I remember a day just a year back, performing my duty with United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as a member of Sher Battalion of Nepali Army. All Nepalis were requested to commemorate the 205th anniversary of Sher Battalion on Jan 12, 2010 at 17:00 in the battalion headquarters. Many of the participants had already arrived and some were on their way. Our chief guest, national contingent commander and chief military personnel officer (CMPO) of MINUSTAH, Colonel Ratindra Khatri was yet to arrive and we all were waiting outside at the parade ground.
At that very moment, unexpectedly, we felt the first tremor of the devastating earthquake at 16:53 hours local time, lasting for almost 37 seconds. At that moment of sudden shock and natural calamity, chaos was everywhere, some were shouting and some were hardly managing to stand. There was terror and uncertainty everywhere. The evaporating dust had turned the blue sky of Port au Prince to brown. Once the shock was stabilized, our battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Prakash Acharya, ordered me to take stock of the entire situation. There was no casualty among the NA personnel except Lieutenant Colonel Dr Prem Singh Basnet who sustained leg injury but was safely evacuated later.
We immediately informed the NA Headquarters about the incident immediately before the news hit the headlines. Once we were assured of the safe status of all the Nepalis, we immediately mobilized rescue teams to help the locals. One of the team was mobilized for rescue operation in MINUSTAH Headquarter at Christopher Hotel. But, on the way, the team was stopped and requested by the locals for assistance. We started receiving injured and casualties in our camp itself, thus turning our tent made for celebration into a makeshift hospital. At around 20:30 hours, I myself, the operation officer of Nepali contingent, and Major Santosh Thapa, the force engineer officer of MINUSTAH, participated in a meeting organized in Brazilian battalion where the main objective was to undertake the rescue operations. On our persistence, a rescue team comprising of 100 Nepali soldiers along with Brazilian, Bolivian, Chilean and Ecuadorean were mobilized at 22:00 hours to carry out rescue operations.
Commensurate to our strength of manpower, our area of responsibility was significantly large. Our main challenges were security, rescue, treatment and provision of quick humanitarian assistance. The absence of Urban Search and Rescue Team in Haitian government and MINUSTAH made it more difficult to carry out rescue operations. Nevertheless, we were able to rescue almost 250 locals in 48 hours despite the unavailability of trained manpower and special equipments. Our medical team also provided first aid treatment to approximately 600 locals.
We were able to rescue almost 250 locals in 48 hours despite the unavailability of trained manpower and special equipments. Our medical team also provided first aid treatment to approximately 600 locals.
The earthquake of 7 Richter scale caused extreme havoc and pain to Port-au-Prince. Many notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed. The collapse of MINUSTAH building killed 103 UN staff, including the Mission Chief Mr Hédi Annabi. The prison of Port-au-Prince was also destroyed, allowing around 4,000 inmates to escape with weapons, making the security situation more vulnerable.
It was a boon for Haiti to have US as its neighboring country. The US Air Force partially opened the international airport at the capital thus linking Haiti with the rest of the world for much needed humanitarian assistance. The foreign urban search and rescue teams, medical teams and humanitarian assistance started arriving on the third day of the catastrophe. But the majority of them were stuck in the premises of the airport due to lack of security in the capital. The mission headquarter tasked the Nepali contingent to provide security to the teams and assist them with our contingent-owned vehicles. In order to execute the additional task smoothly, two companies from Chandannath Battalion located at Mirebalais were annexed to our contingent. On Jan 22, the Haitian government officially called off the search for survivors.
The time and tireless effort spent in Haiti has been a great learning experience. Every single Nepali staff has gained some know-how from this earthquake and its post-disaster management. In process of providing relief to the suffered locals, NA’s exemplary service received commendations from all quarters, ranging from the secretary general, local government, civil societies and international media. But, still, the atrocious and baseless allegation for the outbreak of cholera to the Nepali contingent is very disheartening and intolerable. This kind of unproven allegation has undermined the humanitarian service rendered by NA, albeit, it does not take anything away from its unflinching commitment to serve to maintain international peace and stability any day, any where within the given mandate.
The geographical location of Kathmandu valley makes it more difficult to receive international support in case of such a disaster. Lack of sea access and alternative international airports make us more inaccessible. The planning and preparedness for disaster management should rise above the paper works and seminars and be translated into practice. The government should identify the capability of different disaster response organizations and provide them with financial support. Center and District Disaster Relief Committees have an important role to play as the coordinator. We should devise a provision of Standing Operating Procedures and manpower should be trained accordingly in order to work effectively with the international agencies. Furthermore, it’s high time to change the existing building codes, land use regulations in respect to seismic safety, carrying out awareness campaigns and preparing dedicated search and rescue teams.
God forbid that similar catastrophe never strikes our country, but we need to ponder and be prepared to manage effectively if it ever occurs.
Writer is a Major in Nepal Army
rojrana@yahoo.com
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