Acción del Estado y acción comunitaria en la gestión de la vivienda post erupción del volcán Chaitén, Chile: dos estrategias divergentes

Abstract

Como consecuencia del impacto de la erupción del Volcán Chaitén en el año 2008, más de 4000 familias debieron abandonar sus viviendas y fueron desplazadas a diferentes localidades y ciudades de la Isla de Chiloé y el continente. Al 2015, cerca de un 40% de los habitantes han retornado a la ciudad la cual fue definida como un área no apta para la vida humana por su predisposición potencial a ser afectada por riesgos provenientes de la naturaleza. Mediante la revisión de políticas y acciones aplicadas por parte del Estado, procedimientos, análisis en terreno, fuentes secundarias y entrevistas a los afectados, se concluye que la comprensión y dimensión del daño y las estrategias utilizadas, en aspectos alusivos a la vivienda en este desastre socionatural, tienen un efecto sesgado, limitado y por tanto negativo, en la gestión del riesgo, principalmente en la etapa de reconstrucción y reasentamiento de los habitantes damnificados puesto que no lograron articular los intereses y expectativas de la comunidad chaitenina.

The eruption of Chaiten in 2008 triggered the forced relocation of more than 4000 families to different cities in Chiloe Island and Continental Chile. As of 2015, about 40 per cent of mobilized people have returned to the affected city, which was declared as unsuitable for habitation due to its proneness to natural hazards. Through the analysis of different State policies and actions, procedures, field analysis, secondary sources and interviews with affected people, this paper concludes that the understanding and dimension of the damage and strategies implemented in relation to housing within the context of this socio-natural disaster are biased, limited and negative. In this sense, risk management has been particularly affected during the reconstruction and resettlement processes since the interests and expectations of locals have not been satisfied. As for the State strategies intended to address housing management during the Chaiten disaster: Were they adequate? Did they meet the aspirations and expectations of those involved? This ongoing and unfinished process is suffering from conceptual limitations in terms of understanding, design and management, the result being a serious impact on the quality of life of those affected. Apart from its value as a physical asset, housing was not considered in terms of its intrinsic value.