Challenges of Disasters in Asia : Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience

The book provides an understanding about the disaster impacts, vulnerability assessment, adaptation pathways and mitigation for strengthening the resilience of the society to various hazards. Multi- dimensionality of disasters is depicted by various approaches and effective modelling. The book is a synthesis of research papers presented at online International Conference on the theme organized by the Centre for Disaster management, Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management and Regional Remote Sensing Centre (North), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), New Delhi, India during 02-03 March, 2021. The book has been organized into four parts spreading over 28 chapters. Part I deals with the impact assessment of various disasters. Part II examined ecological and socio-economic vulnerability arising out of the disasters. Part III identifies possible solutions for lessening vulnerability to disasters and effective adaptation strategies. Finally, part IV provides an insight for making the societies resilient to the disasters. The main focus of each chapter was laid implicitly on policy concerns focusing on disaster reduction at spatial scales. The book will immensely be helpful for the researchers, academicians and scientific communities for discussing set of questions necessary for future research. It will attract the attention of functionaries, practitioners, policy makers, training institutes and stakeholders for making appropriate methods of communicating risks and adaptation strategies for disaster management.

Dr. Haroon Sajjad is a professor in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He received his B.Sc, M.Sc, M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees all from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. His present research interests include climate change/climate variability impacts, environmental management, sustainable development, watershed management and applications of remote sensing and GIS. He has six books to his credit and has published more than 100 research papers in academic journals. Prof. Sajjad has presented over 50 research papers at national and international conferences including ones held at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; University of British Columbia, Canada; University of Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; and University of Brighton, U.K. He has chaired academic sessions at conferences and has organized academic events such as national and international conferences, workshops and training programmes. He has delivered invited talks at numerous universities. Ten doctoral degrees have been awarded to the scholars under his supervision. He is a reviewer for many scientific research journals and a member of scientific bodies and expert panels. He has completed many research projects of various funding agencies as a co-principal investigator.

Dr. Lubna Siddiqui is an associate professor and deputy coordinator, Centre for Disaster Management, Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. She completed her M.A. at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, and her Ph.D. at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, India. She specializes in population geography. Many Ph.D. degrees have been awarded to students under her supervision. She has published more than two dozen research papers in academic journals and presented research papers at national and international conferences; she has been an invited speaker at numerous universities. Dr. Siddiqui has organizedmany national and international conferences and training programmes in her department, and she has completed many research projects of various agencies.

Dr. Atiqur Rahman is a professor in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He received his Ph.D. degree from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. His research interests include urban environmental management, water resource management and public health. He has published eight books and more than 100 research papers in academic journals. Prof. Rahman has presented more than 50 research papers at national and international conferences including ones held at Arizona State University, U.S.A; McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A; and the American Academy of Sciences, Texas, U.S.A. In addition, he has spoken in South Africa, Germany, Italy, France and Poland. Eight doctoral degrees have been awarded to scholars under hissupervision. Prof. Rahman has chaired academic sessions at various conferences. He is a reviewer for many research journals and a member of scientific bodies in his field of specialisation. He has completed many national and international research projects.

Dr. Mary Tahir is a professor and the head of the Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. She obtained her M.A. degree from Jamia Millia Islamia and her Ph.D. degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Her research interests include social geography and environmental geography. She is the author of ten books. Five Ph.D. degrees have been awarded under her supervision. Prof. Tahir has published research papers in national and international journals and delivered invited talks at many universities. She has completed numerous research projects and organized national and international conferences.

Dr. Masood Ahsan Siddiqui is a professor and coordinator, Centre for Disaster Management, Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He obtained his B.A., M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. His present research fields include the application of remote sensing and GIS in watershed management and waste management. Prof. Masood has published four books and some three dozen research papers in academic journals. Fourteen students under his supervision have been awarded Ph.D. degrees. He has completed two major research projects awarded by the Department of Science and Technology and the University Grants Commission. Currently he is the principal investigator of two major research projects. He has presented many research papers at national and international conferences. As well, he has organized workshops, training programmes and conferences.