Page 43 - Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) 2021

VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL URBAN CENTRES
AND COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

The Indo-Pacific is an inherently and commercial infrastructure in the
maritime construct. This facet of the Indo-Pacific region to threats arising
region tends to draw most attention out of natural disasters and accidents.
to strategic challenges in the maritime In doing so, it will first examine the
domain, in the vast expanse from the nature of the coastal features in the
Indian Ocean to the West Pacific. It region, and assess various threats
is easy to lose focus of the fact that and vulnerabilities that characterise
maritime issues are vital only to the the sub-regions of the Indo-Pacific.
extent of their impact on human life Since the region covers a large and
ashore ¬– which in the case of the diverse topography, the paper will
Indo-Pacific region exceeds four billion examine certain key indicative
people, most of whom live in close characteristics of urban centres and
proximity to the coast. Coastal urban economic infrastructure along India’s
agglomerates are the most densely
populated areas in the world. While coastline, the study of which may be
their proximity to the oceans allows easily extended to other areas in the
them to provide attractive socio- region. The paper will go on to suggest
economic benefits to their populace, it mitigation strategies for risks, using
also makes them vulnerable to threats the Sendai Framework for Disaster
from natural disasters and accidents. Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-20130
The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami is to evolve policy suggestions at the
a stark example of how a single national and multilateral levels.
event in the ocean–in this case an The paper posits that the nature
earthquake–could cause widespread of such risks extends across state
damage to populations centres, and boundaries, and hence their mitigation
economic infrastructure in multiple strategies need to be necessarily
states. This paper seeks to examine the based on models that promote
vulnerability of coastal urban centres international cooperation.

3 September 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 43