Are we ready for the monsoon?

THE monsoon season is nearly here. It is the season in which clouds will start bearing the rumbling water from the Arabian Sea and will approach the coastal belts of Pakistan.

It is sure that we cannot stop heavy rainfalls, storm surges, thunderstorms and cyclones but we can reduce their effects on our lives.Maybe in the other parts of the country the monsoon brings joy but not in the coastal belts and the unplanned areas, particularly kutchi abadis. It results in floods that may cause deaths, diseases, injuries, deplacement of people and economic loss.

Particularly, in the low-level areas it can result in considerable commotion in transport and other services.In order to mitigate the risks from floods and rainwater, all the government’s line departments have to get ready.

These departments are health, education and works.The educational department must check the availability of space and toilet facilities and the health departments should look at all the available stock of medicines and human resources which will be utilised during and after the rain or emergency situation.

The works departments should stop digging holes and lines. If these are open, they should be covered on an emergency basis or should be restored to their original conditions.In addition to all of this, the line department concerned should call an emergency meeting of their staff and review cases and plan activities for the upcoming unknown situation.

These departments should meet and help each other if the situation is demanding that.The most vulnerable communities on the coastal belts are the fishing communities. The departments should meet them and create awareness in them about the strategies to be used in tackling these disastrous situations.I am sure that by these exercises we will be able to manage any possible emergency in an effective way.

ABDULLAH KHOSO

Karachi
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/04/letted.htm#3
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/04/letted.htm#3