“I thought I lost my home”: resource loss, distress and recovery after the Manaro Voui volcanic disaster on Ambae Island
Disaster Prevention and Management
ISSN: 0965-3562
Article publication date: 31 August 2021
Issue publication date: 25 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper builds on existing studies by drawing on Conservation of Resources theory to explore the losses, psychological impacts as well as recovery processes of the 2017/18 volcanic disaster on Ambae Island, Vanuatu.
Design/methodology/approach
This discussion is based on local perspectives and personal accounts collected through a series of eight semi-structured interviews (five males and three females).
Findings
The volcanic activity and subsequent displacement and evacuation led to significant resource loss which had a spiralling nature, causing psychological harm. Locals invested resources to recover and protect against future loss in diverse ways and, as resource gains were secured, experienced emotional relief. Key to recovery and healing included returning “home” after being displaced and reinvigorating cultural practices to re-establish cultural continuity, community and identity. Resource gains spiralled as people reconnected and regained a sense of place, optimism and the motivation to rebuild.
Originality/value
Numerous studies have drawn upon the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory to explore how resource loss can trigger psychological distress during environmental disasters; however, it has not been applied in Vanuatu, the most at-risk nation globally to natural hazards. This paper builds on existing studies by exploring personal accounts of resource loss, distress and recovery, and providing insights into resource spirals, caravans and passageways.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to the 8 participants for providing such valuable, important and meaningful insights in this study. Without you, this study would not have been possible. The authors also thank and acknowledge Rita Bill, Larisha Obed and Dickson Pakoa from Further Arts who were instrumental in fieldwork and data collection. This work was funded through an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (grant number FT190100114).
Citation
Clissold, R., McNamara, K.E., Westoby, R., Daniel, L., Raynes, E. and Licht Obed, V. (2021), "“I thought I lost my home”: resource loss, distress and recovery after the Manaro Voui volcanic disaster on Ambae Island", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 30 No. 4/5, pp. 432-446. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-02-2021-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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