Entries for January 2010
Haiti, Earthquakes and What World Never Learns.
As the the extent of havoc caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan 12th, the question that arises is whether the tragedy could have been prevented. The unequivocal answer is yes, because in any earthquake, the actual earthquake doesn't kill people but the collapsing buildings and houses do..
As a survivor of the earthquake that struck Gujarat region in India, I can say that riding out a earthquake 7.9 on the Richter scale was not a problem, but living in poor quality high rises was. Many people who lived in such high rises didn't live to see the next day. Death was not restricted to high rises, it also occurred when badly constructed small dwellings flattened. These dwellings were built using poor quality construction materials and rocks/stones stacked one upon another. The poor built their shanties thinking that rocks make good housing material, but were then crushed by the rock walls collapsing.
The lessons I learnt after the Gujarat earthquake were 1) If there had been little bit of town planning, the number of people who died could have been reduced drastically 2)If building inspectors had inspected the buildings, collapses could have been avoided and 3)If poor had been taught to build simple earthquake resistant structures using clay or any other materials, many lives could have been saved.
After the earthquake the local goverment made some noise about construction quality and building safety. Eight years after the quake when I visited the region I was shocked to find that nothing has changed - all I could see was new high rises of dubious quality, built on narrower streets and close to each other. It clearly indicated that some societies never learn from even the worst of disasters.
In Haiti the situation is the same - an earthquake compounded by bad structures and poor quality housing in shanty towns. Political instability and poverty are only part of the explanation that can be given. The main reason is world is used to giving a lot in aid and charity without giving any worthwhile suggestion. Bush adminsitration gave heath aid under the condition that it will be used for abstinence only programs. I don't understand why no country will ever say aid will be provided only if the recepient agrees to make the country disaster resistant. Compared to the cost of post earthquake rescue, recovery and reconstruction, making a country earthquake resistant will be cost efffective. Infact the earthquake preparedness of countries that have not learned lessons from the past should be open to international inspection otherwise no international aid should be provided when disaster strikes.