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The urgent need for an International Disasters Emergency Spearhead.The UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was established as far back as 1963 bringing together a unique alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally the nation's effort in helping combat major disasters anywhere in the world. And since then it has done sterling work in helping tackle natural disasters throughout the world, most recently in Haiti and now, also, in Pakistan. And it's not just in the UK: the international community, as a whole, responds when tragedy strikes. Governments and international charities throughout the world react instinctively whilst millions of ordinary people readily reach for their credit cards. The need to support men, women and children so vulnerable after a major catastrophe, is one of the few things that unites peoples, countries and continents and contributions usually continue to flow until those affected are back on their feet or, unfortunately, in some cases, when the media caravan has moved on. But what is really missing when sudden disaster strikes is the co-ordination of all this international support. The current catastrophe in Pakistan is a case in point. Such are the numbers of people who have been made homeless and hungry by the devastating floods over such a wide area, the authorities there have been unable to cope. In fact, with an estimated 20 million people affected, almost any country would have found it impossible to cope. What these victims required urgently was international support in the shape of planes and helicopters flying over the affected areas delivering tents, food and safe water to those marooned by the tragedy. Meanwhile airfields near to the stricken areas should have been identified to be used to stockpile supplies ready to be delivered to those in need as soon as possible. This is where a permanently, on standby, International Disasters Emergency Spearhead could make all the difference. This body which would react immediately to any major natural disaster by surveying the area of damage to work out what was needed to be done. At the same time, it would start to combine the international support which would then be channelled to the affected area in any country as soon as possible. An International Disasters Emergency Spearhead, too, could have tents and shelters, dried food, clean water and medical supplies stockpiled in different continents awaiting such an emergency like the one which has just occurred in Pakistan and, earlier in the year, in Haiti. Then, when the call comes through these resources could be picked up by aircrews of planes/ helicopters already trained in disaster emergency situations from countries around the world and taken to the devastated area. At the same time, experts in dealing with all kinds of emergencies could immediately be made available to advise governments on how to deal with the disaster and how to tackle the aftermath. When natural tragedies strike, humans caught up in them suffer shattering experiences as they struggle to cope with the shock of death and destruction. What they immediately need is constructive help. And all too often that is far too long in arriving causing those involved even greater anxiety. An International Disasters Emergency Spearhead set up under the auspices of the UN and professionally led would get critical help to where it is needed much more quickly than it normally does. It would also show the 'united' nations of the world at their best.
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just1world@just1world.org |
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