Preventing Environmental Fatalities
In a country where religious conviction runs very deep, this Christmas presents as a time of great loss and sorrow for the people of the Philippines. Flash floods and landslides in the wake of Typhoon Washi sending mud and logs in full motion down hillsides in the thirteen provinces that were affected by the catastrophe killed almost a thousand people on Mindanao.The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan the worst hit, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless, finding shelter in evacuation centres. The deadly cascades that washed down from the mountainsides creating deadly crashes that took so many lives, washed out so many homes, is being closely examined by President Benigno Aquino.
A task force has been formed by the Philippines President for the purpose of determining whether a logging ban has been breached. In view of the fact that over 338,000 people were affected, with 43,000 being housed in emergency shelters in schools, churches and gymnasiums, a state of emergency was declared. Restoration of drinking water supplies and power to the villages is a priority.
Over ten thousand homes were damaged by the flash floods, fully one-third of which were completely destroyed. Schools, roads and bridges were badly damaged. Rice and corn crops were damaged as well, but in their early planting stage yet, it is hoped there may be some recovery. Eyewitnesses that survived the deadly event recounted huge logs thundering down the mountainsides, crushing victims.
The two towns worst hit are struggling to control the situation to prevent contagious disease outbreaks, proceeding with burial vaults and public cemetery vaults, burying decomposing bodies.
Evacuation centres are overcrowded with survivors having very little space between them.
"It is really overcrowded, there is almost no space in between people. Diseases are starting to appear. It's really a struggle to manage those evacuation centres, there's a shortage of water and a shortage of food." World VisionMines & Geo-sciences Bureau of the Philippines, an arm of the government, had warned of the need to relocate families living along riverbanks, many of whom died when rivers overflowed after a month of steady rainfall.
"This tragedy that happened in Cagayan de Oro ... will be repeated in the future. And therefore, there needs to be appropriate preparation to prevent fatalities."A poor country, eager to advance its economic future, insufficiently alert to the need to back up its environmental legislation with teeth. A necessity to heavily fine and incarcerate those who seek to profit from illegal logging, leaving mountain slopes vulnerable to wash-outs. And a need to ensure that municipal authorities issue permits for building, denying permits to those who wish to build in vulnerable areas.
A country with an emerging economy can no more take short cuts with its future and that of its citizens than a wealthy one. A lesson brought home in the wake of such disasters; a lesson too dear to occur in wasting human lives in sacrifice to perceived financial benefits.
Labels: Environment, Natural Disasters, Philippines, Societal Failures
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, December 25, 2011
<< Home