Rise of the Warlords

“Rise of the Warlords” is the second book in the “Tsunami Chronicles” series. Set in Indonesia’s western province, Aceh, it is a story of impressive leadership in emergency response and recovery following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The recovery was plagued with serious political, organisational and technical challenges. Local warlords fought for supremacy. Conflict, corruption and incompetence seared the scene. Soaring costs collapsed commitments. Political infighting tore at the heart and soul of everything. “Warlords” dives inside the lead government agency where a master organisational strategist ultimately tamed these and other forces. It reveals the practicalities of disaster management and realities of emergency leadership and offers a rare study of how organisations really work. The story will hold special appeal to those in the international community—the UN, World Bank, Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations and development agencies—keen for greater insights into disaster risk management, preparedness and reconstruction in an era of global warming and climate change where natural disasters threaten like never before.