Despite deep understanding of nature people have failed to live with It. Just because they tried capture this and all similar actions probably face catastrophe. Just think about it. There will be no damage if an earthquake occurs place in mountainous region uninhabited and without any infrastructure, or flood waters flood the desert, where there is no one life. Most disaster experts agree that disaster place when danger collides with vulnerability. Therefore, it is reasonable to argue that not only rain caused losses. Poor management or lack of of governance has created vulnerabilities. Precipitation only exposed the fragility of settlements.
After the 1997 flood, PATTAN conducted a study to find out about flood related losses in Sargodha and Muzaffargarh. Surprisingly, between levels of floods and losses. Sargodha where is the level of flooding was much lower than Muzaffargarh, losses amounted to three times higher. main factors were population density and earth use. In Sargodha, the cultivation of crops on the banks of the Jhelum River was more more than 90%, while in Muzaffargarh was only 30%. Similar population density in river belt of Sargodha was higher than Muzaffargarh. building of channel, parallel left bank of the river Jhelum would hold back the water. Flood waters, which have a high velocity, can penetrate large areas, but cannot back to the river because most of he is trapped in low areas. This causes subsequent disasters in the form of epidemics or diseases. Even though I knew of areas vulnerable to earthquakes and drought, we have repeatedly failed in disaster management.
It appears that the following two exclusionary practices responsible for recurring disasters in Pakistan: 1, elimination of prone to natural disasters people in decision- production and sale, and 2, lack of of coherence in development planning. I would also add in inability of civil society hold government officials and ruling parties accountable for negligence.
Global network of Civil Society Organizations for The Disaster Reduction Program (GNDR) recently completed global study, i.e. “Views from the front line”, covering 52 countries. It was the largest independent global review of Disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the local level. It was aimed at strengthening integration and cooperation between risk people, civil society and government in in design and implementation of policy and practice reduce risks and increase resilience. it also established local baseline and local monitoring process for measurement progress to achieve an inclusivepeople”centered” approach to resilience-buildinghow is progressing in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and SDGs.
In Pakistan, a study conducted by PATTAN in 2019-2020 included interviews of more over 1700 households, 150 NGOs and 150 local government officials in 15 districts across the country. Respondents (residents in disaster-prone regions) ranked as follows six disasters in Pakistan as the most destructive and frequent: floods followed by earthquakes, epidemics, droughts, pollution and heavy rains. Interestingly, many respondents also considered poverty and inequality as disasters. over 90% of disaster-prone communities said they were never consulted or involved in disaster risk assessment, planning and implementation by public institutions, which is negligence under the law.
The study found a higher percent of disability in areas prone to natural disasters than national average. For example, one in five respondents reported that disabled faces in in the family, 37% said they were chronically ill family members, which is worth Considering. More than one-third of disaster-hit people most likely stated that natural disasters are serious caused economic losses. Nearly half of respondents believe that losses from natural disasters have increased significantly in recent past and almost the same percentage of people that’s probably what they said complete rehabilitation and recovery were not possible.
When they were asked who helped them after natural disasters, only 16% noted government, between 31% and 34% mentioned friends or relatives, as well as NGOs or religious organizations, respectively. primordial social networks and NGOs play main roles during and after natural disasters. Thus, it can be concluded that the state failed respond to disasters. current wave of urban and rural floods confirm many of the findings of Pattan research.
The study also aimed at assessing vulnerable people awareness of environment and policies/projects on DRR, as well as their participation and participation in risk reduction assessment, planning and implementation. Contrary to policy of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and its 2010 Act and plan, as much as 97% of respondents indicated that they had never been made aware of SRP policy as well as plans. Most residents blamed local influential and corrupt government officials for poor implementation and disaster management.
Although this year the rainfall is 400% higher than in previous years, natural disasters in previous years were of the same value. Despite frequent disasters, successive rulers continued to violate state policies and guidelines for the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable women as well as men in disaster-risk planning and implementation. Absence of authorized local governments, non-functional and clan-based disaster management bodies at the local level and lifeless national and provincial disaster management commissions report tale of our disaster management is catastrophic management.
AT terms of demand no organized demand from any organized platform. NGOs seem to have become spineless as their networks fear of taking a pro-people position and accountability of officials. Fashion word – accountability has lost its meaning. So what to do?
1st, don’t blame nature, build disaster storytelling based on vulnerability and management. Secondly, to put pressure on political parties to include “SRO and Inclusive”.risk-control in their respective manifests. 3rd, harmonization of the NDMA Law with local government actions and set minimum standards subject to Article 140A of Constitution of Pakistan. Fourth, put pressure on governments to community as well as women’s participation is legally binding in decision- creation and implementation of structures and processes. Fifth, create DRR committees at all levels. of local government structure. 6th, build capabilities of disaster-prone communities through periodic education and training. 7th, improve sensitivity of students through the educational program and training. 8th, build powerful platform for articulation of requirements of vulnerable people and create connections of rural communities with city networks and social movement.
Finally, common meaning must prevail. For example, everyone knows that a flood requires place in certain months and melting glaciers also accelerate in the same months. We also know what ways of there are floods and torrents. If we know all this in in advance, then why the authorities are inactive in promote? They cannot hide their criminal negligence on charges nature. They must include people in disaster risk management and reduce influence of disasters.
Published in Express Tribune, 9 August.th2022.
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