The number of death toll from Monday’s deadly earthquake of 7.5 magnitude (which is believed to be the most powerful in Afghanistan’s recent past) has reached to 115 in Afghanistan. The mighty earthquake hit different parts of the country and many parts of the neighboring countries as well, particularly Pakistan. The worst affected areas in Afghanistan include Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan, Parwan, Nangarhar and Kunduz provinces. There are fears that death toll may rise as many people have been injured severely and assistance and support for affected people have not reached yet as there are serious issues of communication and transportation.
There are many people whose houses have collapsed and they are compelled to live under the open sky. Many people in the capital Kabul said that their houses were damaged completely by the earthquake and they did not have enough resources to build them anew. They, therefore, requested the government to support them in this regard.
There are many issues that may rise if support does not reach to them quickly. It may take a long time before these people are able to live their lives the way they used to live, and by that time they may face problems like rise in diseases, malnutrition, lack of proper medication, hygiene issues and unavailability of shelters. Now that winter is approaching, the problems may multiply; therefore, it is really essential that speedy measures are taken. The concerned officials require to act prudently and make sure they reach to all those who have been affected.
The people, at the same time, can make efforts to support their countrymen. Particularly, those who have not been influenced by the quake and have the capability to support others must come to the front. They should feel the problems of others as their own and must show true patriotism at this time of trouble.
It is really tragic in Afghanistan that common Afghan people have not only been victimized by wars and conflicts but natural disasters have also made their lives fragile. Whether it is flood, avalanches, famine or even earthquake, the severest of the shocks shake the existence of the poor and destitute. They are the most effected, in two different ways. First, they do not possess a strong and reliable shelter and other facilities that can safeguard them against the natural disasters, which make them easy victims. Second, the facilities that should be there after the disaster to minimize the level of destruction, never reach them, as they are at the remotest of the areas.
Leave the disaster aside, even when there are severe weather conditions, which cannot be even termed as disasters; the loss of life and property incurred by the poor Afghans is really immense. Last year as well the severe cold weather victimized many poor people as they did not have enough capacity to secure themselves. As the people in the affected areas, because of their wretched and torn shelters and no fuel or wood to burn, were being victimized, there was no support from the relevant officials to provide them the facilities to fight against the death. The result was misery. And when the severe cold weather turned into disasters in the form of avalanches in some parts of country, the incapacity of the government to help its people out of the disaster was exposed to a large extent.
There are many lives that can be saved through proper and timely efforts. Moreover, there are many other areas as well that are necessary to be given proper attention by the government so that such disasters and incidents should be properly handled. Among them making a very well-equipped and properly trained disaster management unit is the most important one. At the same time making the different parts of country accessible through proper roads is also an important one. Many places happen to be in the remotest of the areas, where the rescue teams and equipment take a very lengthy time to reach as there are no proper roads.
Though security has been the most dominant issue in Afghanistan, there are many other issues as well that kill more people than the lack of security. The proper attention of the government in that regard and its services can save many lives. It requires to institutionalize its efforts and put to practice National Disaster Management Plan. Department for Disaster Preparedness must be made fully functional and must be equipped and capacitated enough to carry out its responsibilities during and even before disasters.
The developed countries of the world, through institutionalized efforts, have minimized the risks of disasters and have the capacity to react rapidly when such disasters take place and thus save the valuable lives of its people as much as possible. Therefore, the government of Afghanistan must also pay consideration and concentration in such areas and must make sure that poor people do not lose their lives worthlessly.