Jack T. Chakhesang
Nagaland observed “Awareness Campaign Week” from Oct.25 to 29, 2006. The district administrations circulated a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” in the event of any of the natural or man made calamities our land is prone to. As a landlocked nation, we cannot truly visualize the blessings that coastal regions enjoy-the oceans, variety of fish, palm trees, coconuts, romantic tourists from all over the world et al. However, we are spared the terrible toll when a Tsunami (undersea quake) strikes. Nevertheless, a week’s ritual observation of such an awareness campaign does not suffice to avert disasters. One has to be alert all the time.
Awareness Generation is also a guideline for “Disaster Management”. The term disaster is derived from the Greek meaning “bad star” or “bad luck”. It is a natural or man-made event that adversely affects life, property, human settlements, livelihood or industry often resulting in permanent changes to human societies, ecosystems and environment. Whether natural or man-made, disasters exacerbate vulnerable conditions and exceed the means of individuals and communities to survive and thrive. Disasters pose a major threat to sustainable development and therefore need to be dealt with on a war footing. For, disasters can strike anywhere, any day, and at any time.
Disasters are caused by natura1 hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, drought, wildfires, tropical cyclones, tsunami and volcanic eruptions. Other types of disasters include terrorist attacks, fires, oil spills especially in the seas, epidemics and plagues and vulnerabilities created by human actions such as uncontrolled, or inadequately planned human settlements, lack of basic infrastructure and the occupation of disaster-prone areas. Armed conflicts also have consequences that affect human settlements and the country as a whole.
Over the years, the occurrence, severity and intensity of disasters have taken a heavy toll in terms of the loss of human lives and the destruction of economic and social infrastructure, not to mention their negative impact on already fragile ecosystems. While the natural hazards will continue to occur, human action can either increase or reduce the vulnerability of societies to these hazards. For instance, when Naga villagers step in to ensure that the warring factions do not clash at least in populated areas, they are averting unnecessary disasters. Also, when the traffic policeman controls the flow of traffic with hand signals be is averting disasters. This Constable may seem insignificant but he is averting many accidents and saving untold number of lives and injuries every day. As such, using appropriate technologies for determining vulnerabilities of disasters coupled with well-established programmes (including ear1y warning systems) and policies can prevent the imbalance of socio-economic conditions to a great extent.
The year 2005 has reminded people everywhere that no place in the world is immune from natural disasters. From the massive Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami to the drought and locust-ravaged countries of Africa, from the devastation caused by hurricanes and cyclones in the United States, the Caribbean and the Pacific to heavy flooding across Europe and Asia, lakhs of people have lost their lives, and millions their livelihood to natural disasters. This was remarked by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in his message on the International Day for Disaster Reduction on Oct 12, 2005. Last year, he had added the theme “Invest to Prevent Disaster”. The United Nations has also been involved in trying to stop wars and terrorism in practically all the continents.
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is the focal point in the UN System which promotes four objectives as tools towards reaching disaster reduction for all: (a) Increase public awareness to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction globally (b) Obtain commitment from public authorities to implement disaster reduction policies and actions (c) Stimulate inter-disciplinary and inter sectoral partnerships, including the expansion of risk reduction networks (d) And increase scientific knowledge about disaster reduction.
The disaster management process is driven by the understanding that nothing happens without a plan and that no plan is ever finished. However, pre and post-disaster management plans must at least spell out how the company will prepare for and respond (with continuity of operations) to key manmade and natural disasters. When the smoke clears, the companies that survive are the ones that constantly build, test and improve their disaster management plans. Such plans must per force include emergency medical services since control of diseases is paramount. The five most common causes of death in emergencies and disasters are diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, measles, malnutrition and, in endemic zones, malaria. Also, public health problems include management of stress and other mental health problems.
One of the aims of the World Bank is to reduce human suffering and economic losses caused by natural and technological disasters. It provides a more strategic and rapid response to disasters and promotes the integration of disaster prevention and mitigation efforts into the range of development activities. The Bank’s mission is to provide assistance to prepare for and recover from natural or man-made disasters that can result in great human and economic losses. According to its estimates: “Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits--more than 95 per cent of all deaths by disasters occur in developing countries; and losses due to natural disasters are 20 times greater (as a percentage of GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized countries.”
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in early 2005, adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005—2015, identified strategic objectives and priority areas to reduce disaster risk in the next ten years. The theme “Invest to Prevent Disaster’” aimed at increasing disaster resilience using micro-finance and safety nets. “Coping with and reducing disasters so as to enable and strengthen sustainable development of nations is, therefore, one of the most critical challenges facing the international community” said the declaration. The 16th World Conference in Disaster Management was held in Toronto (Canada) during June 18¬21, 2006.
No one can stop natural disasters but we can and must better equip individuals and communities to withstand them. Those most vulnerable to nature’s wrath are usually the poorest, which means that when we reduce poverty, we can also reduce vulnerability. That our State lacked the requisite preparedness was evident during the landslides at Mokokchung, overflow of Tuli River in 2004. The fire, last year, which consumed 75 houses of Yambro Village in Tuensang District had left only the Village Chairman’s house intact due its safe location. It was caused by carelessness and which a strong wind that day took advantage of by fanning and spreading a small fire.
As such, the issue of disaster management is a concern of not only governments, international organizations, multilateral organizations and NGOs. It is also the concern of each and every individual and of the villagers as a whole. In this connection several UN agencies are working on disaster management programmes. UN Habitat Agenda (1996) seeks “to promote and encourage all parts of society to participate in disaster preparedness planning and in disaster prevention through activities that build a culture of prevention”. India has its own agenda as was evident when the earthquake hit Kashmir and contiguous areas in Pakistan. Other States no doubt have their own systems but Nagaland also needs to define its objectives vis-à-vis disaster management in more concrete terms. As the saying goes, there is no use in closing the barn after the horse has already bolted.
