Sir: During the last few years, Pakistan has faced many man-made and natural disasters. Floods, an earthquake, drought and a cyclone that created a threat to human society have affected it. In recent years, such events left a huge number of the population homeless, thousands of innocent people lost their lives, while children were separated from their families and left in traumatic conditions. Hundreds of thousands have lost their means of livelihood. It is a deeply saddening fact that people affected by floods are still struggling to return to normal life.
If we take a look at the history of disasters, in the last decade Pakistan has faced three major disasters. In March 2000, millions of people were affected by drought; 2.5 million people were devastated and 78,000 died, 17,000 of whom were children, after a massive earthquake in October 2005; in 2010 floods in all four provinces killed at least 1,750 people, affecting 20 million. Those floods were considered the worst in the history of Pakistan.
Keeping the above-mentioned instances in mind, one has no doubt that Pakistan has become more vulnerable to man-made and natural disasters. In order to lessen the effects of all such vulnerabilities, it is required to devise a multi-dimensional and comprehensive approach. In doing so, we are required to have a political, as well as an institutional, commitment in order to make available a competent force. This can only be done when training starts from school to professional college level. If we take a look at the school syllabi, we find nothing that provides knowledge to children and youth at any level of their studies regarding disaster preparedness and management. Government should devise comprehensive policies in order to revise syllabi that could focus on types of environmental hazards and disasters. The main objective of this exercise should be to be in touch with emerging approaches in disaster reduction and management.
Once it is agreed to have disaster preparedness, with awareness imparted to young people right from the beginning, the effects of such events can be mitigated. In this way, we would also be able to have more understanding of disaster preparedness and management at all levels.
Recently, the WHO has published a book I have prepared for emergencies. It is about preparing young minds that deal with the information to stay safe and prepared in every situation. The theme of the book is to equip the reader with information of how to be prepared for emergencies.
The book has four key segments to have a more comprehensive approach towards emergencies like knowing, planning and practising. It is divided into four coloured pictorial stories to catch the attention of children, providing them with valuable information on earthquakes, floods, extreme heat, and drought.
There would be rather a little lesser effect of emergencies resulting from disasters if we knew how to approach and deal with the situation. To achieve the task, the government should devise a plan, such as revision of syllabi, including action-oriented approaches to disasters, preparedness and management in textbooks for schools, colleges and universities.
AMJAD ALI SURHIO
Dadu