As more rains play havoc with hapless millions across most of lower Sindh a controversy has erupted on political scene on the need to seek foreign relief assistance. PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif has criticised the global appeal made by Prime Minister Gilani for flood relief, saying Pakistan has the desired economic strength to meet the challenge on its own.
Earlier, President Zardari had appealed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for relief assistance. Speaking to the media at Nawabshah Nawaz Sharif said, as if sarcastically, that he was visiting the affected people on behalf of President Zardari - apparently drawn to the place as much by President Zardari's taunt about the PML (N) chief's sit-back all-exclusive focus on politics depicting a lack of sensitivity, if not more. The President too was there a day before, as the nation saw him wading through ankle-deep flooded street.
Putting up conspicuous, but essentially inconsequential, presence in the flood-affected areas has been a well-honed game with the country's political leadership. So there is neither the shortage of high-profile visits to rain-beaten people in Sindh nor any dearth of pledges to alleviate the miseries of the affected people. But the one kicking up a controversy about the need to ask outside help is something to happen for the first time: the right material for critical appraisal.
Reaching out to the people adversely affected by natural calamities across national borders is now a norm of inter-state relationship, as even the wealthiest nations when beset with such tragedies are offered relief assistance by other members of international community. That some governments make appeal for foreign help and some don't it is their own decision. In that no wonder Pakistan governments made such appeals rather frequently in the recent past given that in the span of less than a decade the country has been traumatised by a higher degree of misfortune: after devastating earthquake in 2005 there was a widespread deluge last year and again this year. As soon as Prime Minister Gilani called for international help China instantaneously offered 30 million RMB (about 4.7 million US dollars) and Iranian leadership has committed 100 million dollars worth of relief assistance. More is expected as the UN agencies gear up.
The issue therefore is not of seeking or not seeking foreign help, but of how best to use this assistance. The bitter truth is that our managers have miserably failed in coming up to the task of delivering the relief, both foreign and domestic, to the deserving. Their failure is so colossal and that it is matter of national shame. How often our leaders are made to visit fake relief camps, it's scandalous. Stories of misuse of earthquake reconstruction funds refuse to die. Fist-fights at relief distribution centres are too unsightly. And, what to say of the bureaucratic incompetence that funds donated for rehabilitation of the last year's flood-affected remained un-spent.
Yes, you do seek global help for the flood-affected, but also organise its judicious, prompt and effective use. As we know more about our geographical location, with fault-lines criss-crossing under quite a bit of our landmass, and as climate change rears its ugly head Pakistan is confronted with a challenge of more devastating floods and destructive natural calamities. Unprecedented monsoon rains in Sindh is the feared consequence of climate change, as experts think Pakistan is heading for increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events including frequent floods and droughts, to which 'we need to adapt and plan'. During the last four weeks Sindh received the highest-ever recorded rainfall, and that a place like Mithi should get 1150mm of rain is beyond anyone's imagination. Where we can't do much is to reverse the pace of climate change. But where we can certainly do something is the method and manner we should confront the aftermath of the calamitous rains. First and foremost, the government's capacity to effectively meet the challenge of natural calamities has to be reorganised and augmented mainly by bringing the disaster management under one roof and a single command.
Then local authorities have to be motivated and trained particularly in areas like channelling relief goods and services being received from government, NGOs and other sources; to properly stock and store them and to arrange orderly distribution of relief goods. These officials should be seen only when a VVIP would appear on the scene - invariably to harvest publicity from the plight of the poor affected - it's unacceptable. That achieved on the organisational front the provincial governments must look into the causes that add to the negativity of floods and how to speedily recover from their side effects. Second to the fragility of dykes and bunds that tend to give in to the very first raindrop, it is the stagnant floodwaters that cause the biggest problem.
Not only are the displaced forced to stay put out of their homes by the stagnant waters they also forfeit their only means of living as their farmlands remain uncultivable. Sheer absence of timely and adequate medical help is yet another profound problem for it takes its toll on the life of the flood-affected people. Undoubtedly, the challenge posed by frequent floods is colossal, but it is not beyond control, provided it receives due attention. It is heartening to note that our leaders, who had been incredibly preoccupied with Karachi imbroglio, have finally woken up to grim reality: massive devastation rains have been causing in lower Sindh, particularly Badin district.