India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of disasters. Most of us will remember the year 2020 for the coronavirus pandemic. However, while the pandemic brought our human lives to a standstill, nature could not be reigned in.
Amidst the raging pandemic, India survived cyclones, floods, rains, biblical plagues, industrial disasters, locust attacks, and whatnot.
More than 58.6% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12%) of its land is prone to floods and river erosion; close to 5,700 km, out of the 7,516 km long coastline is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68% of its cultivable area is vulnerable to droughts; and, its hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches.
Post-disaster reconstruction and recovery are complex and entail many challenges for the affected communities as well the government.
When disaster strikes, the need for short-term housing is immediate and urgent.
Disaster relief shelters play a vital role in large-scale disasters and are an important part of disaster response and recovery.
These shelters are used to provide private and secure places for people to live who have left or lost their usual accommodations as a result of some form of disaster.
