Who is responsible for natural disasters’ aftermath? [Archives:2008/1204/Opinion]
Rafeeq Ali Ahmad
A few days ago, many people circulated rumors about the possibility of the occurrence of earthquakes in the governorates of Aden, Taiz and Hodeida. Some of them confirmed that the earthquake would be magnitude 6-7 strong as allegedly assessed by Richter Measure. Despite the fact that a large number of citizens don't know about Richter Measure, the earthquake's magnitude or what would happen, they got intimidated due to the circulation of such rumors.
The National Meteorology Center based in Dhamar or the other one in the capital city of Sana'a denied authenticity of rumors about any potential earthquakes in the above-mentioned governorates. For hundreds of years, Yemeni people led peaceful lives with the exception of some minor earthquakes in Dhamar governorate.
In relevant circumstances, we published in the Algomhoriah daily warnings about the occurrence of bad weather, like other newspapers and other media outlets did. These media outlets warned fishermen in the coastlines of Hadramout, Shabwa, Al-Mahra and Socotra Archipelago to halt their activities in such areas or to stay on full alert while fishing. The media was supposed to have identified the risk due to be experienced by people in these areas, in land or the sea. Inarguably, all things proceed according to the will of our Creator and no need to raise controversy on such matters, but what happened is that we are living at a time when the world has become a small village. But, amid presence of technological development and global meteorology systems, the government should have warned citizens to escape numerous risks that have been already faced by people in many parts of our beloved homeland.
Stay on full alert
Anyway, the natural disaster occurred. However, we should admit that we have to remain always on full alert and be cautious about what may occur. And we shouldn't take into account any baseless predictions warning of destructive disasters.
The relevant officials in the government should live up to the responsibility and do their duty responsibly in order to help citizens escape risks of such natural disasters. Responsibility in this regard must be high.
In addition, predicting potential disasters should not be labeled as part of pessimism or troubling citizens, but it should be understood by all as part of the collective responsibility.
For instance, there are many areas threatened of rockslide countrywide and rocks are expected to slide over citizens' homes within hours. But, nobody warns citizens in threatened areas against the potential rockslides, and sometimes citizens get warned just hours before the disaster or after hundreds of citizens are killed like what happened in Al-Dhafir area of Sana'a governorate three years ago.
There are also huge environmental risks arising from Taiz waste dump, located at Shara'a District Road Feeder. One of the physicians working in the area told me that the dump is the primary reason behind spread of cancer diseases in the area, but regretfully, no one pays attention to the issue.
Additionally, there are many similar predictions that are impossible for one to count, however, the relevant authorities in the government must be responsible for warning citizens of threatened areas to evict their homes and escape any potential risks.
Finally, the damage and intimidation suffered by citizens in the governorates of Hadramout, Shabwa and Al-Mahra necessitate that we must work together and do our best to restore what has been damaged by the torrential rains.
Source: Algomhoriah.net
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