Lessons from humanitarian emergencies

Edmond Fernandes, CEO, Center for Health and Development (CHD) and Homolata Borah, Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University elucidate on the the lessons to be learnt from humanitarian emergencies to reduce the impact of such disasters in future

Disasters not only destroy the very fabric on which the nation gets built but also hijack growth and affect the lives of multitudes who are struggling for existence. Natural disasters affecting India is not something new. We have had man-made disasters too like the Bhopal Gas tragedy, but whether we have learnt our lessons from them remains an open question.

Goodwill and chance

India has been relying on the goodwill of the private sector organisations and registered humanitarian organisations to manage mass casualties, provide medical relief and establish rehabilitation wherever needed during any disaster. Often so, disasters bring out the best of human intentions to reach out to those in need, but on the other hand disasters also push to its very limits, the struggle for survival. The human mind goes beserk and chaos sets in, bordering on desperation. In such situations, public anguish is understandable. Disasters also activate alternative human behaviour and mobs often resort to robbery and loot. Women are subjected to molestations, many others become vulnerable to rape, children are trafficked and abused and the elderly are beaten up and often neglected. Much depends on the magnitude of the disaster and the time gap before any help reaches the affected populace.

A well-known publication, in its August 2015 edition, carried an investigation into the rising flesh trade after the Nepal earthquake. The report said that traffickers use several strategies to defraud and lure girls into the sex trade. On an average, Rs 60,000-75,000 is what they earn by selling a girl to a brothel.

The onus lies on the government to increase security checks to halt such practices anywhere during humanitarian emergencies. The government remains the single most powerful machinery that can address this menace.

Security for aid workers and agencies

Providing security to workers who give relief to the victims is imperative because many of them are new to the local turf. Female aid workers need to be given extra care because of obvious reasons. It is important that aid agencies inform the local police of their presence and ask for security if it is feasible. During major relief camps and distribution of relief goods, it is extremely important for the military and police personnel to be present, failing which the aid workers sometimes get beaten up, are misinterpreted and untoward incidences occur.

Disaster readiness

Disaster readiness calls for engagement of communities in creating resilience. Readiness of doctors, social workers and corporates to support such emergencies is a consciousness that is in evolution. The district administration should map and identify areas to be converted into field hospitals during disasters and for emergency relief and rehabilitation. Disaster readiness must originate from school curriculums and must be enforced at higher education levels as a compulsory practice.

Need for a basic law of national resilience

Repeated floods year after year and other natural calamities like earthquakes, droughts, the time has arrived to push for a basic law of national resilience which should be an Act of Parliament.

This law should direct the district authorities to have defined, workable targets towards disaster resilience and mitigation. Regular training programmes in capacity building should be enforced. We need to move beyond our usual reactionary approach and view disasters through the prism of a national priority.

Considering Fellowships in Disaster Health

Post MBBS, the Ministry of Health should evolve expertise in the field of disaster health. This workforce should be the single focal point that interfaces with NDRF and SDRF to advance conversations in disaster health. There should be a one-year field based fellowship in disaster health and it should be open to MD – Community Medicine Physicians as a priority upwards. Alternatively, Ministry of Health should also provide opportunity for PhD scholars and MPH Professionals to take up Disaster Health Fellowships.

Discouraging disaster tourism

Disaster spots require specific skills and unless the individuals are well equipped and have the experience of working in disasters, it behoves them to not venture into disaster tourism. More mess is created than good by circulating messages without authenticity and confirmation. Even journalists who have not reported in disasters before should be briefed before they begin reporting on the event. It would be wise for newcomers to work with seasoned organisations and learn the art of disaster risk reduction and the approach towards humanitarian emergencies. In India, apart from the Disaster Management Act 2005, it remains a science in evolution. Little has been done, and there is much more left to do.