| |
| Join Our Newsletter |
 Please Select sub-criteria |  |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
Drawing on reserves
Constant communication between the nodes and the command centre could be maintained through satellite based phone systems enhancing the capability of the centre to coordinate the activities of the nodes. Not all nodes will be immediately drawn upon. The nodes not directly drawn upon will support those nodes in the fore-front of the emergency by despatching equipment, personnel, medicines and supplies as and when needed.
Emergency shelter
Depending on the magnitude and severity of the destruction, it may be necessary to provide emergency accommodation on a mass scale. Such accommodation would be provided at previously selected nodes. Given the nature of the terrain in northern Pakistan,this would take the form of canvas tents. Tents would also, when and where possible, be distributed to affected villages where travel to a node may be impossible for the old and infirm. Heating and lighting are essential components of emergency shelter.
Co-ordination of civilian assistance
In any such emergency, it is expected that those not directly affected by the earthquake would seek to assist those in the disaster area. In the case of Pakistan, this happened on a mass scale. It is essential that individual efforts do not congest arterial roads, nor cause a bottleneck in terms of transportation and the supply of relief goods.To this end, all assistance in the form of relief goods will be collected at points of origin and moved forward by EDRMA transportation.The deployment of volunteers, both general manpower and specialist personnel, will be centrally coordinated so as to enhance the effectiveness of relief efforts.
Reconstruction
The recovery from a devastating earthquake will be greatly enhanced by rapidly initiating reconstruction. This will help the infrastructure and economy to regenerate, it will alleviate the physical difficulties faced by those harmed by the earthquake,and will provide a great psychological motivation to those affected, facilitating recovery of the injured and traumatised. Reconstruction would proceed in light of the concepts gained (addressed in the pre-earthquake preparedness section) to reduce the risk of damage to homes and public buildings.
Evaluating Pakistan's Response
Pakistan's lack of response to the earthquake, while a transgression of all principles of governmental responsibility, was not unexpected. Consequently, Pakistan's throwing itself at the feet of foreign powers for assistance was also predictable. By hosting an international donor's conference, the government of Pakistan only sought to deflect any criticism of its criminal neglect and unpreparedness. The government must be accounted, not on the basis of how much international aid it managed to accumulate, but on why it ignored all the facts that obviated the likelihood of a massive earthquake devastating northern Pakistan.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, many quarters called for the re-deployment of troops from other areas, including troops stationed in Waziristan, in order to employ them in earthquake relief work. Such calls originate from the realisation that the army is the only institution in Pakistan capable of responding to the demands created by the calamity.
While that may represent fact, it is also true that unskilled manpower needed for digging with rudimentary tools is not a scarcity in origin in the affected areas. Hence a large employment of men with basic equipment would not be of critical assistance.What was sorely needed at the outset from the army was the expertise of doctors and medical personnel, supplies and equipment along with engineers, heavy lifting and digging equipment.This is in addition to the airlift capability of army aviation.
| |
| |
| |
| |
« First < 2 3 4 5 >
Page 4 of 5 pages
| |
|
|
