Let's be prepared for next catastrophe

The colossal destruction wrought by the disaster is yet to be fully assessed, but undoubtedly it is simply horrifying. Two main South Asian nations have been afflicted by this and the third -- Afghanistan -- is close to this region as evidenced by the fact that it has expressed interest to become a member of the South Asian regional forum, Saarc.

Natural disasters also hit this region early this year when the fury of water in the form of tsunami caused serious damages in three South Asian countries -- Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives, and these nations are still reeling under its effect. These two destructive acts of nature in one single year leave no one in doubt that this region is prone to the damage of the whims of nature, and the destruction can be simply staggering. True, it is difficult to contain such disasters, but it is possible to evolve mechanisms that can respond quickly to the requirement and minimise the consequences. South Asian nations can also work for the regional platform that can help in various areas of natural disasters, although disasters seem a fait accompli for the unfortunate people.

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Such disasters are not a new phenomenon as countries -- rich or poor and big or small -- are helpless victims to the fury of nature. Despite tremendous technological and other advancement, the world is vulnerable to natural onslaughts. The only superpower of the world -- the United States -- could do little in face of Hurricane Katrina in recent times, even the relief operations were not without criticisms.

It is a matter of common knowledge that South Asia, along with its adjacent region South East Asia, is a calamity-prone area, and countries here have had enough of the onslaughts of natural disasters. Catastrophic floods, storms, hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, and other menaces caused by nature are a regular occurrences in this part of the world, while many other areas are also vulnerable to these happenings. Men are largely helpless in such situation, but effective and timely application of science can certainly reduce the consequences of such effects.

Early warning system, adequate pre-disaster preparedness and speedy post-occurrence management system are some of the measures that can definitely reduce the chances, and more importantly, lessen scale of devastation likely to be wrought by the disaster.

It is not that these possibilities are not being thought of or efforts are not being made in this line to save the calamity-susceptible nations as far as possible. But what is urgently felt is the need for more serious bid in that direction on the basis of utmost priority and placement of resources, even if there is constraint on part of the countries desperately need protection from natural disasters. It appears that such a drive is somewhat lacking even though there is no dearth of anxiety and concern as well as talks of probable steps to mitigate the causes and consequences.

The tsunami tragedy first underlined the need for the dire need of anti-disaster measures on a regional plane, and this has received particular attention since the deluge of unimaginable magnitude took lives of more than a quarter million hapless people in South and South East Asia. It struck Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, and luckily Bangladesh was escaped, although this country was broadly in the same zone. This time also the earthquakes had murmurs in Bangladesh too, but once again Bangladesh was left almost unscathed.

Bangladesh is vulnerable to natural disasters and we terribly experienced these happenings highlighted by the catastrophes of 1970,1988,1998, and other occasions. A country often described as calamity-prone by the international world, the world conference on disaster management in Kobe, Japan, a few months ago focused especially on the handicaps caused by nature on such nations. The leader of the Bangladesh delegation, Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, had the honour of presenting one of two keynote papers in the large and important gathering participated in by the most of the world's countries and opened by no less a person than the Emperor of Japan in a rare gesture. The other keynote presenter was former chief of the UNHCR Dr. Sadako Ogata.

The next Saarc summit in the Bangladesh capital, scheduled for next month, should pick up the message of the Kobe conference suiting the regional requirement and priorities. This will be beneficial for individual nations as well as collectively. It goes without saying that a venture like disaster prevention in South Asia needs collective endeavour, and larger international support and assistance are also required for the purpose.

It can be concluded that international help will not be absent as reflected by the fact that the sympathy demonstrated in the aftermath of the tsunami was more appealing in the Western nations, particularly among their people whose hearts went out in sympathy to the dead and affected in South and South East Asia. Some leaders of powerful nations were criticised by their own people and their press for either not acting immediately or inadequately for the calamity hit countries. School children, top celebrities of cine and music world, sports figures, and heads of government of some countries spared no efforts to stand by the suffering humanity. The same gesture is more or less witnessed in the aftermath of the earthquakes in South Asia.

The Kobe conference has thrown up several effective ideas for disaster prevention and mitigating consequences, including effective early warning system. Saarc must take a new look at the issue of disaster management and related matters in the wake of the tsunami and the earthquake experience, and must devote itself concretely to the disaster issue which is inextricably linked with the fate of the region, where countless perish and huge properties are destroyed at regular intervals by nature.

As the South Asian nations under the banner of Saarc are sparing no efforts to improve their economic and social condition through collective endeavour despite occasional strain on the grouping and sluggish progress made by the forum, all avenues are being explored for multi-faceted cooperation in various fields.

But the natural disaster-prone South Asia must take up the issue of cooperation in this field on a priority basis.

It is not only that disasters bring tragedies of enormous proportions, but also badly damage and even at times wipe out assiduously built developmental infrastructure. And this destruction undoubtedly covers agriculture, road and other communications as well as some other vital sectors which are critically important for the development and welfare of the people. Disasters often obviate progress made in different fields, and it is imperative that anti-disaster plans and progress are taken up with all seriousness.

The issue is crucially important for the Saarc region, and its leaders must take it up with collective spirit for developing necessary mechanism, following the untold miseries and destruction caused by two catastrophes in quick succession in one single year.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is the Foreign Editor of BSS.