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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Disaster response
- Dr. Rajesh Chauhan (14 September 2005)
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Let’s practice kindness
- Hugh Mann (19 January 2009)
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Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, Family Medicine Practitioner 309/9 A.V. Colony, Sikandra, AGRA-282007. INDIA.
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Dear Editor, Having had first hand experiences from grass roots and climbing up to planning and effective management of a few disasters during my nearly 22 years in practice, I certainly feel that the overall management of ‘Katrina’ has been good. The affected people must have come out from the nightmarish experience by now and must be fully supported with ongoing relief measures from within the available resources as well as definite help from strangers, along with sincere best wishes and encouragement. As the experience tells us, in times of disaster all hands and all available resources are required, even from strangers [1]. I wish to highlight a few points from my own experience of handling some disasters. Making a proper estimate of an impending disaster is always a difficult task. It is a real challenging time for the planners, managers, governments and aid agencies to decide on the types and levels of relief efforts required, based on inconsistent and piecemeal inputs. Garnering requisite aid and relief efforts at a snap of fingers is also a Herculean task. Thereafter panic becomes a paramount feature, which is best avoided, as it only adds to the prevailing confusion and in disbursing of precious resources, manpower and material in a haphazard manner in the hope to salvage the situation quickly. The mode and intensity of disaster, region affected, density of population, availability of alternative reserves and civic amenities, etc, are complicated by interruption of communications, adding to the overall chaos. Expectations of immediate relief measures are very high and equally pervasive. A few people, although less affected, may try catching the attention of the relief providers, whereas the real casualties of disaster may be unreachable or may not be in a position to shout for help, thereby not being attended timely. Attention of the media also plays a very important role and needs to be tackled well, with suitable briefings and accurate inputs so as to avoid rumours and panic and simultaneously getting their help in streamlining the efforts and reassuring the affected people. If handled well, the media is an asset in such situations. Fall of expectations and conjectures would remain rife for some time. The USA had the advantage of technology and it could predict the course, timings and intensity of disaster somewhat accurately. Complete area was more or less evacuated within a short spell of time, with an early warning system in place and fully functional. This is a feat by itself and quite praiseworthy. Had the people remained where they were without evacuating, the disaster effects would then have been unfathomable. Although one thing that sticks out sorely are the events of lootings, rapes, murders, etc, that occurred in the aftermath. It is definitely not expected from a civilized world. However lessons should be learnt from such events and endeavor made not to let them be repeated if, God forbid, such similar catastrophe strikes again anywhere else. Having done their utmost, the UN, WHO and such similar organizations will perhaps be facing criticism yet again. This shall happen as a result of the expectations of people being obviously too high, whereas in reality these organizations would have already overstretched their resources as they are preoccupied with sorting out innumerable small little disasters almost everywhere around the globe. Restoration of faith is required in these organizations and good deeds must be acknowledged. Their utility value ought to be reinforced for the benefit of complete human race. Finally, endowed, empowered and advanced nations must extend the benefit of early warning systems and disaster mitigation methods to the less advanced nations that are repeatedly traumatized by ‘Katrinas’ every now and then, without even giving a chance for a deep breath. With regards. Reference: 1. Fiona Godlee. The kindness of strangers. BMJ 2005; 331. Competing interests: None declared |
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Hugh Mann, Physician Eagle Rock, MO 65641 USA
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Every spring, a bluebird flies down our chimney, gets trapped in the flue, and makes a tremendous racket trying to free itself. But birds cannot fly vertically, so eventually the little fellow falls into the woodstove - exhausted and defeated. Then we gently rescue him, take him outside, and watch him fly away. Like the bluebird, man is trapped - unable to escape or ascend. And man is waiting for the gentle hand of kindness and friendship to lift him up. Competing interests: None declared |
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