Vishü Rita Krocha
More than ever, disaster preparedness has become a critical global concern. With increasing issues of climate change being witnessed everywhere across the world and the frequency with which human lives are being lost as a consequence of natural disasters, the need for preparedness has never been more important than now.
According to UN reports, the Earth is now about 1.44°C warmer than it was in the pre-industrial era (1850-1900) and the world is currently not on track to meet the 1.5°C target while global temperatures are likely to exceed the 1.5°C threshold in the next decade unless greenhouse gas emissions decline much faster. It also states that consequences are already visible in numbers with the years from 2015 to 2025 as the hottest 11 years on record.
The recent catastrophic events in Nepal resulting in the tragic loss of several lives also point to the escalating dangers of a warming planet. Especially people living in the himalayas have become extremely vulnerable to unpredictable weather events. Flooding, landslides, intense monsoons and melting glaciers have become common occurences. These factors, experts say are because of warming due to human-caused climate change.
Closer home, it hasn't been too long that the state witnessed the Mon tragedy and several other lives being disrupted in different districts across Nagaland.
The terrifying consequences of all these recent disasters is a wake-up call for the state and the country as a whole. These calamities should serve as a reminder to strengthen the existing mechanisms of disaster management, not only focussing on providing relief but more importantly, giving emphasis on preparedness, prevention, and mitigation.
While emergency response is crucial, focussing on advanced early-warning systems will go a long way especially in preventing lives that could be lost. With unpredictable weather increasingly on the rise, there is a dire need for greater accuracy in forecasting.
We must learn from all the sufferings caused by natural disasters that have occured in the recent past. In the meantime, it is also important to understand that the quality of disaster management cannot be improved upon in isolation and need the participation of people at all levels. Disaster preparedness must form an integral part of all our lives; it must be a shared concern, shsred effort and shared participation.
Every individual must also put in conscious effort and strive to live in peaceful coexistence with nature to prevent human-made disasters that eventually harm the planet and those who dwell in it.
This is a guest editorial by Vishü Rita Krocha. She is the Publisher of PenThrill Publication and a senior journalist based in Kohima.
