The beautiful, mountainous country of Nepal has been brought to its knees. A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck the nation on Saturday, a force so strong and so intense that its jolts and aftershocks were felt all across the region, even here in Pakistan. The aftershocks were so huge that there are reported victims in even India, Bangladesh and Tibet. At the time of writing this, the death count has topped an astounding 2,500 with many thousands more injured, displaced or even trapped in the devastation that has been wreaked upon Nepal. This is being termed as the biggest natural disaster to occur in this country in the last eight decades. The capital, Kathmandu, has to a large extent been flattened with centuries’ old monasteries completely destroyed. The catastrophe has been so complete and so huge that Kathmandu now has become a city illustrated by the ravages of what the earthquake has left in its wake and many thousands taking up residence on the streets because their homes are now no more than debris. The government of Nepal is too ill equipped to handle the sheer scale of this disaster and is still trying to recover from the daze of recognising that this is a monumental challenge. What is shocking is that no steps were taken to prepare for such an event. Reports are coming in of how, just a week ago, earthquake experts had met in Kathmandu to warn of such disasters and to urge a contingency plan considering the vulnerable location of the country.
The world community has already started to respond and that is heartening to note. Relief efforts have intensified as there are still scores of people trapped under the rubble, many bodies still to be dragged out and many displaced people who have yet to find a place to rest their heads for the many long nights ahead. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set up a rapid response team to go to Nepal and assess the damage and financial aid needed to begin the process of rebuilding the nation and the UK has already pledged five million pounds. Most of the buildings in the capital have been deemed unsafe and doctors are reported as operating on the injured in the streets. The situation is so dire that the Nepalese people are as good as stranded. This is the kind of catastrophe that needs to bring the people of the world together and the governments of nations need to stand in solidarity with Nepal, aiding the people of this country in their time of utmost need.
As if this were not enough, avalanches triggered by the earthquake brought tragedy to a mountaineering expedition on Mount Everest. As many as 17 mountain climbers were killed and many more injured and trapped. Airlift operations to rescue the survivors have begun but they too are in jeopardy because new avalanches are still being triggered. There is tragedy all around and just not enough one can do to reverse the damage. Nepal is a poor country with limited resources. Now it must deal with a national disaster of epic proportions, a task it may not be up to. The world cannot just look on and offer sympathy; that sentiment must translate into real relief operations and long-term commitments to help rebuild the nation.
Nepal’s economy depends largely on its tourism and now that too has been compromised. Temples that were marked as United Nations world heritage sites have come crashing to the ground. Right now, the world must focus on these people, must move to help this stricken nation. Relief efforts must be pledged by Pakistan as well. It is a neighbouring country and it is in need. We cannot look the other way. *