July 27 (today) marks the day when the country was hit by the worst floods in its history. As millions of flood survivors are still struggling to return to their normal lives, international aid agencies have warned that similar floods can strike the country in this year’s monsoon season as well. The United Nations, Oxfam and Pakistani authorities have estimated that if floods recur, around two to five million people are likely to be affected. The floods of 2010 were one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters in recent years, in which, according to official data, nearly a fifth of the country was flooded, affecting over 20 million people and resulting in some 14 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands of livestock were killed, standing crops were destroyed, and infrastructure and other livelihood assets including schools, healthcare facilities, sanitation system and drinking water supply schemes were damaged on an unprecedented scale throughout the province. In case there are more floods this year, the government would have to work efficiently to reduce the catastrophic affects on an urgent basis. “In relief camps, survivors usually lack safe drinking water and proper sanitation system, so I suggest that people are trained before hand to tackle such a disaster,” said Mustafa Talpur, South Asia regional advocacy manager of WaterAid.
