This study examines the opportunity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for city planners and leaders to learn from the crisis and build resilient cities with long-term societal, economic, and environmental resilience against future disasters. The research focuses on the relationship between urban planning and policies and the extent of their resilience, particularly in response to pandemic-related disasters. The study evaluates the ability of the city of Baghdad to respond to the pandemic and identifies gaps in its resilience. The study uses the scorecard measurement instrument to examine the disaster resilience of cities, with a focus on governance and financial capability, disaster planning and preparedness, and disaster response and post-event recovery. The study finds that the primary gap between the level of governance and the financial capacity of the city of Baghdad is the lack of financial capacity and the inability to recognize and comprehend existing and future risk scenarios. The study also finds gaps in planning and emergency preparation, including the incorporation of green and blue infrastructure into policies, plans, and projects, and the inability of infrastructure to bear transportation, healthcare, and education facilities. Finally, the study identifies a gap in disaster response in terms of event management strategies, early warning, and training.
