Floods swept away social values of Pakhtuns also
By Sadia Qasim Shah
Thursday, 19.08.2010: Since its inception, has almost always been in the midst of disasters, either man-made or natural. The country might have survived several disasters but we have not learnt lessons from such calamities.
Whether it is floods or terrorism-related disaster, we have always been looking towards others for help. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in recent years, terrorism has deprived people of better economic prospects and now floods have further made their future bleak by depriving them of their houses and territory, literally sweeping away their livelihoods.
A people, who were synonymous with values like self-respect (Ghairat), honour and hospitality, are now getting used to living in tents, standing up in queues and don’t even budge from tearing off others’ shirts, in disrespect and frustration, just for a few food items worth few hundred rupees.
The Pakhtun women, who don’t mix up in such crowds, can also be seen being shoved and pushed while trying to get hold of food items. It hurts to see how disaster has destroyed not only houses and towns but also the soul of the people.
People are now asking openly for help. They run after cars like beggars in hope of getting some food or other relief items. They are unable to clear even debris in their flood devastated towns.
The women, who had been living in Azakhel camp in flood-hit Nowshera district for about 30 years, can be seen on the main road begging for alms. The daily wagers, who used to work in mills, have started begging in the hope that people passing by in cars would give them some money.
One wonders what will be the future of all these people, deprived of their livelihood and shelter. May be, they will rebuild their mud houses some day but perhaps they would have lost their values, self-respect and everything a Pakhtun stands for by then. That is going to be an irreparable loss.
Just like the people, the provincial government is also in disarray. It has been complaining that it has not been provided with the much needed financial support and just consoled with promises of help.
An official termed the response of international community in the face of this disaster as ‘pathetic’ but it is a truth that Pakistan is hit by one calamity or other almost every year.
It is time that locals find a local solution and learn to stand on their own feet. Money is needed but neither begging nor alms is going to help the people. The government itself should chart out some strategy on fast track basis if it has appealed to the international community to provide assistance.
Utilising whatever little amount of funds is available for reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster-hit people with honesty and innovative ways can be a step in the right direction. If people of Kalam, on their own, could start paving a track in the mountainous terrain then why cannot the government encourage, involve and pay appropriately the people of disaster-hit areas to initiate economic activity as it has been done to some extent in the flood-affected areas of Swat already.
Yes, money is needed but transparency is also vital. For instance, instead of wasting funds in the head of salaries of staff of disaster management bodies, a handful of officials of such bodies can coordinate with the focal persons, perhaps additional secretaries of each department and commissioners in times of emergency and utilise the government resources to implement a certain task immediately.
An expert says that one reason why Emergency Response Unit experience was successful and government still takes pride in it because its accounts were transparent and there was no red tape. During disaster rescue, aid and relief should also reach on emergency basis to the needy. The government should be distributing aid but involvement of representatives at grassroots in the process ensures trust of the people in the government as aid reaches to everyone.
Inefficient and status quo minded officials, appointed on political basis rather than merit, are proved handicap when such a disaster hits.
The government, no doubt, needs huge amount of funds to put things right in this province but money alone is not the solution rather spending it honestly and wisely at right time is what that can save us from further side-effects of this disaster.
-Dawn- - 
بېرته شاته
بېرته شاته