In terpreting resourcing bottlenecks of post‐Wenc huan earthquake reconstruction in China

Abstract

Post‐disaster reconstruction is likely to suffer resource shortages and supply disruptions. The devastating Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008 in China served as a typical example. After the catastrophe, resource problems such as price escalation and market inflation posed a significant challenge to Chinese policy makers and reconstruction team. Based on field surveys, the study attempts to examine the Wenchuan earthquake reconstruction practice and identify the most vulnerable resources along with their resourcing impediments inherent in the reconstruction process. The research findings show that at the early stage of reconstruction, labour and materials such as brick, cement, steel and aggregate were the most needed yet vulnerable resources. Procurement of these resources was mainly hindered by (1) reconstruction schedule and speed, (2) the impacts of the 2008 global financial crisis, (3) inadequate local transportation capacity, (4) dysfunction of the construction market, and (5) insufficient engagement of local construction industry. While the interventions and measures Chinese government adopted after the earthquake seem to be able to deal with resourcing bottlenecks in a short time; different efforts to reduce the impacts of these five areas are needed with a view to expediting longer‐term disaster recovery and reconstruction. Santruka Atstatant po nelaimiu tiketina, kad truks ištekliu ir kartais nutruks tiekimas. 2008 m. gegužes 12 d. Kinija supurtes niokojantis Wenchuan žemes drebejimas – būdingas pavyzdys. Po katastrofos kilusi ištekliu problema, kaip antai pakilusios kainos ir padidejusi rinka, Kinijos politikams ir atstatymo komandai tapo rimtu iššūkiu. Remiantis praktiniais tyrimais, darbe meginama išnagrineti atstatymo veikla po Wenchuan žemes drebejimo ir nustatyti sunkiausiai gaunamus išteklius kartu su atstatymo procesui būdingomis kliūtimis ju gauti. Tyrimo išvados rodo, kad ankstyvajame atstatymo darbu etape labiausiai reikejo, bet daugiausiai trūko tokiu ištekliu, kaip darbo jega ir medžiagos: plytos, cementas, plienas ir užpildai. Šiu ištekliu isigyti labiausiai trukde (1) atstatymo darbu tvarkaraštis ir sparta, (2) 2008 metu pasaulines finansu krizes poveikis, (3) nepakankamas vietinio transporto našumas, (4) sutrikusi statybu rinka ir (5) nepakankamas vietines statybu pramones dalyvavimas. Nors po žemes drebejimo Kinijos valdžios pasirinktos priemones ir intervencijos būdai lyg ir leido trumpam pašalinti ištekliu trūkumus, šiu penkiu punktu poveikiui mažinti reikia ivairiu pastangu, kad spartus atsigavimas ir atstatymas po nelaimiu būtu ilgalaikis. First Published Online: 10 Feb 2011

Keywords

• Post-disaster reconstruction
• Resource availability
• Resourcing constraints
• Wenchuan earthquake
• China