AN INTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE ON COMMUNITY VULNERABILITY TO FLOODING IN CITIES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Flooding is a serious concern in cities of developing countries of its damage scale on inhabitants and built infrastructures. Climate change and extremes increase flood hazards enhancing the vulnerability of communities particularly those residing in flood prone areas and slums. Technocratic technical measures have long been adopted to protect people behind the structures but the scope of protection is limited and it is even more hazardous when the structures collapse. Subsequently, contemporary measures with flood warning and rescue emerge. However, with these flood protection options, have we already reduced community vulnerability to flood disasters? My research suggests to understanding what constitute community vulnerability since it poses a multiple interpretation of concepts and contexts. The level of vulnerability can be as diverse as the groups within the community. My literature review provides evidence that community vulnerability is shaped by biophysical impacts of flood disasters as well as the inherent limited adaptive capacity so called social vulnerability of inhabitants. Consequently, the poor and marginalized are the most vulnerable groups since their entitlement to resources is low. Flood protection structures do not recognize this social vulnerability. Therefore, by acknowledging this diversity of vulnerability, flood risk management programs can be inclusively designed in connection with other city development programs such as health care and social welfare improvement. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.