
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