The devastating floods that ravaged Pakistan caught the world’s attention. It was unlike any other flood. Despite making a small relative contribution to climate change compared to other nations, Pakistan took the brunt of it. It does go on to show how fragile are some geographies.[1] The same rule applies to India also. We have many states and places, which are very vulnerable to this. Every year, those places have higher chance of flood type natural disaster, for example, Uttarakhand and other low lying areas. Such calamities are far more affecting the lower strata of society who are very vulnerable. These types of calamities also bring unique infectious diseases to the fore.[2]
Flood, earthquake, and Tsunami type natural disaster cannot be planned or predict but once you suffer you have to be preparedness to protect your people from them.[3] The article also highlights how making a checklist will help to deal with devastation of this magnitude.[1] Developed and developing countries have to prepare the action plan where disaster management team, their training, and mock drill will help nation during the natural disaster. India has learnt the lessons the hard way because it has copped natural disasters time to time. National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and state relief machineries were raised to deal with these calamities effectively and with speed. The training of these squadrons has to be done time to time with upgradation of knowledge to deal with disasters. Paramedical staff has a pivotal role to play. Even this type of the action plan will helpful for internal as well as external national disasters.[4]
Those trained team can work during the natural disaster in nearby neighbor countries as far countries. In February 2023, Indian NDRF sends army medical team along with the medical supply to Turkey to save earthquake victims and injured people.[5] In spite of political differences, we need to learn lessons from each other regarding management of crisis of these monumental nature.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References
- 1.Amin F, Luxmi S, Ali F, Fareeduddin M. Flood 2022 in Pakistan: Managing medical flood relief camps in a developing country. J Family Med Prim Care. 2023;12:194–200. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1919_22. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1919_22. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Climate-vulnerable India struck by natural disasters 'almost daily'published by India-Climate Change on 6th November 2022. [Last accessed on 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20221106-climate-vulnerable-india-struck-by-natural-disasters-almost-daily .
- 3.Yu M, Yang C, Li Y. Big Data in natural disaster management: A review. Geosciences. 2018;8:165. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8050165. [Google Scholar]
- 4.Beyramijam M, Farrokhi M, Ebadi A, Masoumi G, Khankeh HR. Disaster preparedness in emergency medical service agencies: A systematic review. J Educ Health Promot. 2021;10:258. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1280_20. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1280_20. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Indian Army dispatches medical team to earthquake-hit Turkey. Published by The Economic Times on 7th February 2023. [Last accessed on 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-army-dispatches-medical-team-to-earthquake-hit-turkey/articleshow/97685250.cms .
