Strategies for community participation in pre-disaster phase in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

The objective of this paper is to identify and investigate the strategies utilised by local communities in the Gaza Strip, Palestine in pre-disaster stage. Twenty four community participation-pre-disaster strategies were compiled from the literature and refined according to the pilot study. A purposive sampling method of 86 community members in neighborhood committees was employed to collect the data. The results obtained from the exploratory factor analysis clustered the community participation strategies into three components, namely: preparing effective coordination and management plans, preparing information and knowledge system and providing early warning and communication plans. Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Gaza governorates require a common understanding of what creates effective disaster preparedness system. Risks threatening Gaza Strip cannot be prevented, but their human, socio-economic and environmental impacts can and should be minimised through appropriate measures, including early warning. The early warning system in Gaza governorates is considered weak and need to be developed. There is a need to disseminate early warning protocols of every type of risks in Gaza Strip for local communities. The findings of this research will be significant concerning the present and future of organisational planning and management by both governmental and NGOs regarding disaster management practice and community participation in pre-disaster phase.