Amidst continuous cycles of monsoon rains, Pakistan has lost at least 903 people from severe rains and floods this summer. According to the metrological office, July’s national rainfall was almost 200% above the average which was the highest percentage recorded since July 1961.
Moreover, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also highlighted that heavy monsoon rainfall has resulted in climate catastrophe in Pakistan. It has affected around 2.3 million people since mid-June and has destroyed at least 95,350 houses, the figure is still staggering.
In addition to the north of Pakistan including Naran, Kalam, and Swat southern parts of the country have also been badly affected. More than 504,000 livestock have been killed in Balochistan, while damage to nearly 3,000 km of roads and 129 bridges have impeded movement around flood-affected areas.
Read more: Flash floods wreak havoc in Swat, emergency declared
Furthermore, the main supply route from the port city of Karachi has been cut for more than a week after a bridge linking it to Balochistan was swept away, while dozens of small dams in the province were overwhelmed.
Thankfully, two missing women and one man belonging to Balochistan have recently been rescued alive after drowning in floodwater in Meena Khor, Bala along with their car for three hours.
Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman has also urged the international community to help with relief efforts as it struggles to cope with the aftermath of torrential rains that have triggered massive floods in the country.
جسے اللہ رکھے ۔۔۔ تین گھنٹے تک گاڑی سمیت سیلابی پانی میں ڈوب کر لاپتہ دو خواتین اور ایک مرد کو زندہ نکال دیا گیا۔ یہ واقعہ آج #دیر بالا کے مینہ خوڑ میں پیش آیا ہے۔ متاثرہ افراد کا تعلق #بلوچستان سے بتایا جاتا ہے. pic.twitter.com/pKNIPwPsDO
— Islamabadies (@Islamabadies) August 25, 2022
The minister expressed herself as;
“As we speak, thousands are homeless without shelter, without food. And the communication lines have been cut off. It is a serious humanitarian disaster.”
Pakistan is currently facing a serious climate change crisis, as funding and reconstruction efforts would be a great challenge for a cash-strapped country. The country would need to cut spending to ensure International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves the release of much-needed bailout money.
Moving on, Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif has announced a cash assistance of Rs. 250,000 for injured people, a compensation of Rs0.5 million for completely damaged mud and concrete houses, and Rs 0.2 million for partially destroyed houses.
Likewise, China has once again proven itself as Pakistan’s all-weather friend as it has pledged humanitarian assistance for the country. The supplies would include 25,000 tents and $300,000 in emergency cash to aid the flood-hit regions in Pakistan.
Read more: Unprecedented floods in Pakistan
Additionally, Asian Human Rights Commission has generated a report in which it highlighted the negligence of the authorities and improper mechanisms to deal with natural disasters that have put the lives of millions of people in peril after the heavy rains in Pakistan.
The report mentions the lack of legal mechanisms and poor infrastructure as some of the main reasons for this natural catastrophe in the country. Likewise, the lack of accountability and absence of relief centers has also worsened the situation.
Therefore, the current crisis requires united efforts and keeping the political differences aside to cope with this natural disaster as thousands of people have lost their homes and families.