Floods in the lower districts of Sindh have claimed more than 200 lives. Thousands of residents have been left stranded by rising floodwaters, nearly a million homes have been destroyed, and more than four million acres of cropland have been affected. More heavy rain is forecast in the coming days.
The Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the heavy rains resulted from unusual weather patterns. Widespread, heavy monsoon rains are not unusual in northern Pakistan, but in late summer of 2011, heavy rain fell over the southern part of the country. Poor drainage exacerbated the problem, according to the BBC. While the coastal city of Karachi suffered from heavy rain, the worst damage occurred in rural areas.
The devastating floods in Sindh have rendered millions homeless while standing crops of millions of rupees have also been washed away. The flooding is being reported as worse than the previous year in terms of life and property losses. The government functionaries and institutions responsible for floods control and provision of relief goods are nowhere to be seen in the area where hundreds and thousands of victims are still marooned in floods and torrential rains.
Around 5.3 million people have been affected by the flash floods, while 209 killed so far. Around 1.7 million acres of agricultural land has also been affected in the province owing to torrential rains and floods. Last year, the floods hit three provinces of the country including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. The accumulative loss was calculated as $10 billion to national kitty, while 21 million people were affected by the natural disaster.
President Zardari appealed to the United Nations and the international community last week for help as the calamity is “beyond the control” of Pakistan. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also echoed in the same voice and urged philanthropists and donors to help Pakistan in this difficult hour. Following the appeals, the international community has started pouring millions of rupees to Pakistan’s kitty including the United Nations for help of the flood victims. Now, it is up to Pakistan’s government to utilise the money properly and provide victims with shelter and food.
China, Pakistan’s neighbour and trusted friend, has pledged $4.7 million dollar to Pakistan for urgent humanitarian assistance and perhaps it was also the first country to respond to the government’s appeal for help. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan reportedly handed over a cheque of $50,000 to the disaster management authority. The rulers are seeking help from other countries as well including Iran. Let’s see how much money is collected in the garb of humanitarian assistance to flood victims.
Following an appeal of help from Pakistan, the United Nations started its relief operation in the province and a special campaign has been launched to feed half a million people affected by floods. AFP quoted spokesman for the World Food Programme, Amjad Jamal, as saying that the agency had provided food packages to more than 600 families in Badin, one of the worst affected districts of Sindh.
Jamal said, “This is the first UN food response after Pakistan’s government’s appeal. We will expand this program to half a million people in coming days.”
The international community is helping the survivors, but where are the rulers? Is their role just limited to appeals and collecting money? President Zardari is on a visit to London, while the prime minister is in Iran, quite oblivious to the disaster at home. It is high time the rulers spare some time and share grief of the flood victims by visiting the calamity-hit areas. There is no need of an international help to help the victims because Pakistan has got invaluable resources and the need is to utilise them properly for the welfare of the people.
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