Eighteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

We are seeing an unprecedented number of worldwide disasters which are raising havoc in the lives of people. The cost of natural disasters alone in 2018 was $155 billion worldwide. The destruction and chaos causes no less pain and anguish to people in the developing world than in the developed world. However there are distinct advantages to those in the developed world. There are resources available to carry out disaster related efforts in developed countries. In contrast, there is a pressing need for resources in developing countries. My research focuses on the unique circumstances of developing countries in respect to their ability to respond to disasters. Little research has been done to understand the preparedness, management, and impacts of disasters in developing country. After completion of a similar case study in 2016 in Ghana, another developing country, Nepal, which faces annual and periodical disasters was selected to be the second case study. This research expands the breadth and deepens knowledge of disaster impacts in the developing world. My focus is on two catastrophic earthquakes which struck in 2015. Enough time had passed between the event and the present time to gain a more objective analysis of the disaster.