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Effectiveness of Reconstruction and Migration of Residents Following Typhoon Morakot -Examining Kaohsiung City’s Shanlin Da Ai Community , Xiaolin Village , and Maya Village Cheng-I Wang* , Kai-Ling Chen* ,Chu-Chi Huang*, Shu-Hung Cheng* Kaohsiung City Government Typhoon Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council * ABSTRACT: Kaohsiung City was the region of Taiwan most severely affected in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, with the greatest number of victims. The most important issue the government must face is how to efficiently rebuild residences in the disaster area. The government must also care for the psychological adjustment, social organization, employment development, and cultural continuity of the residents after they are moved to safe regions. A home reconstruction model was created for the special reconstruction conditions after Typhoon Morakot: The government acquires land and builds and maintains public facilities, while allowing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to build permanent residences through private donations. These permanent residences, restricted by the principle of partial property disposition, are donated to the residents of the disaster zone free of charge. This study uses interviews with residents and policy cross-analysis to investigate three migration models within Kaohsiung City: those of Shanlin Da Ai Community, Xiaolin Village, and Maya Village. The distribution of labor and models for cooperation between the local government, private NGOs, and resident reconstruction organizations are described from the dimensions of residential resettlement, community development, and cultural preservation. In addition, we examine the effectiveness of the implementation of permanent housing policies and the new problems resulting from them, along with the feedback, opinions, and reactions of residents toward the permanent housing rebuilding models. Analyzing the strategies revealed that: (1) The concentrated permanent housing construction model for multiethnic groups in a new location, Da Ai Village in the Shanlin District, has great potential for community development. Although the overall cost was the highest yet, the reconstruction project provided an opportunity for creating new industry types and employment opportunities. However, concerns about the different standards of living of various ethnicities persist, which could lead to difficulties in inhabitant consensus and a hindrance to community development. (2) Single ethnic group, dispersed permanent housing construction model, Xiaolin Village; the relocation site was decided by respecting the autonomous wishes of the inhabitants. There was the highest level of inhabitant satisfaction and a high level of consensus for the inhabitants of the community. However, relocation was spread over three sites, and the community naturally developed into three organizations with distinct focuses on development. The government’s continued promotion is still necessary to conserve the Xiaolin traditional Pingpu culture. (3) The overall cost of individual reconstruction at the original location model, the Maya Platform, was the lowest; but inhabitants have acclimatized more successfully and demonstrate high individuality with the housing. KEYWORDS: Post-disaster reconstruction , Permanent housing , Residents migration , Da Ai Community, Xiaolin Village 1. INTRODUCTION was most affected by Typhoon Morakot. The After the Typhoon Morakot disaster, 14 cities major transport routes to and from the and counties throughout Taiwan were affected aboriginal areas were severely damaged. It by large scale landslides in the mountainous was estimated that complete reconstruction and hillside areas. This resulted in poor would take over 5 years. Two years and 8 geological conditions of the inhabited areas months after the Morakot disaster, residents that proved problematic to stabilize within a of the Namasia and Taoyuan areas still relied short period. For the government, the most on embankment sidewalks that traverse the emergent problem that had to be resolved was riverbed for basic access. Because of unstable how to complete housing reconstruction with transport routes, the aboriginal areas were utmost efficiency for the inhabitants of the considerably isolated. A substantial amount of disaster-stricken areas. Other factors, such as sand and stone accumulated on the riverbed psychological adjustment, community from major alluvial that has raised the organization, employment development, and riverbed by 30 to 40 meters. However, because cultural continuation of the inhabitants, also of the considerable transportation distance had to be considered after relocating the and the high cost of clearing, the raised inhabitants to a safe area. riverbed has remained and currently poses a threat to the safety of aboriginal area The special regulations of the Morakot residents. Therefore, the Kaohsiung City Post-Disaster Reconstruction project created a Government is acting in concert with the model of home reconstruction: government central government and their permanent land acquisition, the construction and housing policy to encourage residents to maintenance of public facilities, and NGO relocate to a safer area. organizations used private donations for the construction of permanent housing. Under the According to the permanent housing limiting principle of the partial disposition of policy of the Executive Yuan, Taiwan, five property, permanent housing units are permanent housing sites are in Kaohsiung donated free of charge to the residents of City. This article focuses on the three resident disaster-stricken zones. relocation models (multiethnic group, relocation, concentrated permanent housing, Kaohsiung City is the area of Taiwan that Da Ai Village in the Shanlin District; single ethnic group, relocation, dispersed permanent (5)The geological location of the site is situated housing, Xiaolin Village; single ethnic group, between the former township area and the original location, individual reconstruction of Kaohsiung City metropolitan area. The distances properties, the Maya Platform) within from the site to the former residence location are: Kaohsiung City by referring to the associated Namasia (Mingsheng), 50 km; Taoyuan (Meishan), issues that arose with the construction 50 km; Maolin (Duona), 31 km; Xiaolin Village, 30 process of the Da Ai Village in the Shanlin km; Liouguei, 32 km; and Chiahsien, 16 km. The District for a comparative analysis. The distance from the location to the Kaohsiung City division of labor and mode of cooperation center is approximately 55 km. among the government, private NGOs, and local resident reconstruction organizations Table2.1 shows that Government and NGO are discussed to evaluate the efficiency of involvement in the construction of public executing the permanent housing infrastructure in the Da Ai Village in the Shanlin reconstruction policy and the various District difficulties that must be resolved. 2.1.2 Government counseling facilities for 2. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF inhabitants in Da Ai Village (2010.2.11- RELOCATION MODELS FOR DISASTER 2012.8.30) VICTIMS (1)Establishing the Shanlin Life Reconstruction 2.1Relocation,multiethnic,concentrated Center will provide six major categories of service, permanent housing model: the Da Ai Village in namely: psychological, employment, welfare (for the the Shanlin District elderly, children and adolescents, the disabled The Da Ai Village in the Shanlin District was individuals, and women), living, schooling, and designed to accommodate 1,500 permanent housing others. units. The first to be completed, it is the largest (2) Inhabitants are guided in launching and permanent housing site with 1,006 permanent units managing self-government organizations, such as the currently available. Da Ai Village management council. The management council will represent residents’ 2.1.1Factors for considering the site location independent opinions in discussions of public issues selection: (2009.8.20-2009.10.30) regarding the community, as arranged by the (1)The surrounding areas of the site are flat and safe. government and private NGOs. (2)The land on the site location owned by state (3) Guiding the residents in establishing community businesses (such as the Taiwan Sugar Corporation) organizations will focus on the community will be easily attainable. organization’s direction of development (such as (3)Agriculture in the surrounding areas are thriving, living care, industrial development, and marketing with large agricultural plots exhibiting potential for tourism) and provide financial support for the development. projects. (4)A Shanlin District Township Settlement Center is (4) Installation of employment service stations will nearby, as well as a junior high school for functional provide a continued liaison between employment livability. and provision of employment information. (5) Provide short-term, temporary work programs Village in the Shanlin District one year after the that recruit community residents for community Morakot disaster, and the results were 89% (Yan, infrastructure construction, maintenance of 2011). Various investigations were conducted with community environment, and providing life care for specific reference to the community area, senior citizens. community environment living standards, residence (6) Provide occupational skills training and interior environment, residence exterior environment, community human resource empowerment programs, culture and relaxation, public facilities,