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AFGHANISTAN FINAL REPORT, for the ADKN Disaster Risk Management Initiative Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture February 24, 2014

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AFGHANISTAN FINAL REPORT, for the ADKN Disaster Risk Management Initiative Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture February 24, 2014 http://www.myshutterspace.com/photo/afghan-starry-night/next?context=user, Accessed February 14, 2014. AFGHANISTAN FINAL REPORT, for the ADKN Disaster Risk Management Initiative Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture February 24, 2014 Samira Thomas and Emily Williamson Professor James Wescoat AFGHANISTAN BIBLIOGRAPHIC SEARCH RESULTS Sections I. Context II. Bibliographic Search Methods III. Summary Analysis of Findings IV. Gray Literature Summary V. Hazards Published Scientific Bibliography VI. Village Planning Published Scientific Bibliography VII. Published Scientific Literature Tables VIII.Grey Literature Bibliography I. Context: Afghanistan Nationally, Afghanistan experiences a variety of natural and man- made disasters regularly. Natural disasters, including earthquakes, droughts, landslides, avalanches, and floods occur across the country in the context of continued security issues, political instability, overpopulation in urban areas (especially Kabul), unexploded landmines, and pending international forces withdrawing from the country over the next year. Afghanistan continues to be a country of focus for many international government and non-governmental organizations that are a significant source of funding and human resource support for development projects. II. Bibliographic Search Methods The bibliographic search focuses on book publications, dissertations Introduction and theses, and journal publications. Grey papers and government This section details the bibliographic search conducted to identify documents will also be analyzed. publications and research that are relevant to either relocation or Resource Identification village planning as two possible routes towards disaster mitigation. As outlined in Bibliographic Methods for Disaster Resilient Planning and Design document, the primary databases that will be searched are:- Web of Knowledge -Water Resources Abstract -Compendex -Avery Additional databases searched for publications relevant to Afghanistan included: -WorldCat.org -Library of Congress -The British Library -Google Books -The Afghanistan Digital Library at New York University -MIT Theses in DSpace Articles and documents that are directly relevant to the objectives of this search will be recorded and compiled into a bibliography. Keyword Search For each of the resources listed above, a keyword search was conducted to identify relevant articles for our bibliographic search. Abstracts, where relevant, are included in the bibliographic search. Further resources have been identified from the references of relevant articles. The current search pairs a General Planning and Design Term, a Hazards Management Term, or a Specific Hazard Term, with a Geographic Term (in this case specific to Afghanistan and DRMI’s key target regions within the country). The table below outlines these terms – for each search, a term from one of the red columns is matched with a term from the green column: III. Summary Analysis of Findings Understanding Afghanistan and its national relationship to disasters cannot be understood without clarity on the context of the country. Specifically, issues associated with conflict are important to not only keep in mind, but also to understand their connection to natural disasters. For this particular bibliographic search, natural and man-made disaster terms are often similar, but are not used interchangeably. For example, in the context of a natural disaster, a Several design interventions have also been developed. Kazimee has “safe haven” would be a site that people could seek refuge from the done significant work in Afghanistan’s architecture. Tent designs for disaster. In the context of Afghanistan’s conflict, however, a “safe refugees in cold climates have also been proposed, as well as a haven” has come to be a place that harbors terrorists. study on the potential for using shipping containers in Afghanistan as building materials for housing. Conflict has also had a significant impact on increasing risks to natural disasters. Two examples should be highlighted. The first is Additional issues that are related though not directly relevant are the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas that has created increased issues related to: climate change, health, refugee psychology, risk for landslides in that particular area. The second is a scientific cultural heritage destruction and loss, and protected area planning. study on the way that deep penetrating bombs trigger earthquakes All of these issues will have relevance in the long-run development in the region. Finally, landmines are an important consideration of a thoughtful disaster risk reduction plan, and should particularly when thinking about relocation, particularly in rural areas that have be considered in the context of relocation and resettlement. not benefited yet from demining efforts. AKDN-related studies also emerged. Specifically: Some search terms produced many results while others produced 1. Walraven, G., Manaseki-Holland, S., Hussain, A., & Tomaro, J. B. very few. Geographic terms significantly alter the number of results (2009). Improving maternal and child health in difficult found. There exist very few results for areas outside of Kabul and environments: The case for "cross-border" health care. Herat, the exception being in locations where significant events 2. Maiwandi, A. (2001). The modern ruin [kabul]. occurred (for example in relation to the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, or Kandahar with its pronounced violence). The other Key Findings: exception is in locations where particular international forces were o Conflict is a major issue – terms for natural disasters are often stationed. transferable in war/conflict (i.e. safe havens) so hits are higher with these terms The term ‘clustering’ did not produce significant results. This may be due to the need for greater specificity – the search term o Some studies on connection between deep penetrating bombs may need to be paired with additional terms, or perhaps a new and triggering earthquakes term may be necessary to find the literature DRMI is aiming for. Several studies on disaster mitigation, risk reduction, and response o Clustering does not have significant results – more specificity may in Afghanistan emerged. In particular, some work was be necessary, or a different term? found on institutional response to disaster and the need for military and non-military (both domestic and international) actors to work in o Climate change was not explored in this study, but may be a partnership. Particular attention has been placed in a number of possible topic for future studies articles on the politics of power in reconstruction after disaster in Afghanistan. o Geographic terms significantly alter the number of results found – the environmental in Afghanistan seems linked in ways that were very few results for areas outside of Kabul and Herat, with more not clear to me before doing this search appearing in locations where significant particular events happened (i.e. Bamiyan Buddhas or Kandahar with pronounced violence). o Some (but not extensive) work on institutional responses to disasters – Important to highlight the capacity and need for military o Cultural heritage at significant risk not only because of war but and non-military (international and domestic) to work together also environmental challenges/disasters/degradation. o Connection between reconstruction and power – highly political o Landmines continue to be of concern in Afghanistan – relocation would require consideration of these issues o Shipping containers – possible roof design – significant number of these, a design could be useful in using materials and finding o Further initiatives like “protected area planning” in Afghanistan housing. Design with safety and insulation and possibly ease of should be discussed further and understood with regards to how movement could be an interesting architectural project. this would impact future settlements/migration of populations. o Much from the medical perspective o Kazimee – Architecture in Afghanistan (several studies) o Psychological impact of being a refugee – though not necessarily o Krishnadas, J. (2008). Rights to govern lives in postdisaster the scale we are discussing in our meetings, the concepts and reconstruction processes. Global Governance, 14(3) lessons can still prove valuable to understanding: Steel, Z., Momartin, S., Silove, D., Coello, M., Aroche, J., & Tay, K. W. (2011). o Concept of long-term challenges and short-term crises in Central Two year psychosocial and mental health outcomes for refugees Asia – thematic for this search as well (Linn, J. F. (2009). Central subjected to restrictive or supportive immigration policies. Social asia: Long-term challenges and short-term Science & Medicine, 72(7) doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.02.007 crises. International Water Power and Dam Construction, 61(3), 14- 17.) o AKDN-related study (names seem like it was AKDN initiated, particularly G. Walraven, but might be independent) Walraven, G., o Ajmal Maiwand’s “the modern ruin” came up Manaseki-Holland, S., Hussain, A., & Tomaro, J. B. (2009). Improving maternal and child health in difficult o Sarah Halverson’s research on gender environments: The case for "cross-border" health care. Plos Medicine, 6(1), e1000005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000005St o Tent design for refugees – particularly for cold weather o Landslides associated with Bamiyan Buddhas – emphasizing the connection between war and ‘natural’ challenges – the social and IV. Gray Literature
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