Countries may be different … not the sufferings
India
In India, records show that the number of natural disasters is increasing covering new areas year after year. Almost all types of natural hazards affect different parts of the country. In this context, we may remember the recent earthquake of Dharmsala (1986), north-east part of India (1988), Bihar-Nepal (1988), Uttarkashi (1991), Latur (1993), cyclone of Andhra Pradesh (Nov.96), landslide of Malpa (1998), severe droughts which occurred consecutively for two years (1904-05, 1965-66 and 1986-87) and floods in the Indo-Gangetic plains in almost each and every year etc.
The National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Management System (NADAMS) developed by Department of Space for Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, and is primarily based on monitoring of vegetation status through NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) data. Availability of ERS-I SAR data has helped flood mapping. Multiple Landsat-TM, shortwave-IR bands, with data of both day and night passes have already been used to study a number of forest fires and to monitor the vegetation regeneration over burnt areas. The national system INSAT provides the capability for rapid communication, data collection and providing support to carry out relief operation.
Maldives
The Republic of Maldives consisting of 26 atolls with 1190 islands is free from the hazards like earthquakes, floods and cyclones. Sometimes high waves and storms cause damage of some areas. Fire hazards also occur. No national organisational structure is there for disaster management. The country has had a Committee on Natural Disasters since mid 1980s. The Meteorological Department arranges to broadcast warnings about adverse weather conditions.
The effectiveness of disaster response needs to be strengthened through better management skills, higher level of coordination and involvement of all concerned. It should also be remembered that the application of science and technology to reduce and manage disaster needs to be considerably stepped up through measures aimed at promoting research and strengthening institutional capabilities for technology development, education and training.
Nepal
Nepal, which is drained by more than 6000 big and small rivers usually has to face flood hazard. As about three-fourth of annual surface run-off occurs during the monsoon period, these, when de-bouncing into plains, cause immense damage in the "terai" plains of Nepal and India. Again, sometimes flooding in hilly valleys occurs due to cloud bursts and resulting incessant rains, causing landslides which usually block the river course. Such events which rarely give enough warning time to enable preparedness, had occurred frequently in recent decades. The glacial lakes outburst flood (GLOF) of 1985 in the Kosi river caused unprecedented devastation and completely swept off the nearly completed Namch-hydropower plant, leaving no trace of it, besides damaging roads, bridges, houses etc.
Because of the location of the country in a region of high seismic activity earthquakes with magnitudes of 5 to 8 on the Richter scale have been experienced throughout the country and 279 earthquakes with epicentres in Nepal and magnitudes above 3.9 were recorded during 1963-86. Major recent earthquakes include those of 1980 and 1988.
A significant number of landslides also occur each year, perhaps as many as 12,000. Based on available land resource and land use data, about 13 per cent of the total area of Chura and mid-hilly region of the country suffers from the effects of landslides. Various natural and man-made factors contribute to the high incidents of landslides. Natural factors include steep slopes; undercutting of their banks by incised rivers; weathered, fractured and weak rocks in the mountains; high rainfall; and seismic activity. Human interference with the fragile ecosystem aggravates this situation.
Pakistan
Pakistan, a country with varied geographical features, is susceptible to earthquakes, landslides, droughts and floods. It has a long history of earthquake. In 1935, the Quetta earthquake killed 35,000 people. Since 1947, the country has faced eight major droughts and six major floods. The major flood years were 1972, 1976, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1992.
For the implementation of relief and rehabilitation programmes a National Disaster Plan was prepared in 1974. An institutional arrangement at the provincial, divisional, district and sub-district level exists for emergency management. A flood warning system has been established by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) with 41 telemetric gadgets at key river locations for collecting river discharge data. The data collected by WAPDA through the radar at Sialkot, and the information furnished by the Indian authorities, are used to prepare computerised rainfall run-off and also for flood forecasting.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, the another country in the south Asian region usually suffers a lot from various types of disaster such as flood, landslides, drought, cyclone etc. As per the available records, flood is the most common natural disaster which has occurred in each and every year since 1981 to 1996 along with another disaster i.e. landslides. Droughts are almost very frequent cyclones occurred in 1993, 94, 95 and in 1996 which affected a number of families. The western part of the country is prone to floods. Droughts affect the northern and the eastern parts. The country is also prone to cyclones and coastal erosion. More than 600 kms of the coastal region is affected by sea erosion. There is increasing incidence of landslides in the central hilly region and the south-western region.
A study conducted by Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka in association with International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications and ICO Global Communications represents a milestone in comprehensively and responsibly addressing the use of telecommunication resources in mitigating human sufferings due to disaster. Cooperation and co-ordination among the Administration, the Aid Organisation, the Technical Community, the Service Provider and the general publics is indispensable in deploying telecommunication resources for the prevention and mitigation of disaster. Telecommunication can link between the disaster stricken area and the rest of the world including the authorities, the relief organisation, scientific community and media.