Analyzing Relationships Between Reconstruction Approaches and Social Vulnerabilities in Tsunami-Affected Thailand
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Analyzing Relationships between Reconstruction Approaches and Social Vulnerabilities in Tsunami-Affected Thailand An Interactive Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by __________________________ Tyler Angers __________________________ Alissa Marien __________________________ Dean Rheaume Date: March 1, 2007 Advisors: __________________________ Bland Addison __________________________ Seth Tuler Abstract Following the destruction of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, a major reconstruction effort was undertaken. This project investigated the relationships between the reconstruction approaches used by organizations and the social vulnerabilities villagers experienced in Thailand following the reconstruction effort. We found that certain reconstruction approaches resulted in houses that did not meet villagers’ needs and increased their vulnerabilities. Recommendations were made to government agencies and NGOs for improving future reconstruction efforts and to researchers to explore gaps in knowledge. i Executive Summary On December 26, 2004 a tsunami struck the southwest coast of Thailand, causing many casualties and much destruction of infrastructure across six provinces in Southern Thailand – Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun. Immediately following the tsunami, relief organizations, including both NGOs and the Thai government, began rebuilding the affected area. The goal of this project was to understand the relationships between the approaches used by organizations to plan and implement the reconstruction and changes to villagers’ social vulnerabilities that are associated with the reconstruction. Also, we wanted to identify important social demographics that have influenced the changes in social vulnerabilities brought about by the reconstruction effort. In the context of our project, social vulnerability refers to an inability to cope with stresses that act on a person or community’s assets or livelihoods (Thailand Burma Border Consortium, 2004). An example of a social vulnerability is dependency, where a person may be dependent on outside agencies for house repairs because he or she lacks the necessary knowledge and/or skills. It has been noted by scholars that vulnerability is influenced by the cultural and social attributes of a community (Dynes, De Marchi, & Pelanda, 1987). Some examples of such attributes, which we call “social demographics,” are socioeconomic status, ethnicity, education, and occupation (Cutter, Boruff, & Shirley, 2003). Research Methods Our objectives consisted of determining how the approaches used by the reconstruction organizations affected changes in villagers’ social vulnerabilities and identifying important social demographics that have influenced these changes. To do this, we investigated the following research questions: • What processes did the organizations use to plan and implement reconstruction in the Ranong and Phang Nga provinces? • What changes to the villagers’ social vulnerabilities occurred after the tsunami? • How are the changes in social vulnerabilities related to the reconstruction approaches uses by the organizations? ii Answering our first research question allowed us to understand the reconstruction processes used by organizations, while answering our second research question allowed us to understand the changes in villagers’ social vulnerabilities that occurred after the tsunami. Our last research question helped us to relate the changes in social vulnerabilities to the reconstruction approaches used by organizations, therefore allowing us to make comparisons and establish causal relationships between the processes used by organizations and the resulting affects upon vulnerabilities. In order to answer our three research questions, we performed in-depth research through case studies of six villages in the Ranong and Phang Nga provinces, and broader research about villages and organizations through the use of archival research and interviews with organizations. We identified the reconstruction approaches used in the villages by performing semi-structured interviews with representatives of three different organizations and also by performing interviews with villagers, where possible. We used semi-structured interviews with villagers (in case study villages) to understand the changes in their social vulnerabilities. To better relate the reconstruction approaches to the changes in villagers’ vulnerabilities, we created a database in Microsoft Access that we used as a tool to organize the information we gathered. Findings We have divided our findings into three categories: reconstruction approaches used by organizations, changes in villagers’ social vulnerabilities, and analysis of the relationships between reconstruction approaches and social vulnerabilities. The last category describes our central findings because this section details the causal relationships between the approaches used by organizations and the changes in social vulnerabilities. Reconstruction Approaches Used by Organizations We have found that the level of involvement of villagers in the design and/or physical reconstruction of the houses varied by organization. Some organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, allowed villagers to individually design and build their own houses, while others, such as the Thai government, did not include villagers in either the design or construction. We found that organizations relocated some villages iii due to safety and/or land ownership issues because they were either located in the tsunami inundation zone and/or on land that did not belong to the villagers. We found that during the reconstruction effort, there was little coordination among the central and provincial governments. We found that there was also little coordination between government agencies and NGOs. We found that, in some cases, organizations may have used unsafe materials or construction techniques. We also found that in addition to rebuilding homes, some organizations, such as Save Andaman, have helped to restore villagers’ livelihoods. Changes to Villagers’ Social Vulnerabilities We found that some villagers are unable to perform repairs on their new houses because they have little knowledge of the materials and construction techniques used or do not have access to the proper materials. Therefore, villagers have an increased dependency on others. We found that some reconstructed houses have not met the specific needs and wants of the villagers. For example, many homes were built with an open kitchen, which creates problems during the rainy season. We found that when villagers were relocated from coastal areas, they experienced changes in vulnerabilities. These include changes in vulnerability from economic strains, occupational shifts, new land ownership, and modernization. We also found that some villagers do not trust the structural integrity of their houses because they feel certain structures are unstable or poorly constructed. Analysis of the Relationship between Reconstruction Approaches and Changes to Villagers’ Social Vulnerabilities We found that when villagers were not involved in the reconstruction process, they tended to become more dependent on others for house modifications and repairs. When organizations did not involve villagers in the design and construction of the houses, villagers were more dependent on outside resources because they were either unfamiliar with the materials and construction techniques used or did not have access to the proper materials. We found that when villagers were not involved in the reconstruction process, they felt that their houses did not suit their needs and wants. In these cases, villagers iv were unable to communicate such needs and wants to organizations because they were not involved in the reconstruction process. We found that when villagers were relocated due to land ownership or safety issues, they experienced changes in social vulnerabilities. Villagers experienced an increased vulnerability to economic stresses due to occupational shifts and new economic strains. Some villagers also experienced a decreased vulnerability to eviction due to new land ownership. We identified occupation, income, and family structure as being important social demographics that influenced changes in social vulnerabilities brought about by the reconstruction effort. For example, we have found that when some villagers were relocated further from the sea, they were unable to fish as frequently as before the tsunami, which increased their vulnerability to economic stresses because they had a decrease in income. Also, some houses that were built did not meet villagers’ needs for their family sizes and age distributions. Some houses were two stories, which caused problems for elderly family members, and some did not provide sufficient space for villagers’ family sizes. The social vulnerabilities that were influenced by occupation, income, and family structure, were a result of the specific reconstruction approaches that were used. Recommendations Based on our findings and background research, we offer a series of recommendations for NGOs and government agencies to improve the outcome of future reconstruction efforts so houses meet residents’ needs and do not increase vulnerabilities. We also offer a set of recommendations for future researchers to explore gaps in knowledge that we have identified. Recommendations