HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES FOLLOWING NATURAL DISASTERS

Post-disaster housing is defined by United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO) as "housing policies and applications following a disaster for meeting the urgent, temporary and permanent sheltering needs of the survivors of the disaster". The construction of post-disaster housing is a process diverse from the construction of housing in normal times, since the process consists of actions to be realized in times of major crisis in the aftermath of disasters. There are five elements that build a housing reconstruction strategy: the approach of the program, the actors in implementation, phasing of the construction, financial model used and the decision of whether to relocate or re-settle in the disaster area.

There are two basic approaches in the post-disaster reconstruction which comprise of the 'technology-based approach' and 'community-based approach'. Technology-based approaches are usually supported by a provider policy, with dependence on the import of dwellings from the developed donor countries. Community-based approach in the post-earthquake reconstruction promotes and depends on public participation in reconstruction that helps build self-reliance into the affected communities and attempts to take advantage of the local resources in a long-term development.

The housing reconstruction methods according to the actors in implementation fall into two main categories; community-based construction, and self-help models. There are generally three methods according to the phasing of the construction; three-phased, two-phased and core housing. Four methods are generally accepted according to the financial models to be used in the post-earthquake reconstruction; complete finance by the National Government, paternalistic model, limited intervention supported by low-interest loan programs and disaster insurance, and complete finance realized by market forces. Naturally, there are two options for choosing the land for the settlement; relocation or re-settlement in the same area.