Resilience in Compound Disasters

Abstract

In the wake of a corona-virus outbreak, reports of additional natural disasters were recorded in various cities across the globe. Resilience at such challenging times has gained attention as one of the key approaches to disaster management. This chapter reflects on the experiences of compound disasters in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. This study applies a case study research design and data collection and analysis involving a three-phase methodological protocol. The study used KwaZulu-Natal provincial level of government as a case focusing on disaster management and resilience. The main lesson identified relates to weaknesses in the provincial disaster management framework and processes, which shows concerns in the areas of training and development and stakeholder engagement. A disaster management framework is suggested for building resilience in the system. The study adds a valuable theoretical contribution to the growing body of knowledge that seeks an understanding of managing compound disaster and building relentless resilience in disruptive times.