I still remember that sad Ramadan evening, when news of massive killings started coming in. It indeed was terrible and horrific to see what media was showing. Huge number of dead bodies, crying children and women, and injured lying with wounds bleeding and no medication. Though the disaster was over in less than a minute but left behind colossal damages, miseries and sufferings for affected people.
It was today on 8th October, 2005 about this time last year, when a massive earthquake struck a large part of northern Pakistan affecting an area of 30,000 Square miles, leaving 80,000 dead, about 150,000 injured and 4 million shelter less. It was a catastrophic disaster that mankind had seen in recent history.
It was early morning about 8:50 a.m., when the media focus of the disaster was only one building in capital city Islamabad, which collapsed due to earthquake. No body had any idea, as what had happened in remote mountainous areas of Northern Pakistan. Cities were turned into rubble, villages were wiped out, small settlements were under landslides, vanished from the face of earth as if nothing existed there before.
I still remember that sad Ramadan evening, when news of massive killings started coming in. It indeed was terrible and horrific to see what media was showing. Huge number of dead bodies, crying children and women, and injured lying with wounds bleeding and no medication. Though the disaster was over in less than a minute but left behind colossal damages, miseries and sufferings for affected people.
One year has gone by, but unfortunately, past whole year has left many sad stories behind on the part of government, government institutions, Pakistan Army, international community and in some cases the relief agencies as well. Believe me the catastrophe is continuing, with women and children facing major brunt of it and are the most affected.
Gaps in policy formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring made the last year quiet shameful for the people at the helm of affairs, particularly those who matter in decision making. Institutional biases, procedural discriminations, administrative inefficiencies, political manipulations and psychological disadvantages have played havoc to the surviving communities.
Another disastrous winter is around the corner and due to these inefficiencies about 1.99 million people are left with no choice but to live in make-shift shelters which are not winterized for expected forthcoming chilly weather. Just think of living in a canvas tent in mountains, and valleys where temperature at times falls to -15 degrees Celsius… Another disaster is in making…
Two days ago President of Pakistan totally rejected a report prepared by OXFAM, where they mentioned the miseries of earthquake survivors. President’s version was that there are hardly 37000 people who will live in camps and rest of them are safe but there is hardly anyone who would agree to the President, and independent sources still confirm what OXFAM has reported.
Very unfortunately, dependence on relief is growing in affected areas. Due to inefficient, not sufficient support mechanisms, people could not return to their normal lives. Human trafficking (women and children) is on the rise. In camp life, cultural sensitivities are also creating problems.
However, it is extremely unfortunate that government rather accepting the responsibility, used religion by easily putting things on Allah and nature, as if their responsibility is over. Rightful Claimants of their rights are refused or their patience is put to test by procedures. After all it is the state who has to take the responsibility for helping the survivors in recovery.
International community largely could also not come up to the expectations, particularly after the immediate relief phase was over. One reason of it what I could know off, and reported a lot in the press was that donors didn’t want to work with the army as Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority was all army lead. Resultantly World Bank and ADB bridged the gap with massive loans to the government…which in long term will become another disaster for the people of Pakistan. Remembering the donors conference in Islamabad and Geneva, unfortunately, pledges of donations could not materialize and the country with its own set of nasty socio-political problems is left alone in a major mess. Whatever financial donations Government received, there are news of major financial embezzlements.
My heart goes with the earthquake affected people. Please join me in remembering those who lost their lives. At my personal level, I pledge again to do whatever it takes to help the earthquake survivors.