[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ts been twelve days since the tragedy and mystery of the missing MH 370 has gripped people in every corner of the world. The news has ceaselessly featured for as many days in every known communication and information platform and has been occupying substantial air time across television networks.
But every new day has been accompanied with twists and turns in the cause of the plane’s disappearance with no clear explanation. Hope,meanwhile for finding the plane is fading fast. The frustration and tension and pent up emotional stress kept in check by relatives of those on board since the incident is giving way.Even as the Malaysian government grapples with the unfolding drama the unprecedented scale of the incident is showing up many areas where they are falling short. The lessons in the way the tragedy of this magnitude is being handled must be one for all governments and leaders.
Responding to a crisis and responding in a crisis must go hand in hand.While it is obvious that the first priority is to locate the plane it is also now evidently clear that caring for the relatives of the passengers is of equal, if not greater concern. That the Malaysian authority should only now consider sending in a team of Malaysian government representatives and Malaysian airlines officials to Beijing to brief the Chinese relatives of passengers on board MH 370 comes as a shock. The government had initially announced providing psychological and trauma care for every family.
But its clear that the pace of information outflow has been slow and frustrating for the relatives.
Chinese nationals from Beijing who arrived in Kuala Lampur broke down as they pleaded to Malaysian authorities to tell them the truth about what happened. The scenes at the hotel where press briefings have been regularly held for the past days had reporters and authorities shaken up with the cries of the mothers whose children were on the ill fated flight. The search for the plane is now running against time with the battery in the black box said to now be down to 63%. Every hour, minute and second is going to count before the battery goes dead and even this single window of hope of ever finding the aircraft is lost.
In such a scenario one can only pray that the collective assistance of over 26 nations will locate the aircraft.
One wonders if 12 days into this tragedy the world has learnt anything at all.
Are we closer to understanding the purpose of human life ?
