Of late ‘Nepal Earthquake’ has shaken the world to a great extent. This experience of disaster has been an alarm call to many countries of the world to revisit their own state of preparation for the event of any earthquake disaster. Bangladesh which actively participated in the humanitarian assistance in Nepal for Disaster Management (DM) has possibly comprehended the state of its own preparation as well.Recently, there was an exercise conducted in the country, from 30 August 2015 to 03 September 2015, on a
hypothetical scenario of disaster due to an earthquake in Dhaka City. This was organised jointly by the Armed Forces Division (AFD) and US Army Pacific in coordination with Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief
Disaster management : Understanding of C3 perspective
Lt Colonel S M Asadul Haque
Of late Nepal Earthquake has shaken the world to a great extent. This experience of disaster has been an alarm call to many countries of the world to revisit their own state of preparation for the event of any earthquake disaster. Bangladesh which actively participated in the humanitarian assistance in Nepal for Disaster Management (DM) has possibly comprehended the state of its own preparation as well.
Recently, there was an exercise conducted in the country, from 30 August 2015 to 03 September 2015, on a hypothetical scenario of disaster due to an earthquake in Dhaka City. This was organized jointly by the Armed Forces Division (AFD) and US Army Pacific in coordination with Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR). One of the main focuses of this exercise was to test the Command, Control, and Coordination (C3) system during the DM. The C3 in DM travels through mainly three levels: strategic, operational, and tactical. Now, what does it mean?
In the most simplistic explanation, strategic and operational level deals with decision of asset employment in the most effective manner, while tactical level deals with the effective use of assets on the site of the affected areas. All these take place through a structured C3 system. If it is not set in the DM process, it will turn counterproductive, and bring more disaster. Thus the subject C3 in DM is a dynamic constituent to comprehend by all the actors during the DM environment in any country. This article intends to discuss only the Bangladeshs perspective of C3 systems in DM.
Now, let us know some of our preparations in terms of publication of documents and physical practices. We have mainly a Disaster Management Act 2012 and a Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of MoDMR which may be revised thoroughly. In the MoDMR, we have an ad hoc National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC) that is not fully functional. We dont have any DM Control Room to operate 24/7 to monitor the situation. We are yet to formulate an effective C3 system on DM.
We dont see much effectiveness of the National Disaster Preparedness Day (NDPD) for raising public awareness to respond to the emergency situation by all the citizens. We are yet to conduct effective exercises to practice on a hypothetical situation to deal with disaster involving all the relevant actors. There are sincerely many things to be done to efficiently prepare for the most undesired event/ disaster. Allah forbids, if it really occurs then we will be at the mercy of our fate.
Within the last decade, our experience of Spectrum Building collapse, fire at Bashundhara City, the Tazreen garments accident, and the Rana Plaza collapse are possibly not enough for us to wake up. Perhaps, we are waiting for a greater disaster in Dhaka to start our preparation tangibly. But, let me tell you if the epi center is in Dhaka or around with a seven or higher degree Richter scale than those who will be alive can safely put four pegs around Dhaka and declare it Dhaka Grave Yard, as it will be impossible to deal with it under the present capability of us in terms of C3 structure and equipment necessary for DM.
However, let us try to visualize the initial stages of disasters that are likely to remain unpredictable, uncertain, and complex. Victims in the affected area suffer from shock, panic, dislocation, uncertainty, disorientation, distress; its a total pandemonium. To minimize all these, a highly competent and well-structured C3 system is the most needed issue at the beginning of the management process of disaster. Otherwise, no matter how much assets a country has or receives from other countries as aid to deal with disaster, it will not be effectively used.
Many international organizations, agencies, NGOs, and government departments will be working together to achieve a common goal; humanitarian assistance to the victims. People will have to work with more uncommon faces yet cooperate each other. Knowing the C3 system and the Charter of Duties (COD) of the respective departments/agencies/organizations will always make the job easy. And, certainly lack of knowledge in this regard will create unpredictable impediments during DM. This will always generate a lot of who questions; Who is in charge, Who to report, Who to ask, Who are you to ask me to do this, Who to give directive, Who to coordinate, Who has the resources, Who controls allocation of resources, etc.
If the C3 system is not clear to the respective actors in the DM environment, then everyone will try to coordinate but, no one will like to be coordinated. Here, the C3 is basically an attitude perspective where the approach is more of a collaborative manner than of the directive. It is more of a bottom up approach than of a top down. The military top down command and control approach will work within the agencies not across. In this context, it is of paramount importantance to distinguish the difference of command, control, and coordination with regard to DM. The command is exercised within a department/agency, control is across the agencies involved during the DM, coordination involves the activities to bring agencies together and systematic acquisition and utilization of resources in response to the demand on the site. Generally, a command is exercised vertically while coordination and control are horizontal.
However, together we all can start preparing for the unwanted event to avoid being surprised. Lets not start tomorrow as tomorrow never comes and today is the right time. At this backdrop a few recommendations are given here which are not exhaustive:
The NDRCC must be made functional and authorized to activate C3 system during the event of disaster.
In the MoDMR, a DM Control Room must remain operational, under NDRCC, on a 24/7 basis with its effective Staff Body. It must be equipped with an optimum level of modern equipment to get the early warning to warn the nation.
Conduct routine exercises, Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX), to build mutual understanding and develop relationships within all the participants.
The NDPD must be effectively practiced nationwide at least once in a year declared by NDRCC in coordination with the MoDMR as a key to developing public awareness in response to the disaster environment.
The writer is Directing Staff at the Defence Service Command and Staff College
