Afghanistan Times
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Every spring, flash floods wreak havoc in the country. However, the relevant authorities take it as a normal thing while blaming the nature for their failures. It is true that natural disasters cannot be prevented but it is also reality that the damages can be controlled. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan officials wake up from their deep slumber when people are killed and their properties are destroyed. Failures of the government are costing lives of Afghans. On Wednesday, floods in Kohistanat district of Sar-i-Pul province claimed lives of 17 people. Around 40 people are still missing. The floods had destroyed 200 houses.
Lukewarm response of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has irked flood-hit people while the attention of the government is adding fuel to the fire. Floods are not a new issue but the disaster management authority has constantly failed to establish quick response units in every province of the country to control the damages. Likewise, the government had not built the capacity of the NDMA on modern lines. Performance of the NDMA is not better than other state institutions. Staffers of most of the governmental organizations just kill time to register hours on the attendance sheet. This tendency is preventing the country from development. Not only this, but people are also losing their lives.
Natural disasters, poverty and insecurity are killing and injuring Afghans on regular basis but the government had not been successful in its strategies to improve the situation. Neither the economy improved nor damages of the natural disasters are controlled nor security situation is promising. Looking at the spike in casualties and internal displacement, there seems total chaos in the country. People do not feel safe in their hometowns any more. There is no part in the country where one can feel safe and find livelihood opportunities at the same time. Current circumstances are leaving nothing for Afghan people to behold, except disappointment.
To address grievances of people the government must overcome the administrative challenges first. To abolish the malpractice in governmental organizations and motivate the employees to remain true public servants is like cleansing the proverbial Augean stables. Moreover, the government shall hire those people in these organizations who are at home in the subject. After fall of the Taliban regime, it has been noticed that the leaders recruited their close friends and relatives on key positions; though, they had no experience of the respective area of work. It has worsened the situation. Instead of resolving the existing problems, these unqualified people had created further challenges which are a cause of distress not only for the future government but the next generation as well. The cycle of nepotism, favoritism and failures is preventing the country from going in the direction of development and prosperity.
