What We Need to Face the Disaster
By: JAWAD IQBAL JAWAD
No doubt the recent tides of furious flood are high and according to some reports more than twenty million Pakistanis have been affected by this calamity; but they are not higher than our ambition, passion and courage. Only what we need is to ignite the spirit and manage our potential to prove that the altitude of our ambition and passion is much higher than these lethal waves.
Like many other parts of the world natural calamities and other emergency situations are not new to Pakistan. Right from the beginning we are facing such situations. In 1947 the world saw the largest displacement of the history. The disastrous flood wreaked havoc in 1976 but sufferings, problems and intense sense of loss faded out by the best healer - Time.
The bright morning of 8th October, 2005 brought the darkling and devastating earthquake in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (NWFP at that time) and AJK. Earth quake horribly shook the earth, but devotion, dedication and courage of nation remained unshakable. Aid caravans from every nook and corner set for the affected areas to rescue, help and rehabilitate the grieved brethren. It was high time of our ambition and spirit. There were uncountable trucks and vehicles going to the quack-hit areas. Then rehabilitation activities took an unending period of time for completion.
Fire of terrorism and anti terrorism operations caused displacement in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (NWFP at that time). People of other areas revived the spirit of Ansar (RA) by welcoming and helping the IDPs.
Now comes another disaster at large. Destruction rather devastation brought by earth quake was limited to Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and AJK only. But the recent flood is not limited to one province or to a specific area of the country. From Khyber to Sindh it is making our people homeless and depriving them of their household, properties, cattle and peace of mind. More than fifteen hundred people have lost their lives.
People are collecting donations for their affected brethren and going out to help them, but still there is a lot to be planned and done because this flood is going to leave after effects severer than the aftershocks of the earth quake. Earth quake brought destruction at once and then there was time to save the injured and provide the affectees with food and shelter. But, now, flood is involving us in more challenges and tasks with every coming day. It started its ill journey from one part of the country and, now, going to other parts. The people who were there to donate the earth-quake affectees are, now, flood effectees themselves.
If we see carefully all the disasters hit Pakistan proved that we are blessed with original spirit, ambition and courage, but we lack the art of management. We have sense but lack sensibility. No doubt, we need donations for rescue and then rehabilitation, but the more important thing is disaster management. This is the art we do not know exactly. Actually we are not properly trained for this.
When our air plane got destroyed in Margalla hills we were unable to go to the place of accident at night. No doubt that place was in the hills, but those hills were in the surroundings of our capital city. In 2005 when the earth quake hit Islamabad we were unable to rescue people stuck in destroyed Margalla tower for we had not proper equipments and training to handle the situation.
If there is an institution named National Disaster Management Authority it should be an active institution. Students of colleges, universities and other volunteers must be trained for disaster management properly. In addition to this our rehabilitation authorities and institutions must play an active role to help the people settling back in their native areas. Our ambitious and spirited youth from colleges and universities who is collecting donations for their affected brothers and sisters must be given opportunity to prepare themselves for disaster management. In this way we will have a large workforce to handle such incidents.
It has been observed that the donations and aid meant to be utilized for the benefit of the affectees is misused by the authorities. For tackling this situation there must be a strict check and balance by the government. Natural calamities cannot be stopped but human lives can be saved if we utilize the great gifts of nature - our mind and intellect.
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