| dc.description.abstract | Davis and Wall (1992:90, 91), in their disaster crunch model argue that a natural phenomena by itself is not a disaster until it encounters a hazard. Community based disaster management calls for people's participation, appropriate framework and structures, so that the community takes ownership of disaster management process. It aims at reducing vulnerabilities by strengthening capacities; with a goal of building disaster resilient communities. Structural-functional theory and disaster theories were used. The former views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The latter theory argues that a natural phenomenon by itself is not a disaster until it encounters a hazard.
The study was carried out in Gikomba market using descriptive study design and used both probability and non probability types of sampling. Stratified random sampling and proportionate random sampling was used in order to determine the sample size for each unit. Purposive sampling technique was used for key informants. Among 143 respondents, 36% were females and 64% were males. Cumulatively, 58% of the respondents indicated that they had witnessed between 1-5 fire incidents.
The findings revealed those who have been in business longer have experienced fewer fires incidents than those who have been in the business for a short period. Majority of the respondents indicated that there was high probability of fire to break in the market and highlighted the trigger factors with ease. The findings revealed that 67% of the respondents belonged to informal organized group within the market. Great potential in these groups was observed as they had financial intellectual and human resources within them.
There is need to carry out a VCA where elements at risk are identified, hazard mapping done and general factors contributing to vulnerability identified.
It would also be important to train traders on fire prevention, response and mitigation. Gikomba community's capacities and skills in disaster resilience need to be identified while at the same time, recognizing varying degrees of vulnerabilities determined by age, gender and physical disabilities. Three areas for further research include finding out why Gikomba community traders have not organized themselves towards fire disaster resilience; ascertain whether mismanagement of solid waste serves as trigger to fire disasters in Gikomba and probe why the frequency of fire disasters in Gikomba are increasing. | en_US |
