Disaster Management · M2 · papers

Principles and ethics

Solved M2 questions

2-mark and 3-mark practice · full answers below each question

Practice question. State and explain three basic principles of disaster management. [3 practice marks]

Answer

  1. Comprehensive approach: plan for multiple hazards and cover mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
  2. Coordination: clearly allocate agency responsibilities and share reliable information to avoid delays or duplicated work.
  3. Inclusion: involve communities and provide accessible warnings, shelters and assistance according to need.

Practice question. State and explain any three general ethical principles of disaster management. [3 practice marks]

Answer

  1. Non-discrimination. Assistance must not depend on caste, religion, gender or political affiliation. Registration and shelter access must be fair and accessible.
  2. Humanity. Protect life, health and human dignity. Provide water, shelter and urgent care while preventing humiliation or exploitation.
  3. Impartiality. Allocate assistance according to assessed need and urgency. A severely affected settlement may receive more resources than a less affected one.

Practice question. Explain ethical principles applicable before a disaster. [3 practice marks]

Answer

  1. Information and participation: provide reliable, accessible risk information and include residents in planning.
  2. Prevention and training: implement safety measures and conduct drills in schools, workplaces and public places.
  3. Equitable protection: make special arrangements for people with limited mobility, children and other at-risk groups, while protecting dignity and access to remedies.

Practice question. Explain three ethical duties during disaster response. [3 practice marks]

Answer

  1. Impartial relief: distribute food, water and shelter according to assessed needs without discrimination.
  2. Respect for dignity: protect privacy, personal safety, family unity and freedom from abuse.
  3. Accessible and safe assistance: communicate clearly, support those needing help to evacuate, and protect rescue workers with equipment and training.

Practice question. Explain the role of engineers in disaster management. [3 practice marks]

Answer

  1. Before impact: design resilient buildings and lifelines, map hazards and maintain warning and backup systems.
  2. During response: assess infrastructure damage, restore emergency communications and support safe rescue logistics.
  3. During recovery: restore services and rebuild to safer standards while reviewing the failures that increased losses.