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DISASTER PLANNING AND RESPONSE January, 2010
Is it me? Am I somehow seeing this in a completely wrong light?
The grave disaster that struck Haiti recently brought an immediate and admirable global reaction. We are all in this world together. If disaster befalls one then it is good and fitting for others to respond with assistance in which ever form of assistance can be given. The response was there. And it was heartening to see how previous barriers were suddenly (if temporarily) no longer a barrier to co-operation and the mutual progression of humanity.
However (and this is where I may be going out on a limb), but many days after the disaster struck ... the aid still wasn't getting through with the result that people with hungry and injured children were resorting to extreme measures. Yes, I know, because of the nature of the disaster, the infrastructure of Haiti was almost completely destroyed, but surely, with all the helicopters in the area, with all the troops on the ground, then the all essential medical and food aid could be shifted around to the desperately needy instead of being held on board cargo ships.
Who's in charge?
Who's organising things?
The Haiti earthquake was a true disaster. But it's not as if this was the first ever disaster therefore why the apparent chaos in delivering aid, inadvertently making a serious situation even more serious.
The world had responded to the humanitarian call for assistance. Governments, companies and ordinary people all over gave and continue to give generously. Aid agencies stepped to the fore to do what they do best. Yet the aid was not delivered to where it was needed. Was this because of the security situation? Was this because of armed gangs or the masses of desperate people? No doubt these all play a role in judging the situation. However ... perhaps I'm wrong but looking on from the outside, and admittedly, from the safety of thousands of miles away so I have no actual first hand evidence of the situation on the ground, it just "seems" that there is (or was) an overwhelmingly chaotic approach to the delivery of aid so much so that while the initial response was admirable, there was a crucial several days - more than a week - when things looked as if they were simply standing still ... and the aid was being held on cargo ships. Yes, I know, there are complex factors to take into account ... but the aid wasn't being delivered.
Is it me? Am I somehow seeing this in a completely wrong light?
This strikes to the heart of disaster planning. Disasters are often not predictable. If they were predictable then they would not be disasters. But if you are a country or if you are a company then YOUR disaster planning has to be better than what we've seen so far. If it isn't ... you'll be in trouble. Disasters don't always happen to someone else. The time immediately after any disaster is THE most crucial in terms of saving lives or in some instances saving business. What you do or what is done in that time determines the speed and level of recovery. If there is a significant lag, as we've seen, there is continuing suffering - suffering that may well have been avoided. How would YOU feel if that was you on the ground?
We have to be better than this.
Regards
JS
If you don't understand the risks, how can you prepare? Can you afford to let the issues be blurred?
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