The Straits Times
25 May 2017
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- Lessons in Preparedness and Unity
Lessons in Preparedness and Unity
Manchester has responded to the incident in a highly admirable manner. Residents and businesses of the city came together almost immediately after the blast to offer help to those affected.
A city rallied together. Offers of support have emanated from the ground, with the hashtag #roomformanchester trending as local residents offered their homes to those unable to return to their own due to road closures and public transport disruptions. Individuals responded to appeals for food and items for the affected, while hotel chains provided beds to the stranded. Health workers in Manchester for a conference offered assistance to local medical personnel. Many Mancunians as well as others from all over the north-west of England came forward to donate blood to blood banks.
Importantly, the media have also been active in both listing the unaccounted and requesting information which could help locate them, using the hashtag #missinginmanchester.
The government has also been forward with information they have on the attacker, and the investigations being conducted. This transparency gains the trust of those affected by the blasts, and keeps any information vacuum from being exploited.
As an events hub with large concerts, sporting events such as the F1 night race, and our own National Day Parade, what can Singapore learn based on the response of the residents of Manchester?
… Norman Vasu is Deputy Head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. Nur Diyanah is a Research Analyst in the Social Resilience Programme at the same Centre.
CENS / Print / Online
