Pakistan is affected by severe floods. The country’s climate minister said that one-third of the area has been completely submerged in water due to historic floods in the country. Roads, houses and crops were swept away by the devastating flash flood. Millions of people are affected by floods in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab (South) and Khyber provinces of the country in the face of terrible disaster. Residents of the area are leaving homesteads in search of safe shelter. The country’s government is struggling to deal with this disaster. In this situation, Pakistan has reached out for international assistance.
Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said it is a huge ocean. There is no dry land for water to irrigate. He called it an unimaginable crisis.
Since the beginning of the monsoon season in Pakistan in June this year, 136 people have died so far. The country has not experienced such heavy rains in the last decade. The country’s government blames climate change for this disaster.
“Literally one-third of Pakistan is under water right now,” Sherry Rehman told AFP. Every past limit, every record has been broken. We have never seen this situation before.’
Junaid Khan, resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
officials said on Monday that 75 people have died in the last 24 hours due to floods. It is feared that the death toll may rise further. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, “One-third of the dead are believed to be children.” We are still trying to assess the extent of the damage.
Officials estimate that more than 33 million Pakistani citizens have been affected by this historic flood. Bridges and roads were swept away by floods in the Swat valley in the north of the country. Whole villages are isolated. Thousands of people living in mountainous areas have been ordered to evacuate. But even with the help of helicopters, authorities are still struggling to reach the trapped people.
Last Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that village after village has been wiped out. Millions of houses were destroyed. Many have taken shelter in temporary shelters. 3 crore 3 million people are affected by flood in the country. 15 percent of the country’s total population is affected by floods. This flood can be compared with the flood of 2010-11.
Provinces like Sindh and Balochistan have been the worst hit. However, the condition of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hilly areas is worst. While government officials blame climate change for the floods, many also blame the mismanagement of local administrations for causing so much damage.
Concerns are also growing about how to recover from the flood damage for Pakistan, which is facing an economic disaster. The country’s government has already appealed for financial assistance from aid agencies, friendly countries and international donors. The United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other countries have extended their support, government officials said. But more funds are needed.
Salman Sufi, an official in Pakistan’s interior ministry, said, “Pakistan’s public and international support has become urgent. Pakistan is facing economic problems. But when we were about to overcome it, the monsoons hit.”
Sufi also said that many development projects of the government are being financed by the affected people. According to the Dawn newspaper of Pakistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced 10 billion rupees assistance for flood affected people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. According to the announcement, each family affected by the flood will get Rs. 25,000. This assistance will be provided within a week.
The daughter of Muhammad Farid, a resident of Kagan Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was swept away by the flood. He said, “The girl told me that she was going to get grass for the goats. As soon as he went to the bank of Kunhar river, he was swept away by the flood water.
Junaid Khan (23) said, “The house we have built after years of hard work is sinking in front of our eyes. We are sitting on the side of the road and watching our dreams sink away.” Sindh province has also been affected by the floods. Thousands of people have become homeless there.
Home Ministry official Sufi told the BBC that Pakistan urgently needs international assistance. He said, Pakistan is already economically distressed. But while the country is recovering from economic losses, it is hit by natural disasters.
According to Geo News of Pakistan, many countries have expressed sympathy for Pakistan. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter on Sunday to express his concern for the people affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan. Pope Francis has called on the international community to help Pakistan.
