[Analysis] Of reports and realities: Is NDMA also a big lier?
PT Report
Gilgit, February 24: NDMA deserves accolades for arranging helicopter service for the stranded people of Gojal valley during their hours of need. However, one is shocked to see the contrast between official reports and realities regarding the amount of relief goods provided to upper Hunza (Gojal) valley. According to an official report present at NDMA’s website, so far 107.5 tonnes of flour, 1900 tonnes of rice and over 41, 000 liters of diesel have been provided to the stranded people of Gojal valley. One wonders about the need for importing rice from China if such amount has already been supplied to the valley!
A pertinent question that may be asked from the government and NDMA authorities would be regarding the whereabouts of the “sustenance” transported to Gojal valley through boats and helicopters? One gets the feeling that all figures quoted in the official report are highly exaggerated.
At one moment during the early days of the Attabad disaster a very high official of the GBDMA told journalists that the government had stored over 1,000 sacks of wheat in a government depot at Chipursan. Interesting enough, there was no government depot present at Chipursan at that time!
Another interesting aspect of the ‘credit taking frenzy’ that NDMA seems to have dazzled itself into, a newsletter claims that NDMA, on advise of Geological Survey of Pakistan, evacuated 103 families from Attabad during September/October 2009. Fact of the matter is that 27 families were evacuated by an NGO from Attabad during March 2009. Nobody was living in Attabad in September/October 2009, as confirmed by the GSP survey observations and recommendations.
While NDMA deserves credit and praise for assistance it has provided, there seems to be no logical reason for getting on the credit – taking bandwagon. Public circles fear that such tactics do not augur well for credibility of a disaster management organization.
Thank you brother for bringing the real facts to light.
The NGO you are refering to is FOCUS. FOCUS evacuated the people.
In fact I understand FOCUS had carried out survey 5 years back and warned the government and local authorities of serious potential danger of Attabad landslide.
NDMA should get down to serious work and make communities resilient to natural disasters. NDMA should not be publicity hungry and they should do solid work and build local capacity.
If it was not for NGO like FOCUS the people of Gojal would have been in serious problems.Thank you FOCUS on behalf of all people of Gojal .Allah Bless you.
Zulfiqar bhai, Pamir Times should be recomended for award.
We really appreciate PT effort to highlight the Disaster going on in Gojal Valley.
Yes it is true that the government officials are just filling the paper and all the relief work is done on papers not on the ground and no practical work is done for the relief of Gojal valley.
We will really appreciate if you can kindly post the link of the NDMA report so we can highlight it on electronic media as well with proper proof.
Once again thank you PT
Dear Mehmood
Kindly follow the link below to study the reports of 22nd and 23rd February.
http://ndma.gov.pk/AttaHunzaLandslide.html
regards