Contrasting Natural Calamities Situations of Assam & Afghanistan
A natural calamity or a disaster is a major event of adverse nature resulting from natural happeings, such as earthquakes,floods,cyclones,landslides,hurricanes, volcanic eruptions,wildfires etc which impact community at large and also make an area more vulnerable for a certain period.
According to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceed its capacity to cope, using it’s own resources. These can be caused by natural, man made and technological hazards,as well as various factors that influence the exposure and vulnerability of a community.”
Unchecked over exploitation of natural resources, habit of people to reside in ‘ Risk Zones’ & sinking areas,deforestation,
global warming & climate change also make an area more vulnerable.
Hence nature alone cannot be considered a culprit always.
According to U.N. Disaster Monitoring System, greatest number of natural disasters used to occur earlier in the disaster prone pockets of Asia-Pacific region, which led to tremendous loss of human and animal life, assets, loss of livelihood ,communication systems and many other short and long term social and economic disruptions.These also have the potential to generate a sizable amount of waste-polythene, plastic,styrofoam etc. Adequate care is therefore, also necessary during the rescue and relief operations while coping with air pollution, blocking of drainage, prevalence of dead bodies etc or else many water borne diseases and respiratory illnesses , mostly to women and children may happen.
Some of the Major Cyclones of pre-1970 era, keeping in view high number of casualties are:
Year Country Casualties
1737 India 3 lakh
1876 East Pakistan 2 lakh
1881 China 3 lakh
1923 Japan 2.5 lakh
1970 East Pakistan 3 lakh
In the same way, devastating Earthquakes of 20th Century are:
Year Place Richter Scale Deaths
1905 Kangra,H.P. (8.0) 20,000
1934 N.Bihar (8.4) 11,000
1935 Quetta,Pakistan (7.5) 25,000
1950 Assam (8.6) 1,500
1988 Bihar,W.B,Sikkim. (6.7) 1,300.
Change of Focus/Orientation
Natural disaster coping mechanism by providing cash only to victims was never free from corruption ,rather it would lead to worsening of ongoing conflicts in an affected zone. Hence, change of focus was felt necessary, oriented towards disaster preparedness, duly assisted by regular sharing of data and expertise face to face as also by use of internet and mobile telephones.
Launching of International Early Warning Programme by the U.N.O. in 2000 and subsequent declaration of October 13 as International Day For Disaster Reduction(I.D.D.R.) could be considered significant milestones internationally.
Similarly change of nodal Ministry from Agriculture to Home Affairs and setting up of National Disaster Management Agency( NDMA) in 2004 changed the scenario of disaster management in India. In no time State and District level agencies came up.
These got further fillip with formation of a dedicated National Diaster Response Force(NDRF) in 2006. Now with the help of such forces at key locations as also state capitals, response is becoming swift, certain and dependable.
NDRF with 13,000 trained professionals has been able to rescue over 1.44 lakh valuable lives and has evacuated more than 7 lakh persons stranded in disaster situations.
Extreme Weather Phenomena In North East India
Such a development nowadays is leading to unexpected heat, hot, sultry & humid conditions,cold or wetness etc, posing severe risks to human life. Sometimes localised unbearable weather can also cross geographical limits, causing destruction within two to three hours.
Talking of Tropical Cyclones,these also impact marine life and coastal regions more whereas inland regions are relatively safe from strong winds due to their rapid dissipation over land.However, widespread floods can happen even in far inland areas due to high amount of rain from Tropical cyclones.
This is what precisely happened in the North Eastern states, especially in third week of June. According to some sources,Meghalaya had recorded 203% excess rainfall, followed by Assam(170 %), Tripura(151%),Arunachal Pradesh( 65%),Mizoram(64%) and Manipur(20%).
While Assam and Meghalaya flood situation being grim, these have been widely reported in print and electronic media. With situation improving in Meghalaya, in Manipur death of 16 persons and over 60 still missing in landslides at a railway construction site close to the capital is sending shock waves.
As far as Assam is concerned, at one stage, 32 out of 35 Districts were under flood waters.There is little respite still in 25 Districts even now. According to latest information released by Assam State Disaster Management Agency, the number of casualties has risen to 160 and 2.98 million people and a total of 1,590,557 domestic animals are still bearing the brunt of unprecedented floods.Setting up of 230 relief camps in Cachar Dist and 896 camps all over the state is proving insufficient. Water level in Barak river is still flowing above danger level in several areas leading to immense shortage of food ,drinking water, medicines and many essential commodities.
When floods and landslides happen in Assam and many other states of Eastern India every year ,I suppose, local administration should make fool proof preparations.
Need For Restrained Public Behaviour
In such extreme situations, people should be more alert and proactive rather than only waiting for Government response.
Immediate action by First Responders, Gram Panchayats and local N.G.O’s can very well turn the tide. Any action taken should be in the interest of health of community at large. In this regard, the act of damage to an embankment over Barak river( less dangerous than mighty Brahamputra) by some miscreants near Silchar town was completely uncalled for.
This proves the point that NATURAL DISASTERS CAN TAKE UNEXPECTED SHAPE even when an old and organized system may be in place.
Earthquake in Afghanistan
I may be failing in my task if post earthquake pathetic situation in Afghanistan is not paid attention. The country of 38 millions has witnessed large scale devastation owing to earthquakes in the Eastern provinces of Paktika, Khost and Nangarhar. The country already undergoing acute economic crisis, following the fresh takeover by the Talibans on 15th August 2021, had to face a massive earthquake at 6.2 on Richter scale on 22nd June.
Although number of deaths reported are 1150( including 115 children)and injuries to over 3000, in actual reality numbers may rise further because of shoddy condition of roads, rugged terrain, frequent tremors,rain off and on,lack of necessary equipment and above all , an untrained and inefficient public administration.Many people are still feared to be buried under the rubble of mud, brick and other type of 10,000 houses. Lack of painkillers and antibiotics is being reported from majority of health centers.
The Indian Humanitarian Aid
Without waiting for reaction or response from the so called friends of Afghanistan, Govt. Of India has despatched 27 tons of relief materials( family ridge tents, sleeping bags, mats and blankets) by air. Further, 6 tons of essential medicines have been airlifted in continuation of similar assistance in the past. The decision to reopen Indian Embassy in Kabul and a few Consulates is certainly a step in the right direction.
It appears, being unable to control the situation,the Taliban Government has made an appeal for international aid but response is far from encouraging. A few organizations, such as, WFP, WHO, UNHCR and the Norwegian Refugee Council have ,however, have offered some cash assistance and relief material. An Italian NGO named Emergency is also coming forward to extend help.
As no more casualty or damage was reported, the Deputy President of Afghan Red Crescent has stated on 27th June that there is not so much of need for food or non- food items.The most critical need according to him was cash for survivors to take care of basic needs.
But the ball lies in the court of USA and some other countries to defreeze Afghan Government assets. The USA President has shown only his verbal concern and offered sympathy and prayers.It has also promised to lead international community in responding to humanitarian needs of Afghans.
BUT WHEN AND HOW, THAT IS A MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION?
Aaloc Srivastav,
Ex-C.S, Sikkim