One week ago today Nepal was rocked by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that killed thousands of people, injured more than 13,000, destroyed an estimated 600,000 homes, exposed the ineptness of Nepal’s bitterly divided political structure and highlighted Taiwan’s isolation on the world stage when its initial offer of search-and-rescue assistance was declined.
As a nation far too familiar with the tragedy and political ineptitude such a massive temblor can leave in its wake, neither the government nor the public should take offense at the rebuff, but renew their efforts to find other ways to help Nepal.
After all, the Nepalese political system has been in limbo for almost a decade, since a Maoist insurrection ended with a peace agreement in November 2006, and the Nepalese Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy the following year. Efforts to write a new constitution have led to years of deadlock.
Earthquakes can tax even a well-functioning government, so Nepal’s shaky system really never stood a chance of formulating an effective response, much less coordinating immediate help measures.
Foreign rescue and medical teams and international aid organizations have complained about the lack of information and direction from officials in Kathmandu, while Nepalese grow increasingly desperate — and irate — over the lack of help from their government.
The Washington Post on Wednesday quoted the editor of the Annapurna Post newspaper as saying: “There is a complete absence of accountability in the [Nepalese] government. The army is doing all the coordination, but they lack the political direction.”
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did itself and Taiwan a disservice with its dissembling about the reason for the initial rejection of Taiwanese help. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Kao (高振群) on Monday told lawmakers that Nepal had only asked for assistance in search-and-rescue efforts from neighbors such as India, China and Pakistan, and cited Taiwan’s distance from Kathmandu, a lack of direct flights and the lack of diplomatic relations for the refusal.
The next day there were photographs of French and Spanish search-and-rescue teams working in Kathmandu, which seemed to rule out the distance factor.
It was clear to everyone but government officials that it was the lack of diplomatic relations — and concern about upsetting Beijing, which has been courting Kathmandu with diplomacy and financial aid for several years — that led to the snub.
Nevertheless, several rescue and medical teams from private organizations in Taiwan are in Kathmandu on short-term relief and supply missions, and more were preparing to go. On Thursday, Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chyun (孫立群) said the Nepalese government has said it is willing to consider an offer of help from Taiwan.
However, the government, charities and individuals should take a moment to ask themselves what long-term help they can offer, instead of trying to rush more people and supplies into an already chaotic situation. That would be more beneficial to Nepal — and to Taiwan’s international image.
Aid efforts must be thought of in terms of years, not days or months. Nepal is the 16th-poorest nation in the world and Nepalese Minister of Finance Ram Sharan Mahat has said it will take at least US$2 billion to rebuild the country.
All countries should heed the lessons gleaned from the massive humanitarian response to the Haitian earthquake five years ago — a response that overwhelmed that nation, yet failed to address many of its core needs, leaving many people as badly off today as they were in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
Taiwan can offer much to Nepal, but it should make sure the help really counts.
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