Can reconstruction in complex disasters be an opportunity for peace processes? - Jeremiah Kariuki

For countries dealing with conflict, how can the reconstruction processes of Tsunami or other complex disasters be seized as an opportunity to bring peace? - Jeremiah Kariuki, Emergency Response Personnel, Save the Children, Nairobi, Kenya

The Tsunami caught many of us and many of the communities unaware. The level of preparedness then, the levels of early warning were not strong enough to have averted the disaster (life losses and injuries). But that could have been averted had there been adequate preparedness and early warning.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the levels of coordination were very weak. The ensuing responses were challenged by weak coordination in the early days. I guess some of the strengths out of it were the OCHA and coordination mechanisms and the cluster systems getting strengthened

I was in Sri Lanka then, a country that was also trying to cope with years of conflict. My reflections are how such disasters like Tsunami or other complex disasters could be used to bring peace, an opportunity to be seized in the reconstruction process.