In the case of Kobe, Japanese government officials reportedly refused rescue aid from dozens of countries that have a demonstrated history of expertise in disaster mitigation and heavy urban rescue. Even though dozens of observers "on the ground" in Japan said that Kobe rescuers were overwhelmed and lacked the necessary equipment and training to manage the tragic event, Japanese officials refused to let American earthquake rescue teams and other experts into the country. Why, many emergency responders asked at the time? Pride... economics...lack of availablity...what was the real reason that Americans weren't invited to assist?
Retrospective analysis of events could suggest that the Japanese may not have invited American and other rescue teams out of fear that they would then have to make reasonable trade and other concessions at some future time. It is well known that polite Japanese culture requires that services or favors be returned in equal or greater measure. Is it possible that hundreds of people may have died unnecessarily in Kobe, all out of larger issues regarding a tariff on American autos and auto parts and future concerns about needing to repay American kindness?
In the case of the Sakhalin Island earthquake, the political implications of rescue and humanitarian aid have became even more obvious. Russian President Boris Yelsin even went so far as to publicly admit that he was refusing offers of Japanese medical aid because he feared that Japanese rescue efforts might be used, at some future time, as "psychological leverage" in some sort of attempted Japanese "take-back" of their former island territories. Did hundreds more die in Russia because of "political complications"?
In both of the aforementioned disasters, technical rescue experts say that the answer is yes...people did die unnecessarily because of national pride and worries of political ramifications. They point to an May 23rd, 1995 "after-action" report by the Japanese government that said, "The earthquake that devastated Kobe in January raised serious questions about the efficiency of Japan's emergency medical system". It continued, "The earthquake exposed many issues in terms of quantity, quality, promptness and efficiency of Japan's medical care in time of disaster."
The few "Western" rescuers allowed to participate in the Kobe rescue have reported many stories of "too little, too late", in regard to both rescue efforts and medical care. Experts say that similar accounts could be expected from Russia, if there were any independent analysts available to tell the tale. Given the state of information dissemination in Russia, few experts believe that useful or factual information will be forthcoming from the Sakhalin disaster.
But, that doesn't change the facts, according to Clark Staten of the Chicago-based Emergency Response & Research Institute. According to Staten, and based on American standards, both Kobe and Sakhalin were "less than optimal operations". "I don't think we can hold either operation out as an example of either efficiency or effectiveness", Staten said. "While I despise being a 'Monday Morning Quarterback', I also can't condone the refusal of any government to accept the assistance of bona-fide rescue experts, that have spent years to become adept at building collapse rescue and the other skills needed in this type of disaster", Staten continued.
In Kobe, eyewitnesses reported that they often found "lines" of fire trucks and other rescue vehicles stranded by piles of rubble, blocking the streets. Yet, no endloaders or bull dozers were seen clearing the streets for many hours after the quake. One witness said that there were almost no overhead cranes evident for several days, even though they are known to be essential equipment for safely removing concrete and other rubble from atop victims.
Staten said that Associated Press (AP)reports has reported allegations that almost half of the rescuers in Neftegorsk, Russia were military conscripts that had no rescue training, and that at what should have been the height of the rescue, that victim's families were making allegations that the soldiers were seen "lounging", drinking vodka, and possibly intoxicated. Other charges of bribes being needed to pass military checkpoints, and that soldiers were hoarding and selling donated bottled water were made by victims and the families of victims.
Worse than these peripheral charges are eyewitness charges that rescue efforts were "unorganized" and "sporadic". At least one report said that rescuers in Neftegorsk completely stopped their efforts at meal times and at night, and that there were no lights for night work or sufficient heavy cranes to move debris. And yet, miraculously, two small children and a middle aged lady were found alive after being trapped for five (5) days in the rubble. One can only wonder how many might have been saved had an truly competent rescue effort been undertaken.
"The time has come for an end to this parochial attitude toward disasters and rescue", the veteran emergency administrator said. "National pride and a continued focus on the possible political implications of offers of humanitarian assistance have to stop", Staten added. "What the world really needs is an international working agreement that automatically invites the 'best and brightest' of the rescue community to any major disaster, where they could help to alleviate suffering and decrease the possible death toll", Staten continued.
"This could be done in a non-judgemental way, without threatening any other global agreements or international treaties", he added. "It would just be a given...that the stricken nation, when overwhelmed, would welcome, accept, and reimburse recognized expert/rescue organizations from other countries, without regard for future considerations...it could become a global 'mutual aid' system" Staten concluded.
Although the details of such agreements are yet to be worked out, and he realizes that some officials will consider the entire concept naive, Staten said that he will propose such a system to both the United States government and the United Nations. Staten finished the interview by saying that even if one life were saved by this idea that the time and effort would have been worthwhile.
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