Publication: Mobilizing and Coordinating Expert Teams, Nongovernmental Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, and Vounteers
Date
2012-09
ISSN
Published
2012-09
Author(s)
Abstract
In response to the Great East Japan
Earthquake (GEJE), domestic and international assistance
initiatives were launched by a large number of public and
private sectors organizations; and various emergency teams
were mobilized through national and international networks.
The GEJE reminded us that civil society organizations play
an indispensable role in disaster management. These
organizations have the advantage of flexibility and speed in
reaching and caring for affected communities. However, there
were no coordination mechanisms in place that functioned
properly on the ground. Because of the complexity of
disaster response operations and the large numbers of actors
involved, coordination mechanisms must be established in
advance during normal times. Municipality and prefecture
governments play a leading role in disaster response in
Japan. However, because of the catastrophic consequences of
the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis many of the local
governments were unable to respond, so national agencies as
well as prefectures and municipalities outside the affected
region were quickly deployed. Disaster Medical Assistance
Team (DMAT) is a specialized team of medical doctors,
nurses, and operational coordinators trained to conduct
emergency operations during the critical period, normally
within 48 hours, after a large-scale disaster or accident.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Osa, Yukie; Sagara, Junko; Ishiwatari, Mikio. 2012. Mobilizing and Coordinating Expert Teams, Nongovernmental Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, and Vounteers. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16158 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”