None but army working in quake-hit areas of Balochistan

Balochistan earthquake survivors being taken for medical treatment by Pakistan's military

ISLAMABAD: While none of the disaster management institution is functional in the country, only Pakistan Army is working on ground in Balochistan after Tuesday’s earthquake for rescue and according to ISPR the actual figures of causalities would only come to light today (Wednesday).

There is no provincial cabinet in Balochistan, its chief minister is in London to attend Faiz-Aman Mela and provincial disaster management authority was non-existent till the last reports came in.

According to ISPR sources, given the very few sources of communication in different areas of Balochistan, only FC was reaching the earthquake hit areas and exact facts and figures would only be confirmed on Wednesday. ISPR officially released the details of its prompt action in the natural calamity hit areas of Balochistan.

Officials, however, are sure that there would not be some huge figure of causalities as if there would have been any such major tragedy in some far-flung area of the province, the same could have reported till late night on Tuesday.

Almost all of the officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) went into hiding right after the disastrous earthquake at 1629 hrs on Tuesday and all its offices were closed. No one from NDMA came online even till late at night. All official numbers remained unattended till late night. However, an official while talking to The News said that NDMA in fact is simply “a policy making body” and it has nothing to do with any “on-ground operation” right after any such tragedy. “NDMA only devise policies for ‘risk reduction’ so the damage could be ‘as minimum as possible’ after any such disastrous situation and on-ground operations for rescue are to be carried out only by the concerned district and provincial authorities, an official said adding “NDMA as no role after any disaster has taken place and generally people misunderstand because of the nomenclature of name of the institution”. It was interesting however as according to some reports the government has immediately appointed some Hafiz Basit as Director General of Balochistan’s provincial disaster management authority, a position vacant since long, right after the earthquake on Tuesday.

NDMA is headed by a serving army general Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed Aleem and mostly serving army officials run the show in the authority.

On the other hand, after army’s rescue operation started in Balochistan, ISPR continuously updated media about different relief activities. Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) also started working on ground. According to Brig Syed Wajid Raza of ERRA, his organisation started working for initial assessment, survey and damage need assessment which is mandatory for it under ERRA law. ERRA officials told The News that basic function of ERRA is reconstruction and rehabilitation after rescue phase is completed. Officials said that ERRA has no role in initial rescue operations.

Interactions with all these institutions establish that there is not a single civilian institution for the rescue operations and after spending huge amounts of money organisations like NDMA, having dozens of officials enjoying high perks and privileges (at least higher than normal government officers), simply have a role of coordination between provincial disaster management authorities, and other government departments. NDMA was not there even for this function on Tuesday evening. In absence of chief minister, provincial cabinet, no disaster management institution at provincial and federal level, some jawans of FC and on some places, jawans of army were conducting operation. Only one army helicopter having medical staff was sent to Awaran.

Awaran city has population of 350,000 and there are eight villages around this small city. Khuzdar was also badly hit. According to ERRA sources, some areas of Dalbadin were also badly affected. Interactions by The News proved the fact that every organisation was working separately in tragedy-hit areas with no central control.

It was not clear that new government has any intentions to improve the institutions like NDMA.

Officials told The News that even with the given mandate NDMA could have trained staff of different departments to work during disastrous situations; it could improve its role of coordination at the time of such tragedy; but there is nothing except lip service.

< The News >