Disaster Management Perspectives of Grave Nature
Krishna Kumar Tamang, PhD
United
Nations Organization annually celebrates the International Day of Natural
Disaster Mitigation on second Wednesday of every October to mark significance
of disaster mitigation. This motivates worldwide people and governments towards
building risk-resistant communities and nations. On the occasion all the Medias
do coverage as campaigns on awareness based programs. The government agencies,
NGOs, academic institutions and alike rational civic bodies organize programs
of public awareness through drama, competitions on drawing and painting,
photography, speech delivery, morning rallies, tree implants, seminars, talk
programs and so forth so on. The main theme focuses onto mitigate the loss of
lives and properties against the unpredictable occurrence of unfortunate
natural disasters beyond human capacity. In the context of Nepal earthquake,
floods, landslides and fire are common phenomenon. The bygone disasters of
Nepal have higher graphic data records of casualties and loss of properties. It
cannot be ruled out either the forthcoming days would be more disastrous owing
to over growth of population, inappropriate construction works and unabated
over use of natural resources leading to high risks.
There are instances such as one on April 23 of 2009 incident where 13 Nepal
Army personnel got to burn death on the attempt to prevent stormy forest fire
from spreading to nearby village of Ramechhap. In rescue operations security
personnel must have their secured security for themselves to render others. No
matter how good physical capability and know-how do exist on ground it would
not suffice to impending dangers unless well planned. Similarly on September
11, 2001 in New York, brigade of fire fighters rushing to rescue victims of the
Twin Tower blast incident lost their lives under debris fallen on them.
Likewise in the earthquake incident of Bhaktapur, Nepal in the year 1988 large
number of people met to tragic death of crowd stampede while receiving relief
aids and food.
This scribe recalls while in peacekeeping field mission of United Nations in
Former Yugoslavia of Kosovo in the year 2001 had carried rescue operations of
traffic accident casualties along international police officers with surgical
gloves. Taking of preventive measures by rescuers falls on priority to avoid
possibilities of HIV AIDS and Hepatitis infections through the bleeding
injuries. On the contrary infected security personnel could be another risk to
injured ones through broken skin of nails or arm limbs. Rescuing victims from
beneath fallen structures would be sensitive and utmost care is deemed of
trained and equipped manpower or else forceful pulling could cost lives
unknowingly for absence of knowledge.
It cannot be ascertained of the whole gathering of people around the incident
site would be necessarily kind and cooperative. There could be ironically some
to look for valuables or else than for rescue or relief. Pouring of audience at
the site without specific purpose would initiate hassles. Rescuers need
patience and human sentiments to tackle the uneasy situations wherein the
survivors rush in search of their kith and kin. Miko High School students of
Kobe, Japan have been doing incredible job of sharing their experience and
knowledge of rescuing people in Nepal under the international program of UNCRD
Hygo Office and NSET-Nepal.
The series of incidents could be indefinite for instance running ambulances on
its way get to mishap. The foremost what rescuers have to adopt should be calm
and stick to principles of safety. Hitherto the rescue would be possible on the
condition that the rescuers themselves are safe. For the aforesaid reasons
prior to the taking flight of air planes as for the safety instructions their
passengers are advised of using oxygen masks for own self and later to kids.
Disaster management could be more effective, efficient and result oriented
provided it is conducted with concern agencies in befitting professional manner
of close coordination and co-work.
04
December 2013
Published
in: Nepali version
Special
Publication Bulletin 2014
APF
Disaster Management Training Center, Kurintar
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