Red Cross Blogs

Disasters do not discriminate – neither should the response

By Nick Young
August 10, 2010 at 2:59 pm

Pakistan is often in the news and often for the worst reasons. Not only susceptible to terrible natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, the country has also been suffering from situations of internal violence and the impact of regional conflicts. Now, after this latest catastrophe, more than ever it is crucial that we focus on humanitarian assistance as our sole and overarching priority. When disaster strikes as hard as it has in this past week, humanity and impartiality are our best means of getting help to where it is needed most.

For many Pakistanis, the recent floods are only the latest disaster to impact their lives. Areas which have recently experienced insecurity are among the very worst affected. Many people in the North West had already been displaced as a result of violence, and had only recently returned home to rebuild their lives. Others have only just recovered from recent earthquakes, which shook the northern areas in 2005 and Baluchistan in 2008. The floods will also exacerbate chronic problems due to poverty, making people more vulnerable to malnutrition or disease. Thousands of acres of crops have been washed away, and there is a significant risk of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

Political and security concerns – however legitimate they may be – must not be allowed to obscure the vital importance of getting life saving assistance to all of those caught up in this disaster. In the face of such a dire humanitarian situation, the profound suffering of many thousands of human beings must be recognised and addressed. The floods did not discriminate in their devastation, so neither should the response.

People affected by the floods hail from all ethnicities, sects, religions, political affiliations and regions of Pakistan. Distributing aid impartially among these groups is of utmost importance. In order to reach the most vulnerable populations, those that distribute aid must be close to affected populations and their personnel must be accepted by those they serve. In this respect, the role of politically neutral and independent organisations such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is crucial and in many ways unique.

The Pakistani government, the UN, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, international NGOs and local organisations and individuals have mounted a swift response to the disaster. Assistance from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society has already reached some of the most isolated regions of the country, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan. The Red Cross Red and Crescent Movement is gearing up to reach up to 250,000 of the most vulnerable individuals as soon as possible. In order to achieve this, humanitarian access and space to get to those most in need must be assured.

The comprehensive destruction of roads, bridges and vital infrastructure has focused attention on how we as aid agencies are managing to get physical access to the worst hit villages and those in the direst need of shelter, food and medical assistance. The access which comes with the trust and goodwill of all sides, particularly in a complex and rapidly changing political world, is even more valuable, and for this, it is impartiality and neutrality in word and deed that count the most.

Donate to the Red Cross Pakistan floods appeal

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Emergencies, International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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