When I registered for Sewa International’s Policy Cafe on ‘Disaster and the First 72 Hours’ , I assumed I already had a solid grasp of those chaotic early days. Having spent time in the field. I’ve witnessed the rush, the disarray, and the heavy emotional toll that disasters bring. I expected the session to mainly confirm what I already knew.
Instead, it prompted me to pause and reconsider many assumptions.
One phrase from the discussion has stayed with me: the first 72 hours feel like “everything happening at once”. In the field, there’s no tidy sequence - assessments, coordination, supply arrangements, and dealings with authorities all unfold simultaneously . What I hadn’t fully internalised before was the sheer pressure. Within a day or two, responders are already expected to show tangible results even when roads remain impassable, communications are disrupted, and reliable information trickles in slowly. The session reminded me that early response relies far less on flawless plans and far more on experience, strong teamwork, and real-time judgement.
Even after years on the ground, the Policy Cafe made me rethink the concept of stability in the aftermath of disaster. I used to focus on the speed of aid delivery; the discussion changed my view: the way aid is coordinated can matter more than the aid itself. For instance, enabling families to remain close to their homes, schools, and livelihoods even while receiving minimal relief profoundly impacts how safe and supported they feel. Early response is as much about preserving trust, familiarity, and human dignity as it is about material resources.
Logistics was another area of the discussion that really resonated with me. I’ve experienced firsthand how supply bottlenecks can stall an entire operation. The shared stories - of rerouting transport or relying on simple, low-tech tracking when digital systems collapse - highlighted the essential role of flexibility during emergencies. Effective logistics during emergencies isn’t about rigidly following a pre-established plan; it is about continuous course-correction when things don’t go the way they’re supposed to.
The insight that has remained at top of my mind is the critical part the local NGOs and community actors play during the first 72 hours. The discussion underscored that response is most effective when efforts are coordinated yet deeply rooted in local realities. Local NGOs and volunteers, already embedded in the community, understand who is most vulnerable and can act swiftly without navigating layers of external approval. Their speed, credibility, and contextual knowledge make assistance both timelier and more meaningful.
By the close of the Policy Cafe, the session no longer felt like another discussion. It became a space to reflect on experiences I had lived through, but never fully processed. Disasters test not only the immediate response systems but also the relationships, networks, and preparedness cultivated long before the crisis strikes. The first 72 hours lay those strengths and gaps bare. For me, conversations like this are valuable because they transform raw field experience into structured learning, and learning into a deeper, more nuanced understanding of what actually makes a response effective.
Policy Cafe video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boyto9mTUy0&t=407s
