
KARACHI:
An important pillar of disaster management is to respond to disasters in a manner that citizens are protected in the best way possible from the consequences. Therefore, studying disaster response systems is crucial and is a subject matter that should be reviewed and developed over time.
The recent disaster caused by heavy rainfall and the subsequent flooding in many parts of Pakistan has been devastating. The impact of the catastrophe could have been minimised if we had a disaster mechanism to alert people and take early measures to avert such large-scale destruction. This tragedy will put another strain on the already frail Pakistani economy. The destruction of cash crops such as cotton and even food crops will severely impact economic activity. Such destruction will be a retarding agent to growth and prosperity, which is still a dream. Nevertheless, when things are in bad shape, we must not remain non-responsive. Immediate assistance must be provided to the affected populations. The focus in this phase shall be on meeting the people’s basic needs until more permanent and sustainable solutions can be found.
Many activities shall be executed in response to a disaster. These include the search and rescue missions to save lives and attend injured, provision of food and clothes for the affected, transportation services, medical facilities, building of temporary shelters and semi-permanent settlements, and rebuilding of infrastructure. Along with the government, civil society must also enthusiastically participate in the response. The funds and workforce shall be readily available if we want proper rehabilitation of the people affected and the economy.
Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2022.
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