We read with great interest the findings and suggested conclusions by Ryan et al in their article, “Defining, Describing, and Categorizing Public Health Infrastructure Priorities for Tropical Cyclone, Flood, Storm, Tornado, and Tsunami-Related Disasters,” published in the journal in August 2016.Reference Ryan, Franklin and Burkle 1 Such forward thinking with proper pre-disaster preparedness plans and post-disaster recovery plans is unfortunately lacking in some parts of the world. Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) often make the headlines for human-made disasters such as conflicts and terrorist acts. Natural disasters, on the other hand, have long been regarded as rare events in this part of the world; preparedness for such disasters has therefore been considered a luxury and not a priority.Reference Al-Madhari and Elberier 2 However, the change in global climate and increased human-induced hazards such as poor city designs and increased industrial hazards in the region have led to substantial vulnerability to natural disasters.
In 2007, Cyclone Gonu struck the coastline of Oman causing extensive damage to the infrastructure in the capital city and its surroundings. The cyclone claimed the life of 49 people and affected more than 20,000 others with an estimated total cost of US $4 billion. It remains the worst disaster in Oman in decades.Reference Al-Shaqsi 3 Similarly, in 2009, the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia was flooded. The floods killed 83 people and affected the entire city’s roads, power, and water supplies. It is considered the worst disaster in Saudi Arabia in over 35 years.Reference Alamri 4
These 2 disasters have awakened policy-makers in the region to the importance of multidisciplinary and proactive disaster preparedness strategies. They have exposed some weak links in the chain of disaster preparedness in the region, which should be the target for improvement and policy changes.Reference Al-Shaqsi 3 , Reference Alamri 4 The ramifications of these disasters (and the lack of adequate preparedness) on the rate of recovery remain to date.
A focused and proactive approach, based upon prior experience with these events and modeled according to the Sendai Framework, 5 ought to take priority in future strategic plans in the GCC (eg, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 6 ) in order to efficiently minimize the impact of future disasters. The GCC is in a unique position to integrate resources and assimilate experiences gained through regional disasters (both human-made and natural). Proper contingency plans and preparedness policies—if adopted—will enhance the readiness of populations in the region to respond effectively to such disastrous events.
