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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>The invisible victims of floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2577677/the-invisible-victims-of-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2577677/the-invisible-victims-of-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 25 00:53:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Kashif Mirza]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2577677</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Floodwaters have receded, but minorities remain the least served in Pakistan’s 2025 disaster]]>
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				<![CDATA[In the sweltering aftermath of Pakistan&#39;s most devastating monsoon season in recent memory, the waters have receded, but the scars remain etched deep into the lives of the nation&#39;s most vulnerable. The 2025 crisis unfolded with ferocious intensity. Torrential rains, swollen by climate change-fuelled anomalies, unleashed flash floods and accelerated glacial outbursts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh provinces. By mid-October, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported over 1,037 deaths and 6.9 million affected nationwide, with 3 million forced from their homes. The flood also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with over 229,700 houses, 790 bridges, and 2,811 kilometres of roads destroyed or damaged according to NDMA.



The impact on minorities

A direct correlation exists between the specific provincial epicentres of the floods and the primary geographic concentrations of Pakistan&#39;s Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities.

The Christian population is heavily concentrated in the flood affected areas of Punjab e.g. Lahore, Sialkot (Nala Aik, Nala Daik, Nala Palko) and Kasur (Bhikkiwind). This geographic vulnerability is compounded by socio-economic factors. A significant portion of the urban Christian population resides in katchi abadis that are often built on marginal, flood-prone land such as riverbanks and lack state-provided drainage or sanitation, making them exceptionally vulnerable to the urban and riverine flooding seen in 2025. Furthermore, Christians largely belong to the sanitation worker class, a role that exposes them directly to the hazardous after-effects of overflowing sewers and stagnant floodwaters.

&quot;Tribal Hindu communities in interior Sindh&quot; were explicitly identified in relief reports as being &quot;particularly affected&quot;. The floods in Sindh mapped directly onto districts concentrated with Hindu population including Thatta, Badin, Jamshoro, Dadu, Umerkot and Tharparker. The latter two have the highest absolute numbers, with Tharparkar at 810,000 population and Umerkot having 54.7% of Hindus in Pakistan. Located in an arid region, these are identified by the NDMA as a &quot;severe&quot; risk zone for drought. Their primary vulnerability, is socio-economic. The Hindu community is disproportionately affected by the hari and bonded labour system. As a landless minority often trapped in debt, their ability to evacuate or access aid is severely compromised.

The Sikh population is small, estimated to be 16,000&ndash;30,000, and highly clustered in a few specific locations including Buner district, KP, specifically in the village of Pir Baba which was directly in the path of the resulting flash floods and Narowal district, Punjab, home to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, and centre of the &quot;exceptionally high&quot; flooding from the Ravi, where floodwaters surged through the historic pilgrimage site, eroding foundations and submerging prayer halls. &quot;According to the information received, several feet of water entered not only the main Darbar but also the entire complex of Sri Kartarpur Sahib,&rdquo; says Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, in an urgent statement that rippled panic through global Sikh networks.



Neglected in aid relief

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan&rsquo;s Army Staff, visited the area in late August, promising swift restoration. &ldquo;Protection of minorities and their religious places is the responsibility of the state and its institutions,&rdquo; he assured during an aerial survey reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Yet, amid the widespread tragedy, ethnic and religious minorities like Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and indigenous groups in flood-prone regions, bear a disproportionate burden, their pleas for aid often drowned out by the roar of indifferent bureaucracy and societal prejudice. A September 2025 national survey by Gallup Pakistan found that over 80% of all affected households received no relief assistance whatsoever.

This data is crucial because Pakistan&#39;s religious minorities are disproportionately represented among the nation&#39;s poor, landless, and marginalised. The Gallup poll proves that the very system they were relying on was, by default, failing the demographic they belong to. In 2025, the HRCP issued a statement, reiterating its previous reports and calls to action, identifying the floods as manmade, due to poor planning, corruption, and land grabs and demanded that relief efforts provide &quot;equitable access&quot; for &quot;the most vulnerable&quot;. Read alongside the 2025 Gallup data and the historical reports of discrimination, their demand functions as an indictment of a system that is, by default, failing to provide that equity.

Qualitative reports from 2025 confirm that &quot;marginaliSed groups, including minorities&quot; faced reduced access to support, raising &quot;risks of favouritism and tension in aid distribution&quot;.



This data validates long-standing, documented patterns of discrimination in aid distribution during past floods, confirming that these communities face a compounded vulnerability: they are geographically marginalised into the most disaster-prone regions and systemically overlooked in the relief and recovery phases.

Relief efforts, coordinated by the NDMA and international partners like Unicef and Care, have reached millions amid the chaos, but structural barriers such as delayed surveys, remote access, unchecked profiteers, leave minority enclaves in Punjab and Sindh underserved. As Dr Andaleeb Koasar Jhatial, lecturer at the International Islamic University Islamabad, warns at a roundtable on humanitarian challenges, &ldquo;Floods and climatic shocks disproportionately affect women, children, and minorities,&rdquo; with provincial funding tussles and hoarding cartels spiking staples 30-50%. In Nankana Sahib and Thatta, aid rolls unevenly: &quot;relief supplies... seem insufficient,&quot; with displaced families reporting delays and inadequate rations, as detailed in Shamsul Islam Khan&#39;s, former vice president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and commodities expert, on-the-ground assessment prompting interfaith groups to bridge gaps. &ldquo;We prioritise humanity above all else,&rdquo; says Mahinderpal Singh in an online platform&rsquo;s story on flood relief coalitions, whose teams clean sacred sites while the state catches up. For survivors in leaking Punjab tents, it&#39;s a cruel wait: profiteers exploit the flood, turning tragedy into &quot;a test of... social justice,&quot; as the vice president frames the unfolding crisis.

This pattern of neglect is starkly evident in Sindh&#39;s Thatta and Badin districts, where Hindu and Christian fishing communities, comprising about 5% of the province&#39;s population, saw their thatched homes and boats obliterated. &ldquo;We have lost everything, our home and belongings. The greatest worry is what will happen after the water recedes and we have to leave this camp? Where will we go,&rdquo; says Rubina Bibi to an international news site from a submerged village, her family now crammed into a relief tent riddled with fever and fear. Her story, like thousands of others, now huddles in makeshift tents, battling outbreaks of malaria, dengue, and skin infections exacerbated by stagnant floodwaters. Women and girls, already facing heightened risks of gender-based violence in cramped camps, report being overlooked in aid distributions, their pleas dismissed as &quot;less urgent.&quot;

Human rights advocates paint a grim picture. The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) warns that religious minorities are &quot;often the last to receive aid,&quot; heightening vulnerabilities to exploitation and disease. In KP, Kalash and other indigenous groups in Chitral valley, non-Muslim ethnic minorities clinging to ancient traditions, faced glacial lake outburst floods that wiped out terraced farms and sacred groves. &quot;The floods have washed away our ancient way of life, leaving us to rebuild what little remains of our heritage,&quot; laments a Kalash community spokesperson in a plea covered by a daily, speaking amid calls for government intervention to save their eroding culture. With limited access to early warning systems, these remote communities were more at-risk of sustaining casualties than those in nearby Pashtun-majority villages.



The impact on children

The floods&#39; toll on children, who make up a third of Pakistan&#39;s population, is particularly harrowing for minorities. Unicef] reports 255 child deaths by early September, many from drowning or post-flood illnesses In minority-heavy areas, disrupted schooling, with over 1,000 schools damaged, threatens generational erasure of cultural identities. &ldquo;In this tent school and safe space, we found so many things to learn and play as the kind teachers make us smile. It is a very good place to come and forget our grief and pain,&rdquo; shares Iqbal, a 9-year-old student displaced from his flooded home, in a Save the Children press release on emergency education efforts, his words a fragile thread holding onto normalcy amid the ruins.

Economic impact

Economically, the blow is existential. Minorities, often relegated to informal sectors like brickmaking and agriculture, lost livelihoods without the social safety nets afforded to others. An estimated 1.2 million hectares of land were inundated in Punjab, which serves as &quot;Pakistan&#39;s food basket&quot;. Care International notes that damaged infrastructure has isolated these groups, delaying cash transfers and microloans essential for rebuilding. A CGAP study highlights how climate shocks like these erode financial inclusion gains, pushing the poorest and disproportionately affected minorities, deeper into debt traps. With Rs 500 billion in agricultural damages alone and profiteers jacking up prices, rural producers, 40% of the workforce, face famine risks, their fields and livestock swallowed by the flood.



The most insidious impact of the floods on the Hindu community relates to the system of bonded labour.

Critics point fingers at governance failures. Poorly maintained embankments and unplanned urbanisation along riverbanks amplified the disaster, as seen in the 2022 floods&#39; eerie redux. &ldquo;We cannot allow our people to bear the brunt of climate inaction,&rdquo; argues Senator Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister for Climate Change, in an op-ed on monsoon vulnerabilities, calling for equitable international aid. The UN has stepped in with emergency plans, but gaps persist as OCHA notes uneven distribution, with minority areas underserved.

As Pakistan tackles reconstruction, voices from the margins grow louder. In relief camps dotting Punjab&#39;s floodplains, interfaith coalitions are emerging, blending Sikh langars with Christian prayer circles to share scarce resources. &ldquo;We learned the value of humanity from Guru Nanak. His message inspires us, and we try to follow his example by putting humanity first in everything we do,&rdquo; says Mahinderpal Singh, manager of United Sikhs in Pakistan, in a web story about the teams that doled out aid regardless of faith.



The policy omission

Yet, without targeted policies, bolstered early warnings, minority-inclusive disaster planning, and culturally sensitive aid, the 2025 floods could create deeper divides. In a nation where minorities number over 4 million, ignoring their plight isn&#39;t just unjust; it&#39;s a flood waiting to happen again. We must embed equity into our disaster frameworks, drawing from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (NDRRS) 2025&ndash;2030 and the International Organisation for Migration&#39;s (IOM) Pakistan Crisis Response Plan 2023&ndash;2025. Yet, an analysis of the NDRRS reveals a critical policy omission: while it references the need for inclusion and mentions &quot;marginalised communities,&quot; it fails to explicitly define &quot;religious minorities&quot; as a vulnerable category, risking perpetuation of exclusionary practices during multi-year recovery phases and locking these groups into persistent dependence amid future shocks.

The failure to translate the high-level policy into the operational guidelines creates a &quot;policy vacuum.&quot; The PDMA and DDMA authorities, who rely on operational guidelines, have no official mandate to collect pre-disaster data on minorities, assess their specific vulnerabilities (e.g., landlessness, housing type), or train response teams to handle caste or religious discrimination. This omission provides systemic cover for local-level discrimination. This exact chain of failure was documented in 2010 with the Ahmadiyya community and repeated, unaddressed, in 2022 with Scheduled Caste Hindus, proving it is a feature, not a bug, of the current system.

This gap is mirrored in the National Climate Change Policy (2021) which acknowledges that &quot;vulnerable poor and minority groups&quot; face increased risk, but the subsequent National Adaptation Plan implementation framework contains no specific, actionable initiatives for religious or caste-based minorities, subsuming them invisibly under &quot;social inclusion&quot;. At the provincial level, there is a total disconnect between policy and reality. In Sindh, the PDMA&#39;s generic policies resulted in an &quot;inadequate&quot; and &quot;unsatisfactory&quot; response for minorities, necessitating a separate investigation by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC). In Balochistan, the 2022 Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) found &quot;substantial perceived favoritism, nepotism, corruption... discrimination, and exclusion in aid distribution,&quot; which &quot;deprives marginalised and excluded communities of support&quot;.

The state&#39;s primary mechanism for aid delivery is cash transfers (e.g., via BISP) contingent on a valid CNIC from Nadra. This system, while promoted for transparency, is a well-documented tool of exclusion. The NDMA itself acknowledges the &quot;difficulty in access to assistance for undocumented persons (CNIC...)&quot;. This system disproportionately excludes the most marginalised, particularly women in rural areas not registered as &quot;heads of household&quot; and other undocumented minority community members.

This on-the-ground reality, documented by human rights groups, was corroborated by the government&#39;s own high-level assessments. The government-led Pakistan Floods 2022: Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, with support from the UN, World Bank, and European Union, makes several critical admissions:


	The recovery strategy must be &quot;inclusive of marginalised groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and religious minorities&quot;.
	The PDNA explicitly lists &quot;religious minorities&quot; as among the &quot;social groups facing discrimination and lack of access to relief&quot;.
	The livelihood recovery strategy must include &quot;participation and fair wages to members of marginalised and minority communities&quot;.




This creates the final, damning contradiction: the problem of discrimination was acknowledged in high-level planning documents in Islamabad, while the NCHR&#39;s on-the-ground investigation in Sindh found &quot;No specific measures&quot; were ever implemented. This gap proves the ultimate governance failure: even when the problem is identified, the implementation and accountability mechanisms to stop it at the district level are non-existent.

To address these issues, we must develop multilingual early-warning systems that integrate indigenous knowledge, such as expanding the PDMA Madadgar app for real-time alerts in languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, and Kalasha, with geo-tagged vulnerability assessments ensuring 80% coverage in high-risk minority districts like Narowal and Chitral. This protocol, mandated under NDRRS, could slash fatalities by 30&ndash;50% among flood migrants, as modelled by IOM, by partnering with NGOs for community-led dissemination via radio and SMS. Complementing this, institutionalising gender and equity audits in disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans, requiring 30% minority representation in local committees, would foster participatory assessments, forming inclusive DRR bodies through community-based organisations like United Sikhs and piloting community-based adaptation in ethnic enclaves, as outlined in NDRRS sections on social inclusion and IOM&#39;s protection mainstreaming guidelines, while explicitly amending the strategy to define religious minorities as vulnerable, closing the identified gap in Sections 10.4 and 13.6.

Transitioning from prevention to response, mainstreaming culturally sensitive aid protocols demands allocating 20% of relief budgets for minority-specific needs, such as repairing temples and gurdwaras alongside faith-sensitive shelters that prevent gender-based violence and trafficking in camps. NDMA-led training modules on cultural competencies for responders, coupled with cash-for-work programmes prioritising informal minority labourers, align with IOM&#39;s emphasis on GBV case management and civil documentation, while NDRRS calls for psychosocial support tailored to marginalised groups. For recovery and rehabilitation, shock-responsive social protection must integrate DRR into safety nets like Benazir Income Support Programme expansions, offering microinsurance subsidies and livelihood restoration linked to cultural heritage, such as rebuilding Kalash terraced farms, through community-driven quick-impact projects for resilient shelters. Although, mandate that possession of a CNIC cannot be the sole prerequisite for life-saving aid (shelter, food, water, and emergency medical care), as recommended by previous analyses. Alternative identification, such as UN or INGO registration, or verified community-vouching systems, must be officially sanctioned. International donors should recognise that mainstream channels are failing. A significant portion of recovery funds must be channelled directly to registered, local, and community-based organisations that have proven, long-standing access to and trust from marginalised groups who are &quot;overlooked&quot; by official channels. This builds on NDRRS&#39;s inclusive recovery pillars and IOM&#39;s targeting of 905,000 vulnerable individuals, including border minorities, with nature-based solutions to curb migration hotspots as urged by the International Water Management Institute.

Direct, unconditional cash grants should be provided for Sikh shop-owners in Pir Baba, Buner, to rebuild their commercial livelihoods. Funding for the provision of personal protective equipment and hazard pay should be approved for Christian sanitation workers tasked with cleaning hazardous flood-waste. Grants for the restoration of damaged religious sites, including the historic Hindu temple in Jamshoro and St James Parish in Sialkot. The link between flooding and the deepening of bonded labour must be treated as a human trafficking and slavery crisis. Humanitarian agencies must coordinate with human rights bodies to prioritise the physical extraction, debt relief, and legal protection of bonded labourers and their families from flood-affected feudal lands as a life-saving intervention.

Grant the National Commission for Human Rights nd the Sindh Human Rights Commission formal, independent oversight authority over all DDMA and PDMA relief operations, including the power to receive and adjudicate complaints of discrimination.

Finally, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with disaggregated data on minority outcomes, alongside capacity-building for 10,000 responders through cross-sector workshops with faith leaders, would ensure accountability via annual equity audits and nationwide scaling of apps like Madadgar. NDRRS mandates such gender-disaggregated indicators and training, echoed in Human Rights Watch&#39;s calls for monitoring to avert displacement and a Frontiers in Communication study on AI/IoT for inclusive alerts. With an estimated $500 million investment, these protocols, cemented in NDMA&#39;s annual plans, could transform Pakistan&#39;s response from reactive chaos to equitable resilience, honouring the survivors&#39; unyielding call for justice.

The writer is a human rights expert, filmmaker &amp; researcher and can be reached at qashif.mirza@gmail.com and (X) @qashifmirza

All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer]]>
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			<title>When the breadbasket washes away</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565341/when-the-breadbasket-washes-away</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565341/when-the-breadbasket-washes-away#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 25 07:06:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahbaz Rana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Punjab’s floods have imperilled food security, turning Pakistan’s fragile economic outlook murky]]>
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				<![CDATA[Simultaneous flooding in one western and two eastern rivers has washed away standing cash crops in the agriculture heartland of Pakistan besides impacting lives and shelters of four million people so far in Punjab alone, muddying the nascent economic and price stability.

The disaster is unfolding and the magnitude is still unknown. Pakistan&rsquo;s food security, which is now treated at par with the national security, is under serious threat. Where the ongoing floods have submerged vast lands in Punjab and are heading towards Sindh, they have also made the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic outlook murkier.

The 2025 floods comparisons are drawn with the 2022 floods, which had inundated one-third of the country, and fears have taken over about what is going to happen to Pakistan&rsquo;s nascent economic stability, the relative price stability and the external sector that had just posted its first current account surplus in a couple of decades.

There have always been concerns that the managed recovery on the fiscal and external fronts may not withstand any indigenous, exogenous shocks or a natural calamity. The nascent economic recovery, which began in June last year and has not yet completely rooted in, now faces its first test in the shape of the natural disaster that is inundating Punjab and Sindh.

The fiscal numbers agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June, particularly the sacrosanct primary balance and provincial cash surpluses, have become irrelevant days before the global lender&rsquo;s review mission is arriving in Islamabad. The external sector projections made three months ago, including the current account deficit, imports and exports, have become the story of the distant past.

Provincial and district authorities in Punjab have indicated significant destruction of houses and cropland. Livelihoods have been severely impacted with rice, sugarcane, maize, cotton and other crops submerged during peak harvest. Wheat sowing might be delayed and the prices have already started soaring during the past few days. Wheat flour is now one-fourth more expensive than a year ago.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released its first weekly inflation bulletin on September 5th. The national data collecting agency reported a major increase in prices of tomatoes that jumped 46% within a week, followed by wheat flour 25.4% and onions 9%. During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 23 items increased.

More price shocks are also expected in coming weeks and the provincial government of Punjab had already issued instructions to control rates. This is an important step but may not be sufficient to provide relief to the people, given the magnitude of the still unfolding disaster.

Livestock losses are mounting, further undermining rural incomes. Many affected families are small farmers whose houses and fields are now underwater. Floods have severely affected housing, livelihoods, and assets across Punjab, Pakistan&rsquo;s agricultural heartland.

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has called for the immediate declaration of an agricultural emergency. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the forum said preliminary assessments indicated the loss of approximately 60% of the rice crop, 35% of cotton, and 30% of sugarcane in central and southern Punjab.

These losses will increase further once the flood waters reach Sindh. This would hurt export of rice and necessitate further imports of cotton and sugar.

The Pakistan Business Forum has sought immediate relief measures, including the provision of interest-free loans of up to Rs2 million for small and medium-sized farmers to support replantation and recovery efforts. It also called for the launch of critical canal infrastructure projects in Punjab and Sindh to improve water management and resilience against future flooding.

Punjab, which was the least affected province in the 2022 floods with only $1.1 billion damages out of the $15.8 billion, is this time the hardest hit federating unit.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already witnessed mass scale destruction and Sindh is anxiously watching the situation developing in Punjab and will soon be at its doors with constant increase in flow of waters due to rains and waters flowing from India.

What we know so far is that Punjab saw the worst monsoon flooding after 1988 due to exceptionally high floods in the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers. It is said to be for the first time that all three major rivers have reached high flooding levels simultaneously.

According to the provincial disaster management authority, nearly 4,000 villages have been inundated, affecting over 4 million people across the province. As many as 1.8 million people have already been evacuated after their homes were submerged in waters. One million animals have also been evacuated, which is a large number.

The government was betting this year&rsquo;s economic growth on the revival of the agriculture and industrial sectors but the outcomes of the past few weeks indicate that at least there would be hardly any growth in the agriculture sector. The floods would also impact the timely sowing of wheat crop and its implications could be felt across the provinces as Punjab produces three-fourth of the total wheat.

One of the obvious outcomes of the natural disasters in Pakistan had been the appeals for foreign loans and aids. But the past experiences suggest that neither the foreign creditors are generous anymore nor the federal and the provincial governments had the ability to effectively utilize these loans. Pakistan&#39;s Finance Minister recently candidly admitted that the governments could not give investable projects to the lenders for utilizing the $11 billion commitments to cope with the 2022 floods.

The details showed that the World Bank pledged $2.2 billion and has so far disbursed $1.6 billion. The Asian Development Bank committed $1.6 billion but has so far released $513 million. Likewise, China and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) pledged $1.1 billion but so far gave only $250 million in the absence of any credible financing projects.

&nbsp;

The Islamic Development Bank promised to give $600 million but released $231 million. Paris Club countries pledged nearly $800 million but released $139 million. The United States promised to give $100 million and gave $70 million.

The government should not waste time in making appeals and waiting for the loans to materialize. People of Punjab are in desperate need of urgent economic assistance, which the provincial government can provide due to its better fiscal position compared to the Centre.

However, the country has not learnt its lessons from the 2022 flooding and there are apprehensions that in the absence of enabling policies and institutional arrangements for rehabilitation and reconstruction, the recovery process will be slow and painful. The delay in reconstruction and rehabilitation would increase the economic cost too.

The federal and provincial governments need to devise a joint strategy to deal with the issue, as the quantum of damages suggests that the recovery would cost a lot of resources.

The IMF team is reaching Islamabad in the third week of September for assess the nation&rsquo;s progress on implementation of 50 loan conditions and the future economic path before releasing the next loan tranche of $1 billion.

The government may have to reopen the macroeconomic targets of primary budget surplus, provincial cash surpluses and Net International Reserves. Pakistan had set aside about Rs400 billion for contingency spending in the budget but the money had started depleting even before the floods had hit. The emergency pool has been exhausted in recent weeks to meet other expenditures where there were no allocations, including for paying subsidies to banks and for remittance schemes.

People are seeking immediate relief and rehabilitation. The provincial governments are trying to meet their expectations. But if the past is the guide, the bureaucracy gives preference to numbers over souls.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan should soon chalk out a strategy to rehabilitate millions of peoples whose lives and livelihoods are being washed away. However, the floods should not be used as an excuse to delay some of the structural reforms, which remain pending since long and are often ignored under various pretexts.

The farming community immediately needs a waiver in payment of electricity bills and grants for rehabilitating the lost agriculture infrastructure. The government may like to declare an agricultural emergency and it should also take up the issue of deferring the imposition of agriculture income tax for a couple of years during the upcoming review talks with the IMF.]]>
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			<title>Bananas vs sour grapes in National Assembly today</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565192/national-assembly-today-these-cannot-give-a-dam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565192/national-assembly-today-these-cannot-give-a-dam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 25 06:34:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Noor ul Huda Bhurgri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Government discards floods, terrorism, abandons agenda as PTI lawmakers run 'awami assembly' outside parliament]]>
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				<![CDATA[The national assembly ran two sessions today. Not much was acheived in either of them. &ldquo;Count the quorum,&rdquo; chorused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members of National Assembly, as the official session commenced.

&quot;We were meant to discuss the floods and the terror attack in Balochistan today, please sit down,&quot; pleaded NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq as the PTI members moved towards the exit.

On a day, when Punjab is reeling from over two weeks of relentless, uninterrupted flooding, and the country is overwhelmed with residual damage from recent deathly floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, the opposition and the government could not set aside their personal disdain for each other long enough to take up the day&#39;s agenda.

Thousands of citizens across the country have been displaced. They are cramped in make shift tents and government schools, where bathroom facilities are scarce and food supply is limited. Livestock has been uprooted and vast acres of agricultural land devastated.

Read: Did India deliberately flood Pakistan?

This monsoon season, which began on June 16, has claimed 884 lives and injured at least 1,176. In Buner, entire families have perished in landslides triggered by torrential rain while across Punjab entire villages have been uprooted.

Elsewhere, in Balochistan, there has been a spate of terror attacks in recent months with the most recent taking earlier this week, when a suicide bomber decimated 15 civilans in Quetta near a poltical rally. The attacker had meant to target the rally taken out by Balochistan National Party (BNP)-Mengal in protest of Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrung Baloch and other Baloch political leaders&#39; arrest, and a police crackdown on ongoing sit-ins. Quetta District authorities had reportedly denied BNP-Mengal lisence to hold the rally.

Yet, our elected legislators, members of National Assembly, continue their staunch tradition of letting intra party disputes stand higher than national concerns.

Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar accused the PTI of being &quot;selfish&quot; and positioning their political ambitions above the &quot;country&#39;s needs&quot;.

Yet, when PTI&#39;s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan drew attention to the National Disaster Management Authority&#39;s (NDMA) performance during the floods, live feed of the session was disrupted on the state broadcaster&#39;s channel.

Khan ignored the law minister and marched down the aisle, exiting with the rest of the opposition lawmakers. Khan said this was part of PTI&#39;s continued boycott of the house and set up his party&#39;s own impromptu assembly outside the parliament premises. Asad Qaiser led the proceedings during this &quot;awami assembly&quot; - as they put it. Here, a &quot;resolution&quot; was passed to extend the deadline for repatriation of Afghan citizens. Those privy to the matter remain unaware of this &quot;assembly&#39;s&quot; jurisdiction.

Speaker Sadiq took this opportunity to remind the house that PTI complains of not being given space to put forth their views before the house and yet, were leaving now when they had the floor.

As water heads downstream from Multan to Sindh, it is apparent that the public cannot look to the country&#39;s leaders for comfort. Are these the people&#39;s representatives who will lead us out of disaster as the country grapples with climate change and a resurgance in terrorism?

&nbsp;

With additional reporting by Chaudhry Waqas]]>
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			<title>Did India deliberately flood Pakistan?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564819/did-india-deliberately-flood-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564819/did-india-deliberately-flood-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 25 07:52:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Suhail Yusuf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2564819</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Since suspension of IWT, New Delhi no longer sends detailed data like before, weakening the early warning system]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[This much is clear to us all: The devastating floods, first in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and now in Punjab, this monsoon season are extreme weather events. So why are we hearing people repeatedly mention that Pakistan is accusing India of making it worse by dumping its excess water into our rivers?

To understand how dam water release works, The Express Tribune spoke with several experts.

Dr Hassaan F Khan, an urban water expert at Tufts University, explained that every dam has two main systems: regular release gates and spillways. The regular gates are used for water supply needs, such as agriculture, and are considered normal releases. &quot;But when a dam fills to its maximum capacity, water cannot be held back because of the risk of structural damage,&quot; he said. &quot;At that point, the spillways are opened to release the extra water. If not, the dam could collapse.&rdquo;



&nbsp;


According to Dr Hassaan, India released water from multiple dams in recent days as they had reached their capacity. &ldquo;That is what the Indian side is claiming,&quot; he said. &quot;While Pakistan cannot verify this directly, it makes sense given the context. Such releases are not unusual.&rdquo;

Both extreme rainfall and weather played a role in this year&rsquo;s flooding in the region. &ldquo;India saw record-breaking rains, especially in Himachal Pradesh, which sent large flows of water into rivers,&quot; he said. &quot;India was also forced to release water into the Sutlej and Ravi. Prime Minister Modi had previously said India would not allow even a drop of water from these rivers to flow into Pakistan, but when storage is impossible, the water has to be flushed out. They prefer to store water for use in the low-flow season of November and December.&rdquo;

In response to our question, Dr Hassaan stressed there is no evidence that India deliberately released water to harm Pakistan. &ldquo;Speculation is possible, but we have never found proof of intentional action,&quot; he said. &quot;Since the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, India no longer shares detailed data as before. Now, only brief notifications are sent through the Indian High Commissioner, which is inadequate compared to past agreements. The early warning system is much weaker now.&rdquo;

Muhammad Umer Karim, a senior researcher and water resource specialist, explained the natural hydrology or water system cycle for this area as background. &ldquo;In our region, water freezes in winter as ice and glaciers, then thaws in the summer. Combined with monsoon rains, this increases the river flows. Melting glaciers add to this volume. Spillways are opened only when dams are full. For the rest of the year, water is gradually taken out through canals for drinking and irrigation. This time, Indian dams were overflowing, which also led to flooding in the eastern rivers.&rdquo;

Environmental lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam pointed out that dam infrastructure on both sides is &quot;essentially the same&quot;. India has three major dams on the Jhelum, Beas, and Ravi. Pakistan has Mangla and Tarbela dams. &quot;Both countries store monsoon and glacier water for winter crops, and both sets of dams were built by American companies. Their designs and operations are essentially the same.&rdquo;



Photo: Ibrahim Yahya

This year, however, the situation became critical. &ldquo;The Pong Dam on the Beas, the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej near Himachal Pradesh, and the Madhopur Headworks on the Ravi reached dangerous levels between August 23 and 25,&quot; he said. &quot;To protect infrastructure, India opened the spillways, and some gates of the Madhopur barrage even collapsed due to water pressure, causing one death. This is what we call a &lsquo;controlled release&rsquo; of water.&rdquo;

Alam said that in India, dam power production is controlled by the federal government, but irrigation and domestic water supply are a provincial responsibility. This is why he believes that New Delhi could have handled the crisis better. &ldquo;The Thein Dam on the Ravi is in Punjab state where Congress is strong,&quot; he said. &quot;The BJP-led federal government did not share timely data or issue warnings. As a result, Indian Punjab suffered major damage. Around 500 villages were submerged. Now, Punjab&rsquo;s government is demanding an inquiry, accusing the BJP of deliberately letting Punjab drown. This shows that Pakistan was not the only country hit &ndash; Indian villages were also devastated.&rdquo;

These experts clarified that the main floodwaters do not flow straight from India into Pakistan. Instead, they first pass through several Indian towns and villages, travelling 100&ndash;150 km before crossing the border. &ldquo;Indian water releases added to Pakistan&rsquo;s misery,&rdquo; Alam said, &ldquo;but there is no evidence they were intentional. India itself suffered similar destruction.&rdquo;

Dr Daanish Mustafa, a professor of water resource geography at King&rsquo;s College London, added: &ldquo;Water release occurs when the safe design capacity of a reservoir is exceeded. No infrastructure can stop the peak flow of monsoon water. More rain means more water &ndash; it&rsquo;s that simple. In fact, India has faced even greater destruction than Pakistan, because by the time the water reaches us, its force is already reduced.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>How cricket brought hope to Pakistan’s flood victims</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564670/how-cricket-brought-hope-to-pakistans-flood-victims</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564670/how-cricket-brought-hope-to-pakistans-flood-victims#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 25 14:24:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hamza Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2564670</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The country is experiencing worst floods in history]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a country where cricket is more than just a sport, Pakistan once again witnessed how the game can unite people and serve as a force for good.

The historic return of cricket to Peshawar after nearly two decades,&nbsp;with the&nbsp;match that took place on August 30, was not only about nostalgia and entertainment, but also about standing together for a noble cause &mdash; providing relief to flood victims.

As of 25 August 2025, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported 799 fatalities, over 1,000 injured and 29,311 displaced across Pakistan due to the ongoing monsoon season, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair.

Cricket stars light up the night

On the field, it was a showcase of generations.

Babar Azam, Pakistan&rsquo;s modern batting maestro, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, the legend of yesteryears, carried the hopes of their respective sides.

Batting first, Zalmi posted 145 runs, with Babar Azam scoring 41 and Yasir Hameed adding 35.

For Legends Eleven, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Rahman rolled back the years, taking three wickets each.
Chasing, Legends Eleven fought hard as Inzamam rolled back memories with a classy 47-run knock, supported by Azhar Mahmood&rsquo;s 34.

But Zalmi held their nerve, sealing a thrilling 8-run victory.

The sight of Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis steaming in to bowl once again and the crowd erupting at every boundary or wicket highlighted cricket&rsquo;s timeless magic.

A collective effort beyond the boundary

The match wasn&rsquo;t just about cricketing stars. The event brought together political leaders, dignitaries, and fans from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PCL COO Salman Naseer, Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Fakhar Jehan, and other provincial ministers were present, underlining the significance of the occasion.

Javed Afridi, Chairman of Peshawar Zalmi, played a pivotal role in organizing the match. He thanked the KP government, the cricketing legends, and most importantly, the fans, whose passion turned the match into a roaring success.

&ldquo;This was not just cricket; it was a message of hope and unity for those suffering,&rdquo; Afridi said.

Extending solidarity across borders

The humanitarian spirit extended beyond Pakistan&rsquo;s borders. Through the Zalmi Foundation, Javed Afridi announced a donation of 10 million rupees for victims of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan.

Expressing solidarity, he shared, &ldquo;We stand with our Afghan brothers in this difficult time and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.&rdquo;

Cricket as a beacon of hope

For the flood victims, the proceeds and support from this event were more than financial aid &mdash; they were a reminder that the nation stood with them. For the fans, it was proof of cricket&rsquo;s unmatched power to bring joy even in challenging times.

And for the world, it was a testament to how sport, when used for the right cause, can bridge divides and heal wounds.

The Peshawar charity match will be remembered not only as the city&rsquo;s grandest cricket carnival in nearly two decades, but also as a shining example of how cricket continues to inspire, uplift, and give back to the people of Pakistan.


A carnival after 19 years

The Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar turned into a festival ground as thousands of fans filled the stands for the charity match between Peshawar Zalmi Eleven and Legends Eleven.

For a city that hadn&rsquo;t hosted such a grand cricketing spectacle in 19 years, the event was nothing short of historic. Cheers of &ldquo;Pakistan Zindabad&rdquo; echoed across the venue, symbolizing both resilience and unity.

Despite rain earlier in the day, the ground staff worked tirelessly to ensure play was possible. The dedication of those behind the scenes reflected the larger purpose of the event &mdash; to stand firm in the face of adversity.
&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Triplets in Gujranwala die at birth as floods block hospital access</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564298/triplets-in-gujranwala-die-at-birth-as-floods-block-hospital-access</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564298/triplets-in-gujranwala-die-at-birth-as-floods-block-hospital-access#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 25 14:18:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2564298</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Family arranged boat to shift mother dealing with complications during labour to medical facility but to no avail]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a heart-wrenching incident, three newborns died on Sunday in the&nbsp;flood-hit village of Sohdra, Gujranwala, after their mother was unable to reach a hospital due to road closures caused by heavy flooding.

The woman, who was expecting triplets, went into labour and could not be taken to any medical facility as floodwaters had cut off access routes. She delivered her first baby at home, but complications soon arose.

In an attempt to save the mother and children, the family arranged a boat to shift her to the hospital. However, while being driven in a car to the boat,&nbsp;she gave birth to two more babies.

All three newborns &mdash; two girls and a boy &mdash;&nbsp;died due to the lack of timely medical assistance. Devastated by the tragedy, the mother lamented, &ldquo;Roads opened for everyone else, but not for us.&rdquo;

Unfortunately, this is not the first such case in the country where a pregnant woman failed to get timely medical care. In the past, similar tragedies have been reported when women were unable to reach hospitals due to road closures caused by VIP movement or other reasons.

In November 2022, a woman lost her newborn after giving birth on her way to a hospital in Dir Upper District, barely surviving herself.

In August 2021, another woman delivered a baby girl inside an ambulance while being shifted to a hospital near the Hazara Motorway&rsquo;s Shah Maqsood Interchange.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Riverine settlements drown as India warns of more floods </title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2563133/riverine-settlements-drown-as-india-warns-of-more-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2563133/riverine-settlements-drown-as-india-warns-of-more-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 25 12:30:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2563133</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Entire villages abandoned as link roads sink and fields drown in south Punjab]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The flooding in Punjab is limited to the muddy marshy strips of land that sit next to the rivers, also known more technically, as riverine or katcha areas.

&ldquo;In the katcha areas, every house has its own boat, every year the same type of flood situation occurs,&quot; said a local resident.&nbsp;So far no damage has been reported in settled areas.

The Kacha area in Pakistan refers to the riverine settlements established along the River Indus. These settlements span all the way from Kot Mithan in south Punjab to the coastal areas in Thatta in Sindh. These areas, year after year, are faced with medium to high-level flooding. This year, they are drowning yet again.&nbsp;

Katcha areas in Layyah, Kot Addu, Taunsa Sharif, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are among the worst affected. Thousands of people residing on riverine settlements have been evacuated to safer areas. According to the Flood Control Room, the floods have devastated the riverine settlements and the flood continues in Rajanpur.

The flow of water at Kot Mithan point in the River Indus has reached 490,000 cusecs. Water has entered settlements on the river banks and remains there, with people being forced to evacuate in boats.&nbsp;

In the areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Taunsa Sharif, there is medium-level flooding and the floodwater has penetrated dozens of settlements, like Ghat and Darahma, along the River Indus.

However, water level does seem to be on the decline in areas like Taunsa Sharif, with 500,000 cusecs now down to 360,000 cusecs. Rescue missions continue to evacuate people and many residents have migrated themselves.

Taunsa Sharif particularly suffers, with our correspondents reporting that despite the fact that River Indus&rsquo;&nbsp;water level has decreased, link roads still remain submerged. Locals report a sharp decline in living standards, as no arrangements have been made for drainage in the affected areas. Residents of Taunsa have complained of a severe stench that has engulfed the flood-hit areas, and expressed fear of diseases as humidity and suffocation engulfs the district.&nbsp;

In Muzzaffargarh, mosques are making announcements on behalf of Rescue 1122, warning people of possible flooding in the River Chenab. Evacuations of low-lying areas near the River Chenab are underway.

20 union councils of Tehsil Karor Lal Esan, Tehsil Layyah and Kot Sultan in Layyah are flooded. Hundreds of acres of crops are reportedly destroyed, with roads, schools, mosques and houses all swept away by the river. Layyah faces a similar struggle of shortages, as link roads are drowning in floodwater. &quot;Houses have been demolished, people are dying of hunger, no one has helped,&quot; said an affected resident of Layyah.

The River Sutlej is experiencing a continuous increase in water-levels, causing medium-level floods of riverside settlements. Water is reported to have flooded dozens of settlements like Mauza Mero Baloch, Mauza Jateera, Mauza Noon and Mauza Saldira.

Flood affectees of Vehari have stated that standing crops of thousands of acres have been destroyed, and that fodder for animals is finished. The affectees are in fear of a high-level flood due to increasing water-levels, while arrangements by administration seem to be insufficient.

There is high level flooding at the Head Ganda, Bahawalpur. The water level is 21.10 feet and the outflow is 133,770 cusecs. Medium-level flooding has been observed at Head Sulemanki, where water inflow is 94,143 cusecs.&nbsp;

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) and Federal Flood Commission (FFC) have warned that the Rivers Chenab and Indus are likely to reach high flood levels within 24 hours, while the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala will continue at high levels for several days, depending on reservoir releases from India.

India, in accordance with the Indus Water Treaty, has alerted Pakistan regarding a potential high-level flood in the Tawi River near Jammu on Sunday. According to the FFD, medium-level flooding is to be expected in Guddu, Sukkur and Sulemanki.]]>
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			<title>Iranian interior minister extends heartfelt condolences to his flood affectees</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2563071/iranian-interior-minister-extends-heartfelt-condolences-to-his-flood-affectees</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2563071/iranian-interior-minister-extends-heartfelt-condolences-to-his-flood-affectees#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 25 05:55:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2563071</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Offers assistance during telephonic conversation with Mohsin Naqvi]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has expressed sorrow and condolences over the loss of lives due to the torrential rains and floods in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Gilgit Baltistan (G-B).

Momeni held a telephonic conversation with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and&nbsp;conveyed his heartfelt sympathies&nbsp;to the families of those who lost their lives. He offered cooperation and assistance for the flood-affected people of Pakistan to his Pakistani counterpart, Naqvi.

Read: PM to honour G-B flood heroes

&quot;It is deeply saddening to witness the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan,&quot; he added. &quot;Hundreds of people have been separated from their loved ones.&quot;

The Iranian minister affirmed that his country stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Pakistan. Naqvi thanked his Iranian counterpart.

&quot;Climate change is becoming a harbinger of devastating destruction in Pakistan,&quot; Naqvi added. &quot;For the first time in history, Pakistan is going through such a dangerous climate situation.&quot;

Read More: K‑P unveils Rs9.45bn damage assessment after floods

K-P has been hit hard by flash floods and heavy rains, leaving over&nbsp;400 dead, 190 injured, and over 1,600 homes damaged, with Buner reporting the highest fatalities. Many areas have faced mass destruction and remain unreachable, leaving countless displaced.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Thousands protest in Spain's Valencia over poor flood disaster response</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2508652/thousands-protest-in-spains-valencia-over-poor-flood-disaster-response</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2508652/thousands-protest-in-spains-valencia-over-poor-flood-disaster-response#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 24 07:12:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2508652</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Demonstrators voice anger over slow emergency response, failure to issue timely warnings as authorities disperse crowd]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Thousands of protesters gathered in Valencia, Spain, on Saturday to demand accountability for the government&#39;s handling of the region&rsquo;s deadly floods, which have claimed at least 220 lives and left nearly 80 people missing.

Demonstrators, including civil groups and unions, voiced their anger over the slow emergency response and the failure to issue timely warnings, leading to widespread devastation.

The protest turned tense as some demonstrators clashed with riot police outside the city&rsquo;s government building, with authorities using batons to disperse the crowd.

The catastrophic floods, caused by a severe Mediterranean storm that struck eastern Spain last week, have been described as one of Europe&rsquo;s deadliest natural disasters in decades.

The waters inundated large parts of the Valencia region, destroying homes, infrastructure, and businesses.

The region&#39;s response has been sharply criticized, particularly the delayed flood alerts.

While Spain&rsquo;s national weather agency issued a red alert, the regional government, led by Carlos Mazon of the conservative Popular Party, did not send out warnings until hours later, when floodwaters had already begun filling homes.

Protesters were particularly outraged by the slow mobilization of resources. In some of the hardest-hit areas, volunteers were the first responders, while official emergency services took days to deploy large numbers of police and military personnel. In Valencia&rsquo;s city center, protesters displayed banners reading &ldquo;You killed us!&rdquo; and called for Mazon&rsquo;s resignation.

Some demonstrators left muddy boots outside the council building to symbolize their fury over the authorities&#39; lack of preparedness and perceived negligence.

&quot;We want to show our anger over the poor management of this disaster that has affected so many people,&quot; said Anna Oliver, president of one of the protest groups, Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano.

Earlier this week, similar protests erupted when King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro S&aacute;nchez visited the flood-stricken areas, with some demonstrators hurling mud and shouting &ldquo;murderers.&rdquo;

The devastating floods have left a lasting impact on the region, with many survivors still struggling to access basic services, such as water and electricity. Some areas remain completely cut off, and rescue operations continue around the clock.

In addition to the human toll, the floods caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, leaving local authorities to scramble to restore services.

Emergency crews, including almost 15,000 military and police personnel, have been working relentlessly to clear debris and search for missing persons.

In response to the crisis, the Spanish government has announced a &euro;10.6 billion ($11.5 billion) aid package to support recovery efforts in the affected regions.

The measures include tax relief, mortgage deferments, and financial assistance for small businesses and households that have suffered losses.





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Prime Minister S&aacute;nchez also requested assistance from the EU&rsquo;s Solidarity Fund to help cover the costs of rebuilding and recovery.

Despite these efforts, the delays in flood warnings and the initial lack of a coordinated response have left many feeling abandoned by the authorities.

Local leaders, such as Maribel Albalat, the mayor of the town of Paiporta, have expressed frustration over the ongoing difficulties in recovering from the disaster.

As Spain continues its recovery, the protests in Valencia highlight deep dissatisfaction with the handling of the crisis and the need for greater accountability from the government.]]>
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			<title>Spain flood deaths top 200</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506894/spain-flood-deaths-top-200</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506894/spain-flood-deaths-top-200#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 02 Nov 24 02:11:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2506894</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescuers equipped with drones and sniffer dogs wade through water in search of dozens missing]]>
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				<![CDATA[Paiporta (Spain): Rescuers on Friday raised the death toll in Spain&#39;s worst floods for a generation to 205 as the government deployed more troops in an increasingly desperate search for survivors.

The floods that have tossed vehicles, collapsed bridges and covered towns with mud since Tuesday are the European country&#39;s deadliest such disaster in decades.

The organisation coordinating emergency services in the hardest-hit eastern Valencia region said 202 people had been confirmed dead there.

Officials in neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the south had already announced a combined three deaths in their regions.

Rescuers equipped with drones and sniffer dogs waded through water and rummaged through debris in search of dozens of people the authorities believe are still missing.

The government has deployed another 500 troops to the stricken areas to bolster the 1,200 already on site for search, rescue and logistics tasks. Another 500 will be dispatched on Saturday.]]>
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			<title>Spain flood death toll soars to 158</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506675/spain-flood-death-toll-soars-to-158</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506675/spain-flood-death-toll-soars-to-158#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 24 02:14:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2506675</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Body coordinating rescue work in Valencia region announces 155 bodies are recovered but dozens missing]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Spain mourned at least 158 deaths on Thursday and authorities told people in flood-stricken regions to stay at home as rescuers raced to find survivors in the rare disaster.

An exceptionally powerful Mediterranean storm from Tuesday unleashed heavy rains and torrents of mud-filled water that swept away people and wrecked homes, with the eastern Valencia region hit hardest.

The body coordinating rescue work in the Valencia region announced 155 bodies had been recovered there by Thursday afternoon.

Officials in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia had announced a combined three deaths in their regions on Wednesday.

But &quot;dozens and dozens&quot; of people remain missing two days after the start of the catastrophe, government minister Angel Victor Torres told reporters, raising fears the toll could rise further.

Some rural areas also remain inaccessible to rescuers.

&quot;Please, stay at home... follow the calls of the emergency services,&quot; pleaded Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

&quot;Right now the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible,&quot; Sanchez told residents of the eastern Valencia and Castellon provinces.

Flags flew at half-mast on government buildings and minutes of silence were observed nationwide at the start of three days of national mourning after Spain&#39;s deadliest floods in decades.

Eliu Sanchez, a resident of a suburb of Valencia city, recalled how the merciless currents snatched a man who tried to take refuge on a car.

&quot;I have been told of people who were clinging to trees, but the force made them let go and they were carried away, calling for help,&quot; said Sanchez, 32.

&quot;Trucks, everything was going from here to there.&quot;

Emergency services backed by drones and more than 1,200 troops combed mud-caked towns and villages to find survivors and clear roads of debris.

Firefighters in the Valencia region released a video of rescue workers airlifting a one-year-old boy to safety from his flooded village.

Abandoned vehicles lay piled on top of each other like dominoes and some residents grabbed planks of wood to plough through layers of thick, sticky mud, AFP journalists saw in the Valencia region. In Paiporta, a suburb of Valencia city where the floods killed dozens of people, 27-year-old musician David Romero lamented a &quot;catastrophe&quot;.

&quot;Neighbourhood after neighbourhood, street after street, there is not a business standing,&quot; he told AFP.

Hundreds of people are being sheltered in temporary accommodation while road and rail transport have been severely disrupted.

It could take up to three weeks to reopen the high-speed line between Madrid and Valencia, Transport Minister Oscar Puente wrote on X.]]>
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			<title>Spain races to save victims as floods kill 95</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506440/spain-races-to-save-victims-as-floods-kill-95</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2506440/spain-races-to-save-victims-as-floods-kill-95#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Oct 24 02:11:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2506440</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PM Sanchez urges citizens to remain vigilant as danger persists and three days of mourning were declared]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Sedav&iacute; (Spain): Spanish rescuers on Wednesday scrambled to save people trapped by surging tides of muddy water in floods that killed at least 95 people, tossed cars and wreaked transport havoc.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged citizens to remain vigilant as the danger persisted and three days of mourning were declared in the European nation&#39;s worst such disaster in more than 50 years.

Heavy downpours and fierce winds have lashed Spain since the beginning of the week after a storm formed over the Mediterranean Sea, with up to a year&#39;s worth of rain falling in just hours in some areas.

The body coordinating emergency services in the eastern Valencia region announced a provisional death toll of 92, adding that bodies were still being recovered and identified.

Two people died in neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha and another victim was reported in Andalusia in the south, both regions&#39; leaders told journalists.

The toll is likely to rise because &quot;there are many missing people&quot;, government minister Angel Victor Torres told public broadcaster TVE.

A sea of piled-up cars and mud swamped streets in Sedavi, a suburb of the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia, AFP journalists saw.

Stunned residents attempted to clean the sludge and grabbed buckets to bail out water from their homes ahead of a long night without water or electricity.

In Ribarroja del Turia on the outskirts of Valencia city, town councillor Esther Gomez said workers were stuck overnight in an industrial estate &quot;without a chance of rescuing them&quot; as streams overflowed.

&quot;It had been a long time since this happened and we&#39;re scared,&quot; she told AFP.

According to Spain&#39;s weather service AEMET, the town of Chiva, west of Valencia, recorded 491 mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday -- almost equalling a year&#39;s worth]]>
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			<title>Rare deluge floods Sahara desert for first time in decades</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2502513/rare-deluge-floods-sahara-desert-for-first-time-in-decades</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2502513/rare-deluge-floods-sahara-desert-for-first-time-in-decades#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 24 06:59:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2502513</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Unexpected event in Morocco has brought water to world's driest regions than seen in nearly 50 years]]>
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				<![CDATA[For the first time in decades, parts of the Sahara Desert in southeastern Morocco have been flooded by a rare deluge of rainfall, creating striking scenes of blue lagoons amid sand dunes and palm trees.

This unexpected event has brought more water to some of the world&#39;s driest regions than they had seen in nearly 50 years.

Dramatic images have surfaced of rare floods in the Sahara Desert after two days of heavy rainfall in southeastern Morocco.

In September, the region saw more rain than its yearly average, with Tagounite recording 100mm (3.9 inches) in just 24 hours. Satellite images from NASA revealed Lake Iriqui, dry for 50 years, filling up again.

Houssine Youabeb from Morocco&rsquo;s meteorology agency stated that it had been decades since such intense rainfall.

The deluge caused significant damage, killing 18 people and refilling reservoirs at record rates.

Experts believe these extratropical storms could signal future weather changes as global warming accelerates the water cycle.

Typically, this region receives less than 10 inches of rain annually.

Among the hardest-hit areas was Tata, while the village of Tagounite recorded over 3.9 inches of rain in just 24 hours.

One of the most dramatic outcomes of this rare weather event was the refilling of Lake Iriqui, a dry lake bed between Zagora and Tata that had been barren for 50 years.

Palm trees reflected in newly formed lakes in Merzouga and other desert towns astonished local residents and tourists alike.

&quot;It&#39;s been 30 to 50 years since we&#39;ve had this much rain in such a short time,&quot; said Houssine Youabeb of Morocco&#39;s General Directorate of Meteorology.

Meteorologists attributed the rare event to an extratropical storm, speculating that this phenomenon could shift weather patterns in the Sahara in the coming years as the region&rsquo;s air retains more moisture.

This unusual rainstorm brought both benefits and challenges.

On the one hand, the rainfall is expected to replenish groundwater aquifers that sustain desert communities.

Reservoirs across the region have reported record refilling rates.

However, the storms also caused significant damage. More than 20 people were killed in Morocco and Algeria, and many farmers saw their harvests ruined.

The Moroccan government has since allocated emergency relief funds to assist the affected areas, including those still recovering from last year&#39;s earthquake.

As the desert landscape temporarily transforms with new lakes and streams, the long-term impact of this unprecedented rainfall remains uncertain, especially regarding the region&rsquo;s ongoing drought crisis.

However, the sight of water gushing through the Saharan sands has provided a rare and dramatic contrast to the usual arid conditions of the vast desert.

This event underscores the unpredictable nature of climate patterns and the delicate balance of ecosystems in one of the most arid regions of the world]]>
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			<title>Turkiye extends aid to Bosnia after devastating floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500849/turkiye-extends-aid-to-bosnia-after-devastating-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500849/turkiye-extends-aid-to-bosnia-after-devastating-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Oct 24 09:49:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2500849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Turkish Red Crescent echoes support, announcing teams are already on ground working alongside Bosnia's Red Cross]]>
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				<![CDATA[Turkiye has pledged humanitarian assistance to Bosnia-Herzegovina following deadly floods and landslides that have claimed at least 19 lives and caused widespread destruction.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed deep condolences on Friday, confirming that efforts are underway to coordinate aid with local authorities in the Western Balkan nation.

The floods, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, have devastated towns and villages, especially in central and southern Bosnia.

&quot;We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives caused by heavy rains and landslides,&quot; the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated, adding that T&uuml;rkiye stands ready to provide &quot;all kinds of humanitarian aid&quot; to its long-standing ally.

The Turkish Red Crescent echoed this support, announcing that teams are already on the ground working alongside Bosnia&#39;s Red Cross Society.

&quot;Our priority is to support the affected communities swiftly and effectively,&quot; the organization said in a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), noting that emergency food supplies and clean water were being distributed to impacted areas.

Bosnia-Herzegovina declared a state of emergency as the death toll reached 19 on Saturday, with many still missing.

The ongoing floods, described as the worst since 2014, have severely impacted infrastructure, leaving entire towns without power or communication.

In Jablanica, one of the hardest-hit areas, rescue teams are working to locate the missing as homes have been swept away by surging floodwaters.

Drone footage from local media shows entire villages submerged, with roads, bridges, and railways destroyed. In the southern region, train lines and highways connecting Sarajevo to the Adriatic coast have been washed away by landslides, cutting off crucial transport routes.

Rescue efforts are being led by Bosnia&rsquo;s civil defense, military units, and volunteers.

In Jablanica, 16 of the confirmed deaths occurred, and authorities fear the toll will rise as rescue operations continue.

Roads leading into affected areas remain blocked, hindering efforts to reach isolated communities.

Despite the challenges, emergency teams successfully evacuated some trapped individuals, including a child, though a pregnant woman tragically lost her baby after being rescued and rushed to a hospital.

The floods have also affected neighboring countries, with Croatia experiencing flash floods and road closures in parts of Zagreb.

The Sava River is at risk of overflowing, and severe weather warnings have been issued across the region, including Montenegro and Serbia.

Experts are linking the extreme weather events, including the recent floods, to climate change. This disaster follows an unprecedented summer drought that dried up rivers and lakes across the Balkans, highlighting the growing vulnerability of the region to climate-related disasters.

Bosnia&rsquo;s Transport Minister Edin Forto described the situation as catastrophic, stating, &quot;Houses were ripped from their foundations and carried away.&quot;

As Bosnia continues to recover from the floods, international aid and support, including T&uuml;rkiye&#39;s rapid response, are critical in helping the country navigate the ongoing crisis.]]>
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			<title>Death toll from floods in Bosnia reaches 19</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500808/death-toll-from-floods-in-bosnia-reaches-19</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500808/death-toll-from-floods-in-bosnia-reaches-19#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Oct 24 06:28:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2500808</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Authorities declare state of emergency as search and rescue operations intensify to locate missing or trapped]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Heavy rainstorms and floods have wreaked havoc across Bosnia, resulting in the loss of at least 19 lives, with several others still missing.

The devastation has prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency, as search and rescue operations are intensified to locate those trapped or missing amid the floods and landslides that have engulfed large portions of the country.

The severe rainstorm, which hit Bosnia overnight on Friday, has caused catastrophic flooding in towns and villages in central and southern regions.

Surging waters overwhelmed homes while residents were asleep, leaving many areas isolated. Roads, bridges, and railways have been destroyed, and the power outages have left entire towns like Jablanica and Kiseljak cut off from communication.

Rescue teams are working around the clock, with support from the military and volunteers. In the southern town of Jablanica, where many of the fatalities occurred, authorities continue their search for the missing.

Roads leading to the town are blocked, and the train lines have been swept away by the floods. Emergency services are also focused on rescuing those trapped in remote areas, including a successful operation to evacuate a child.

However, a pregnant woman tragically lost her baby despite being rescued and rushed to a hospital in Mostar.

&ldquo;The situation is dire,&rdquo; said Ljudevit Maric, a spokesperson for the interior ministry, who confirmed that at least 16 people had died in the Jablanica region alone.

Several others remain unaccounted for, and authorities fear the death toll could rise as search efforts continue. Between 20 and 40 people are believed to be missing, according to Bosnia&rsquo;s Civil Defense, either trapped under rubble or swept away by the floodwaters.

The government has declared a state of emergency, deploying military units, engineers, and helicopters to assist in the relief efforts.

Bosnia&rsquo;s inter-ethnic presidency called for calm, urging citizens to remain in the upper floors of their homes while rescuers work to reach them.

Drone footage broadcast on local media shows entire villages submerged, with muddy torrents destroying homes, roads, and infrastructure.

One of the busiest highways connecting Sarajevo to the Adriatic coast was washed into the river, along with a railway line, due to a massive landslide.

&ldquo;This is the worst flooding we&rsquo;ve seen since 2014,&rdquo; said Edin Forto, the transport minister for the Bosniak-Croat Federation.

He described the destruction, stating, &quot;Houses were ripped from their foundations and carried away.&quot;

The heavy rains have also impacted neighboring countries, with Croatia experiencing flash floods and road closures in parts of the capital, Zagreb.

The Sava River is dangerously close to overflowing, and authorities have issued severe weather warnings for central Croatia and the Adriatic coast.

Montenegro and Serbia are also on high alert, as rising water levels threaten towns and villages in these regions.

The floods follow an unprecedented summer drought that dried up rivers and lakes across the Balkans. This extreme weather pattern is a stark reminder of the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters.

Meteorologists have linked the heavy rains and sudden flooding to the broader impacts of climate change, which has made the region more susceptible to such extreme events.]]>
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			<title>Bangladesh floods kill 23, affect 5.7 Million</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2491408/bangladesh-floods-kill-23-affect-57-million</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2491408/bangladesh-floods-kill-23-affect-57-million#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 24 09:11:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2491408</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bangladesh MET Dept says flood conditions to persist if monsoon rains continue with 1.24 million families stranded]]>
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				<![CDATA[The death toll from devastating floods caused by relentless monsoon rain and overflowing rivers in Bangladesh has risen to 23, with around 1.24 million families stranded across 11 districts, officials said on Monday.

As floodwaters recede slowly, many of the 5.7 million affected people remain isolated and in urgent need of food, clean water, medicine and dry clothes, above all in remote areas where blocked roads have hindered rescue and relief efforts.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that flood conditions could persist if the monsoon rains continued, as water levels were receding very slowly.

Around 470,000 people have taken refuge in 3,500 shelters in the flood-hit districts, where around 650 medical teams are on the ground to provide treatment, with the army, air force, navy, and the South Asian country&#39;s border guard assisting in rescue and relief operations, authorities said.

Vast areas of land are submerged, posing a significant threat to crops if the floodwaters linger for an extended period, agriculture ministry officials said.

An analysis in 2015 by the World Bank Institute estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh, one of the world&#39;s most climate-vulnerable countries, were at risk of annual river flooding. Scientists attribute the exacerbation of such catastrophic events to&nbsp;climate change.

&quot;Countries like Bangladesh with negligible emissions and whose people have shown super resilience deserve immediate funds to address the impacts of climate change and frequent disasters,&quot; said Farah Kabir, director of ActionAid Bangladesh.

&quot;We need to recover from the losses and damage we have faced, as well as build resilience to future impacts and take on green development pathways.&quot;

In one of the worst-hit districts, Noakhali, 56-year-old Shukuri Begum lost her home as it was swept into a pond by the floodwaters, according to ActionAid. Terrified, she fled with her grandchildren to a neighbour&#39;s house, but couldn&#39;t stay there long as it was no longer safe.

&quot;I have a son with physical disabilities, and we couldn&rsquo;t bring him with us. We had to stack beds and leave him on top, hoping he would be safe. I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s waiting for us,&quot; ActionAid quoted her as saying.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan offers aid to Bangladesh as catastrophic floods devastate nation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2490465/pakistan-offers-aid-to-bangladesh-as-catastrophic-floods-devastate-nation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2490465/pakistan-offers-aid-to-bangladesh-as-catastrophic-floods-devastate-nation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Aug 24 15:38:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2490465</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[In a letter to Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Younus, PM Shehbaz conveys solidarity with the people of Bangladesh]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow and offered assistance to Bangladesh in the wake of catastrophic floods that have inundated large parts of the country.

In a letter to Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Younus, Sharif conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, saying the country stands with those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.

This was stated in a press release issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Friday.

Sharif praised the resilience and courage of the Bangladeshi people, particularly in times of adversity. &quot;The people of Bangladesh are known for their bravery and strength,&quot; he said, expressing confidence that the country&#39;s leadership would guide them through this challenging period.

He affirmed Pakistan&#39;s readiness to provide any assistance needed by Bangladesh.

Floods triggered by heavy rains have swamped several low-lying regions in Bangladesh, affecting at least eight districts in the south and east. Disaster officials reported that at least five people have died, with hundreds of thousands left stranded.

&quot;Around 2.9 million people have been affected, and more than 70,000 have been moved to shelters,&quot; said Mohammad Nazmul Abedin, a senior official from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Three of the deaths were reported in the southeastern region of Cox&rsquo;s Bazar, where floodwaters claimed lives, according to Rasedul Islam, the chief administrative officer of Ramu district.

The severe flooding adds to the challenges faced by Bangladesh&#39;s new government, following weeks of political turmoil that led to the resignation of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled to India earlier this month after violent student-led protests brought an end to her 15-year rule.

Bangladesh, a South Asian nation crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers, frequently experiences flooding, particularly during the annual monsoon season. The country is one of the most vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. The army and navy have been deployed to assist with rescue operations, using speedboats and helicopters to reach those stranded by the rising waters.

The monsoon rains cause widespread destruction annually, but climate change is exacerbating the situation by altering weather patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme events. Much of Bangladesh consists of river deltas formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, which flow from the Himalayas through India before reaching the sea.

Neighbouring India has denied accusations that it contributed to the floods by deliberately releasing water from an upstream dam, as stated by its foreign ministry.

(With input from AFP)]]>
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			<title>Rain-related disasters leave 195 dead, 362 injured between July 1 and August 17: NDMA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2489040/189-dead-hundreds-injured-as-monsoon-rains-ravage-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2489040/189-dead-hundreds-injured-as-monsoon-rains-ravage-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Aug 24 11:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2489040</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Authority predicts more heavy rains to impact various parts of country from Sunday evening onwards]]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported a grim toll from ongoing torrential rains in Pakistan, with at least 195 fatalities and 362 injuries recorded between July 1 and August 17. The report, released on Sunday, details the extensive damage caused by the relentless monsoon rains, which have severely affected various regions of the country.

In the latest update, the NDMA confirmed that seven additional deaths occurred in the 24 hours leading up to August 17. This included six deaths in Punjab and one in Balochistan, bringing the total number of fatalities to 195. The report also noted that 30 more people were injured during the same period, with Punjab suffering the highest number of injuries, totaling 29.

The NDMA&#39;s report highlights the widespread devastation caused by the rains, including the destruction of 2,293 properties, with 734 completely and 1,559 partially damaged. The flooding has also impacted over 44 kilometres of roads and 30 bridges nationwide.

The NDMA has reconciled the latest figures with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Balochistan, which has also been hit hard by the severe weather. Flash floods have exacerbated the damage in low-lying areas, with 22 houses reported as damaged in a single day.

Looking ahead, the NDMA&#39;s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) predicts that more heavy rains are expected to impact various parts of Pakistan from the evening of August 18 through August 19, potentially leading to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar.

In response, the NDMA has urged all relevant departments to implement precautionary measures to manage the expected flooding and mitigate the effects of the extreme weather.]]>
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			<title>India landslide death toll reaches 215, search continues for missing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2485510/india-landslide-death-toll-reaches-215-search-continues-for-missing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2485510/india-landslide-death-toll-reaches-215-search-continues-for-missing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Aug 24 14:01:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2485510</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[47 missing in north after cloudbursts hit state of Himachal Pradesh]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The death toll in the southern Indian state of Kerala where a massive landslide occurred this week has reached 215, while 206 remain missing, officials said Saturday.

A landslide struck the Wayanad district Tuesday, prompting a massive rescue operation. The search operation entered a fifth day on Saturday.

Kerala&#39;s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Saturday that the search operation is nearing completion.

Read also:&nbsp;108 killed in India landslides

Officials said the government plans a comprehensive rehabilitation process for survivors.

In the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said 47 people remain missing after cloudbursts early Thursday killed six victims.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Pakistan secures $400 million loan from ADB</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483143/pakistan-secures-400-million-loan-from-adb</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483143/pakistan-secures-400-million-loan-from-adb#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 24 10:21:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2483143</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The funds will support the Sindh Emergency Housing Project for flood rehabilitation, says statement]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million concessional loan to support the reconstruction of houses and community infrastructure in Sindh province which was&nbsp;severely affected by the 2022 floods.

The Sindh Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project aims to rehabilitate damaged homes and community infrastructure, with a focus on enhancing climate resilience.

The initiative is part of ADB&#39;s broader commitment of $1.5 billion in assistance from 2023 to 2025 to accelerate Pakistan&#39;s flood recovery efforts.

&quot;This project will help rebuild homes and restore livelihoods and essential services in Sindh, the province hardest hit by the 2022 floods,&quot; said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

Sindh province sustained 83% of the total housing damage from the 2022 floods, with about 2.1 million homes either destroyed or damaged.

Many victims still reside in inadequate, temporary shelters lacking essential services.

The project will provide conditional cash grants to rebuild 250,000 homes with resilient designs and support the construction of infrastructure such as drinking water and sanitation facilities, covered drainage, and renewable energy solutions for 100,000 households in around 1,000 flood-affected villages in Sindh.

Additionally, grants for livestock, agriculture, small enterprises, and e-commerce will be provided.

&quot;ADB&rsquo;s support will help Pakistan build back better and promote community-led climate resilience and disaster risk management,&quot; said ADB Director for Water and Urban Development Srinivas Sampath.

&quot;We are coordinating with other development partners to support the government&rsquo;s recovery and reconstruction priorities.&quot;

The project aligns with the government&rsquo;s resilient rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery strategy (4RF) and will follow an integrated approach to ensure complementary investments across sectors.

A $500,000 technical assistance grant will support the government&rsquo;s operational capabilities.]]>
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			<title>Flooding in Harnai cuts off Balochistan’s land connection to Punjab</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482476/flooding-in-harnai-cuts-off-balochistans-land-connection-to-punjab</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482476/flooding-in-harnai-cuts-off-balochistans-land-connection-to-punjab#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 24 07:14:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2482476</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Weather forecasts predict more rain and storms in parts of Balochistan]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Harnai, resulting in the severing of the land link between Balochistan and Punjab.

According to reports, the flooding has disrupted travel, leaving many passengers stranded as the Quetta to Punjab traffic has been completely halted.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts further rain with strong winds and thunderstorms in parts of Zhob, Musakhel, Sibi, Barkhan, Kohlu, Loralai, Ziarat, and Khuzdar. However, most districts in the province are expected to experience hot and humid weather conditions.

On the previous day, Sibi recorded the highest temperature at 47 degrees Celsius, while the provincial capital, Quetta, saw a high of 39 degrees Celsius.

Other regions, including Nok Kundi at 46 degrees, Turbat at 44 degrees, Chaman at 41 degrees, Kalat at 35 degrees, Zhob at 37 degrees, and Ziarat at 28 degrees, also faced scorching temperatures.

Coastal areas such as Gwadar and Jiwani recorded temperatures of 37 and 35 degrees Celsius, respectively.]]>
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			<title>Death toll rises to 72 as floods devastate India's Assam state</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477925/death-toll-rises-to-72-as-floods-devastate-indias-assam-state</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477925/death-toll-rises-to-72-as-floods-devastate-indias-assam-state#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 24 19:29:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2477925</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[12 died due to lighting strikes in Bihar state, say officials]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[At least 72 people have died and thousands displaced in India&#39;s northeastern state of Assam due to heavy rains, landslides, and floods over the past two months, officials reported on Monday.

According to a bulletin from the state&#39;s disaster management authority, as of Monday evening, floods have affected 27 districts, impacting 1.8 million people.

In Assam&#39;s Kaziranga National Park, more than 100 wild animals, including the rare one-horned rhinoceros, have perished due to the floods, officials said.

Earlier on Monday, heavy rains caused flooding and disrupted road and rail networks in Mumbai, India&#39;s financial capital. Low-lying areas experienced waterlogging, leading to disruptions in suburban train services, an official statement said.

Read also:&nbsp;Torrential downpour: Mumbai soaked with over 300mm of rain in just six hours

India&#39;s annual monsoon rains, starting in May, typically trigger flooding across several states.

Separately, authorities in Bihar state reported 12 deaths from lightning strikes on Monday.

In recent months, Indian states have also endured heatwaves, resulting in over 100 fatalities from heat strokes.]]>
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			<title>Weather alert: Rainfall may trigger flash floods in multiple regions of Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477358/weather-alert-rainfall-may-trigger-flash-floods-in-multiple-regions-of-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477358/weather-alert-rainfall-may-trigger-flash-floods-in-multiple-regions-of-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jul 24 05:46:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2477358</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rains forecast for Punjab, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northeast Balochistan]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rains are expected to continue in Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan, and the north-eastern region of Balochistan, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Experts warn that tonight and tomorrow, torrential rains could cause flash floods in AJK, northeastern Balochistan, and the hilly streams of Dera Ghazi Khan.

Urban flooding is anticipated in the Pothohar region, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal, and Faisalabad.

Severe rainfall poses a risk of landslides in Murree, Galyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, potentially disrupting traffic.

Windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, Layyah, Bhakkar, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur.

In most districts of Balochistan, the weather will remain hot and humid. However, rain with strong winds and thunderstorms is expected in Zhob, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Khuzdar, Awaran, Lasbela, and surrounding areas, with heavy rain likely in some places.]]>
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			<title>At least 11 dead as heavy rainfall causes widespread flooding in India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476006/at-least-11-dead-as-heavy-rainfall-causes-widespread-flooding-in-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476006/at-least-11-dead-as-heavy-rainfall-causes-widespread-flooding-in-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 24 14:44:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2476006</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Flood situation is worsening rapidly in Bangladesh due to continuous rain and upstream water flow from India]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rain continued to trigger flood and landslides in India&#39;s north and north-east, killing at least 11 people and affecting hundreds of thousands, officials from two affected states said on Tuesday.

In India&#39;s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, which has been hit by torrential rain, nine people died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, an official bulletin said.

Two people died on Monday in the north-eastern state of Assam, which has been hit by a second wave of flooding since June 16, affecting more than 600,000 people in 19 districts, and displacing more than 8,000, a state disaster management statement said.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam - home to nearly 2,200 one-horned rhinos, or two-thirds of their world population - is also under water, with more than half of its 233 camps flooded, drowning four hog deer, officials said.

&quot;The flood water has now entered my house. The water has damaged my paddy and crops. I have a family of five and I have to take shelter here. If the situation worsens, I will lose my house,&quot; Faizul Islam, a local resident told news agency ANI.

Read also:&nbsp;Stampede at religious gathering leaves at least 87 dead in India

Visuals from ANI showed inundated fields and roads across Assam, as people moved precious belongings and furniture from their water-filled homes.

In the northeastern region of neighbouring Bangladesh, the flood situation was worsening rapidly due to continuous rain and upstream water flow from India, leaving tens of thousands of people marooned, officials said on Tuesday.

Authorities used loudspeakers in the south-eastern region of Chittagong to alert residents about the high risk of landslides, triggered by heavy rains, and offer help in evacuations, government official Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakruzzaman said.

India&#39;s north-east and Bangladesh have been ravaged by floods in the last two months, leaving millions stranded, with weather authorities predicting that the situation could worsen.

In Assam&#39;s neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh, which also borders China, incessant rains have forced the closure of schools in its capital Itanagar, till the end of this week, local officials said.

More rain is predicted for the region over the next three days, according to the country&#39;s weather office.

India&#39;s weather department issued warnings on Tuesday for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across western, northern and north-eastern states for the rest of this week.]]>
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			<title>Northern Myanmar floods leave thousands trapped</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475936/northern-myanmar-floods-leave-thousands-trapped</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475936/northern-myanmar-floods-leave-thousands-trapped#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 24 09:53:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2475936</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[After days of heavy rain in Myitkyina,the Ayeyarwady river had risen above its &quot;danger level&quot;]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Floods in northern Myanmar have trapped thousands of people in their homes and cut electricity and phone lines, residents and local media said Tuesday, with the state weather office warning of more heavy rain.

After days of heavy rain in Myitkyina, a city in northern Kachin state, the Ayeyarwady river had risen above its &quot;danger level&quot;, according to state media.

Images on local media showed inundated buildings and people wading through neck-high water carrying their belongings over their heads.

&quot;Water has been rising very quickly. Many residents are still stuck in their houses,&quot; a Myitkyina resident told AFP, adding that electricity and phone networks had been down since Sunday.

&quot;There has been a fuel shortage in town and rescuers are facing a lot of difficulties with reaching people by motor boat.&quot;

Another Myitkyina resident said the lower floor of her house was underwater and that she was sheltering with neighbours until rescue teams could reach them.

The waters had receded slightly as of Tuesday morning she said, but it was still raining.

Local media said the floodwaters had trapped thousands of people in their homes, and the&nbsp;state weather office warned of more heavy rain in the coming days.

Downstream in the second city of Mandalay, the Ayeyarwady could rise from six to 10 feet (1.8-3 metres) in the first 10 days of July, it said.

During the June to October rainy season, landslides are a regular and deadly hazard for the thousands of migrant workers who travel to Kachin state to scrape precious metals and minerals from its hills.

Last month, a landslide at a rare earth mine killed five people and left at least seven others missing, a worker at the mine and local media reported.

The deluge comes just weeks after Myanmar baked in a record-setting heatwave, which sent the mercury to 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) in some places.

The rainy season typically brings months of heavy downpours to the Southeast Asian country, but scientists say man-made climate change is making weather patterns more intense.]]>
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			<title>Climate change fuels deadly floods in southern Brazil: UN</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474562/climate-change-fuels-deadly-floods-in-southern-brazil-un</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474562/climate-change-fuels-deadly-floods-in-southern-brazil-un#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 24 10:45:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2474562</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[389,000 people in state of Rio Grande do Sul remain displaced from their homes because of intense flooding]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;Record floods that killed over 170 people and displaced half a million in southern Brazil are a warning sign of more disasters to come throughout the Americas because of climate change, an official at the United Nations&#39; refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Roughly 389,000 people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul remain displaced from their homes because of the intense rain and flooding, which local officials say was the worst disaster in the region&#39;s history. Scientists say climate change made the flooding twice as likely to happen.

Andrew Harper, special advisor on climate action to the refugee agency UNHCR, visited a flooded neighborhood in state capital Porto Alegre over the weekend and called it &quot;a ghost town.&quot;

&quot;It was underwater for almost 40 days. There wasn&#39;t even any rats running around. Everything had died,&quot; Harper said in an interview on Tuesday.

Even after the flood waters subsided, residents have not returned to the neighborhood where streets are piled high with water-logged garbage and debris. Many are still living in shelters, including Venezuelan refugees who had resettled in Porto Alegre.

UNHCR is helping the local government to build temporary housing.

Residents of some hard hit areas may never return, having been forced to move by repeated flooding, Harper said. But how many would become so-called climate migrants will only be known years after the disaster.

The floods surpassed all expectations that local authorities had for climate disasters, and governments need to do more to prepare for these events, Harper said.

&quot;We&#39;re seeing the emergence in Brazil of what we may be seeing throughout the Americas. So to ignore this, they do it at their own peril,&quot; Harper said.

Governments need to understand where the people most vulnerable to climate change live, like the neighborhood he visited in Porto Alegre, and include those people in their climate plans, he said.

&quot;It&#39;s a warning signal, but we&#39;ve been seeing warning signals now for five, ten years,&quot; Harper added. &quot;At what point do you basically have to slap somebody in the face and say, &#39;Wake up, you&#39;re not going to ignore this.&#39;&quot;

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Additional reporting by Diego Vara in Porto Alegre; Editing by Marguerita Choy)]]>
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			<title>Brazil flooding will take weeks to subside, experts warn</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466843/brazil-flooding-will-take-weeks-to-subside-experts-warn</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466843/brazil-flooding-will-take-weeks-to-subside-experts-warn#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 24 07:16:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2466843</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Floods devastated dozens of towns inland from Porto Alegre,  death toll at 149 while 108 still missing]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Brazil&#39;s southernmost state capital may suffer severe flooding for weeks to come, experts warn, compounding the struggles of half a million people forced to abandon their inundated homes.

Parts of Rio Grande do Sul state have seen more than 630 mm (25 inches) of rain so far this month, national weather service INMET reported &ndash; more than London&#39;s average rainfall in a year.

The waters of Lake Guaiba, which breached its banks to flood state capital Porto Alegre, have risen again this week to 5.22 meters (17.13 feet), well above the flood level of 3.0 meters and close to last week&#39;s all-time record of 5.33 meters.

Meteorologists and engineers at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) said water levels could stabilize or keep rising if it rains again. They said it could take a month before the water retreats below flood levels, based on historical comparisons.

The floods have devastated dozens of towns inland from Porto Alegre, where the downtown area remains under water. In the whole state, the death toll was at 149, while 108 were still missing.

Some 250,000 addresses are still without power and more than 136,000 people have lost access to water, state officials said.

On Wednesday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that the federal government will distribute 5,100 reais ($992) to some 240,000 families which have lost their houses or furniture by the historic floods. The measure would cost some 1.2 billion reais, according to government estimates.

At Sao Leopoldo, one of the cities affected by the floods, Lula also said his administration will bring forward the payment of some social benefits for the state&#39;s citizens, while planning to buy homes from private sector to give to displaced people.

An initial forecast from the UFRGS Institute of Hydraulic Research (IP) suggested the water could take 35 days to return to normal levels based on the previous worst flood in 1941, when it reached 4.76 meters. Tributaries upstream are expected to normalize before then.

Lake Guaiba should return slowly to below flood levels within weeks or even by mid-June, said IPH Professor Rodrigo Paiva, but he added that it will depend on the weather ahead.

&quot;That may be delayed if it rains more. In 1941 we didn&#39;t have the rebound we have now,&quot; said IPH hydrologist Fernando Fan.

Renewed rainfall over the last few days led to a new rise in the Guaiba water level, leading authorities to warn residents not to return to areas at risk.

n the roadside where they sought high ground outside the inundated fishing hamlet of Paquet&aacute;, 25 km north of Porto Alegre, villagers are watching the water level closely.

On May 1, after two days of intense rain, a broken dike flooded the area outside Porto Alegre, where on Tuesday only the rooftops of the village can be seen.

&quot;We are waiting for it to go down. We were happy that it was falling, but now it has started to rise again. It will take at least two months,&quot; said Cristiano Pastoriza.

&quot;We could only leave with the clothes we were wearing and our documents,&quot; the 58-year-old fisherman told Reuters.

Moacir Lopes said the fish will not return until the river returns to its normal course.

&quot;It will take a long time to return, two or three months. All this bad water has to be drained. When the new water comes, the fish will come back,&quot; he said.

The fishermen used their boats to rescue residents in the severely flooded neighboring village of Canoas.

&quot;When I saw people on the roofs, little children, I cried, it broke my heart,&quot; he said.]]>
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			<title>Indonesia's toll rises to 62 from deadly Sumatra floods, 25 still missing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466749/indonesias-toll-rises-to-62-from-deadly-sumatra-floods-25-still-missing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466749/indonesias-toll-rises-to-62-from-deadly-sumatra-floods-25-still-missing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 24 14:39:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2466749</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Officials say some previously unaccounted individuals were found dead, raising toll from 58 reported earlier]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The death toll from weekend flash floods and mud slides in Indonesia&#39;s West Sumatra province rose to 62 on Wednesday, authorities said, while rescuers were searching areas near rivers for 25 people who are still missing.

Officials said some of those earlier unaccounted for were found dead during the day, which lifted the toll from 58 reported in the morning.

A video shared by the national disaster management agency BNPB showed logs, rocks and mud strewn over roads, collapsed bridges and houses in Tanah Datar, one of the three districts in West Sumatra hit by the floods.

The disaster struck the area on Saturday evening when heavy rains unleashed flash floods, landslides, and cold lava flow - a mud-like mixture of volcanic ash, rock debris and water.

The cold lava flow, came from Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra&#39;s most active volcanoes. Its eruption in December killed more than 20 people and more eruptions have followed since.

BNPB will continue to search for the missing people and clean the main roads, its head Suharyanto said in a statement on Wednesday.

Read also:&nbsp;Death toll from floods in Indonesia&#39;s West Sumatra rises to 50

Sisters Fitrawanis, 64, and Nurbaiti, 66, watched in tears the ruins of their brother&#39;s house in Tanah Datar. They said the brother, Rusdi, 60, was still missing after water swept him away when he tried to save his mother-in-law.

&quot;I hope that his body can be found quickly, either alive or dead,&quot; Fitrawanis told Reuters. She said both in-laws and Rusdi&#39;s wife have been found dead.

At least 249 houses, 225 hectares (556 acres) of land, including rice fields, 19 bridges and most of the main roads were damaged in three districts and one town.

Indonesia&#39;s meteorology agency BMKG said it planned to try to mitigate heavy rainfall expected for the next week in West Sumatra by &quot;cloud seeding&quot; to prevent rains in the worst affected areas.

Widely used in Indonesia, cloud seeding involves shooting salt flares into clouds to trigger rainfall in dry areas.]]>
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			<title>OIC launches 'flash assistance appeal' for Afghanistan’s flood victims</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466251/oic-launches-flash-assistance-appeal-for-afghanistans-flood-victims</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466251/oic-launches-flash-assistance-appeal-for-afghanistans-flood-victims#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 24 13:26:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2466251</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rains triggered severe floods, affecting hundreds, damaging infrastructure, property, farmland, says OIC]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) launched a &quot;flash assistance appeal&quot; Saturday for victims of flash floods that have struck northern Afghanistan.

&quot;The OIC appeals, as a matter of urgency, to all its Member States and other countries across the world as well as relief organisations to promptly channel life-saving assistance to help Afghan people impacted by the ongoing floods,&quot; it said.

Heavy seasonal rainfall Friday triggered severe flooding, affecting hundreds of families and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, property and farmland.

Read also: Death toll in Afghanistan floods rises to 153, says Taliban interior ministry

The human toll is significant and expected to rise, OIC wrote on X, citing local reports.

The devastating flash floods come months after deadly earthquakes rocked several provinces across Afghanistan.

With increasing numbers of vulnerable families and children in desperate need of support, the OIC stressed the importance of prompt action in the coming days and weeks to help victims survive and recover from the disaster.]]>
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			<title>Rawalpindi prepares for monsoon floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465587/rawalpindi-prepares-for-monsoon-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465587/rawalpindi-prepares-for-monsoon-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 May 24 19:05:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Qaiser Shirazi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2465587</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Declares flood season from Jun 15 to Aug 15; sets up relief camps in flood-prone areas]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[To safeguard both the city and the cantonment from the potential hazards of monsoon rains, a flood season has been officially declared in Rawalpindi from June 15 to August 15.

The Triple One army contingent will remain on alert throughout this period to ensure swift response in case of any emergencies. From June 15, a control room will be operational to closely monitor the flood situation.

Identified as flood-prone zones, 20 low-lying and densely populated areas along the banks of Nullah Leh and major rainwater channels have been marked for heightened vigilance. These areas include Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Fazalabad, Mukha Singh Estate, Dhok Khaba, Dhok Elah Bakhsh, Tahma Sapabad, Chah Sultan, Dhok Dalal, Fuji Colony, Ziaul Haq Colony, Pir Wadhai, Dhok Rata, Gwalmandi, Dhok Chirag Din, Gulistan Colony, Adra, Peoples Colony, Tinch Bhata, Sharon Christian Colony, Sawan, and Naya Mohalla. Additionally, five flood relief camps have been sanctioned to assist affected residents during emergencies.

These relief camps, located in prominent schools, will provide essential amenities including accommodation, food, and medical aid. Rescue 1122 and Civil Defense have been placed on high alert to ensure the safety of citizens during potential flood situations. Pre-monsoon emergency rescue measures have also been initiated.

To maintain the smooth flow of rainwater, dumping of garbage and construction material into the 20 km long Nullah Leh and 15 storm drains has been prohibited under Section 144.

Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema has directed the Municipal Corporation and both Cantonment Boards to promptly clear encroachments and remove squatters from the drains&#39; banks.

Ahead of June, a comprehensive rescue rehearsal will be conducted in Nadeem Colony along the Nullah Leh to train personnel in evacuating flood victims. The army will also provide practical rescue training to police, Rescue 1122, and Civil Defense volunteers near Rawal Dam. Flood relief camps will be set up at designated schools, managed by various departments including finance for food, health for medicine, education for accommodation, and police for security.

The Nullah Leh flood early warning system is slated to be operational by May 31, with mosque announcements and warning sirens alerting residents when water levels in Nullah Leh and storm drains reach critical levels. Civil Defense volunteers will be equipped with modern hand sirens to ensure warnings are sounded even in the event of power outages. Notices will be issued to residents of flood-prone areas along the banks of Nullah Leh and storm drains, advising them to relocate valuables to safer locations before June 15. Additionally, arrangements will be made to relocate valuable livestock from flood-affected areas during the flood season.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>Fatalities surge in K-P amid rain fury</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464528/fatalities-surge-in-k-p-amid-rain-fury</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464528/fatalities-surge-in-k-p-amid-rain-fury#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 24 20:25:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464528</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Floods trigger roof collapse and landslides, kill 10 and injures 14]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least ten people have lost their lives as heavy rains continue to lash large swathes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, bringing life to a standstill and rendering Karakoram Highway and other thoroughfares impassable due to landslides and flashfloods.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued a nationwide alert on Friday, cautioning against severe weather conditions expected to persist until April 29 (Monday).

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, ten people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in different incidents of roof collapses caused by recent heavy rainfall in the province.

According to a report issued by the PDMA on Monday, several roads were damaged in Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Mansehra and Upper Kohistan due to landslides and floods caused by heavy downpours in the province.

According to the report, 100 heads of cattle perished. At least 42 houses, four schools and six other buildings were also damaged in various incidents reported from Bajaur, Battagram, Mansehra, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Lower Chitral, Malakand, Mohmand, Nowshera, Orakzai, Shangla, Swat, Dir Upper and Lower due to widespread rainfall.

It said that Shishiko-Madaklasht road, Chitral-Garamchashma road, Ayun-Bumborate Bobash road were blocked in Lower Chitral while Chukyatan-Sheringal road, Shalgah-Bedami road, Thall Jandrai road, Bandai to Buchail road and Sheringal-Douangdara road were affected in Upper Dir.

Similarly, the link road to Bhandhian was washed away by heavy rainwater in Mansehra and KKH was blocked on both ways at RD-311 near Bodha bridge in Upper Kohistan.

The rains come at a time when crops are ready to be harvested, especially the wheat crop. Prolonged spells of rain have already delayed wheat harvest. Farmers have complained about an unprecedented rise in the cost of harvest, saying it has doubled compared to last year due to an increase in fuel prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2024.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Massive rains, flash floods kill nearly 100 in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463295/massive-rains-flash-floods-kill-nearly-100-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463295/massive-rains-flash-floods-kill-nearly-100-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 24 15:34:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2463295</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Around 70 people also lost lives in neighbouring Afghanistan due to rains, floods, according to authorities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Nearly 100 people were killed and dozens of others injured in rain-triggered incidents during the last week after heavy rains and floods hit the northwestern and southwestern parts of the country.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), heavy rains caused flash floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

So far, 98 people have been killed and 89 others injured in these areas due to collapsing structures, according to the NDMA&#39;s latest report.

Read also:&nbsp;Spring rains raise flood risk: NDMA

Some 3,261 houses were also damaged, with 536 fully destroyed.

Heavy floods and land sliding also caused damage to roads and bridges in hilly areas of K-P and Balochistan.

In a separate statement, the NDMA warned that the ongoing rains will continue till April 22 with potential flooding in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

&quot;The expected rainfall may trigger flash floods in local nullahs of several regions, including Khuzdar, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Muslim Bagh, Quetta, Pishin, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, and Turbat,&quot; it said.

They also predicted heavy rain from April 25 to 29 and urged the public to stay away from weak infrastructure and refrain from driving or walking in waterways.

Floods in Afghanistan

Meanwhile, Afghanistan&#39;s Ministry of Disaster Management said at least 70 people were killed and 56 others injured due to heavy rains and floods in several parts of the country during the past week.

The devastating floods also damaged 2,627 houses partially and fully while over 600 livestock also perished, state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported, citing the ministry report.

The weather agency predicted that the current spell of rains will continue until Sunday.]]>
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			<title>K-P, Balochistan battle historical rains, storms and floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462989/k-p-balochistan-battle-historical-rains-storms-and-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462989/k-p-balochistan-battle-historical-rains-storms-and-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 24 04:29:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Ali Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2462989</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NDMA says three new systems to hit country this month]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As Balochistan reeled from devastating floods, it braced for another wet spell, starting Thursday (today), which could bring heavy downpours accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday.

Overall at least 65 people have died in rain-related incidents, including 28 killed in lightning strikes, across the country, according to the media reports, with rain so far in April falling at nearly twice the historical average rate for the month.

The largest death toll was in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where 32 people have died, including 15 children, and more than 1,300 homes have been damaged. Nearly, two-dozen people, including farmers harvesting wheat, were killed by lightning in Punjab, the reports said.

In Balochistan, recent heavy rainfall unleashed devastating flash floods across the province&#39;s coastal belt, wreaking havoc in Gwadar, Pasni, and other areas. Gwadar bore the brunt of the onslaught, with nearly all public and private buildings submerged under the deluge.

In Pasni and surrounding regions, communities found themselves grappling with the catastrophic aftermath of the floods. The floods spared neither schools nor homes, leaving education institutions submerged and countless residences damaged.

Pictures posted on social media depict individuals wading through waist-deep waters, desperately trying to salvage their belongings amid chaos. Tragically, the death toll from the disaster also climbed, which rose to nine fatalities so far.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the grim statistics of nine dead and another nine injured, highlighting the enormity of the situation. The government has declared a state of emergency, mobilising resources to aid affected communities.

However, the scale of destruction is staggering, with 40 homes completely destroyed and 80 others partially damaged by the ferocious downpour. The floods also wreaked havoc with infrastructure, leaving roads and highways impassable, thus disrupting traffic and communication networks.

The true extent of the damage will become evident, once the water recedes. Currently, efforts are under way to provide relief and support to those impacted by the calamity, emphasising the urgent need for solidarity in the face of nature&#39;s fury.

K-P and Punjab

Ten more people, including nine children, died on Tuesday in various parts of K-P in the aftermath of the torrential rains as the provincial government imposed an emergency in 13 districts for the provision of relief and restoration of damaged communication networks and water supply.

&ldquo;All the casualties [in K-P] resulted from the collapse of walls and roofs,&rdquo; Anwar Khan, spokesman for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), told AFP on Wednesday. Villagers were forced to seek refuge on higher ground, including on the shoulders of motorways.

&ldquo;In April, we have observed highly unusual rainfall patterns,&rdquo; Zaheer Babar, spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department, told AFP. &ldquo;Climate change is a major factor behind these unusual weather patterns and above normal rainfalls,&rdquo; he added.

Most of the country experienced a pause in rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, but more downpours are predicted in the coming days. &ldquo;From April 1st to April 17th, we experienced precipitation levels exceeding the historical average by 99%,&rdquo; Babar said, citing data from the past 30 years as a comparison.

Amid a grim situation in the province, the NDMA in its latest advisory warned of a series of moderate to intense weather systems causing rainfall and thunderstorms from April 17 to 29, citing the latest projections from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).

The forecast indicated that the latest weather system would bring heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, lasting until April 22 &ndash; in Balochistan from April 17-19, in Punjab and Sindh from April 18-19. The advisory stated that upper Punjab would experience the effects from April 18-21.

K-P, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will also be affected from April 17 to 22,&rdquo; the advisory said, adding that a weaker weather system was expected to enter Pakistan on April 23, bringing low rainfall and thunderstorms till April 24.

According to the NDMA, Balochistan and upper Punjab would experience slight impacts from April 23-24 weather system, but K-P, G-B, and AJK would be affected. However, Sindh was not expected to be impacted during this period, it added.

Then, a strong weather system was forecast to enter Pakistan on April 25, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms with occasional gaps until April 29. &ldquo;This system will affect Balochistan from April 25 to April 29, with intermittent gaps,&rdquo; the NDMA said.

&ldquo;Sindh will experience impacts on April 25, 26, and 28, while South Punjab will be affected from April 27-28. Upper Punjab will face the impact from April 26 to 29, while K-P will experience effects from 25 to 29, potentially. G-B and AJK would also be impacted from April 25 to 29.

The expected rainfall might trigger flash floods in local nullahs of vulnerable areas, including Khuzdar, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Muslim Bagh, Quetta, Pishin, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, and Turbat. Flooding might also occur in low-lying areas during the forecast period, particularly in south-western Balochistan.

In the light of these projections, the NDMA has issued instructions for the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and other relevant line departments to remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any emergent situations.

(WITH INPUTS FROM AGENCIES)]]>
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			<title>Heavy rain and flash floods kill 33 in Afghanistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462568/heavy-rain-and-flash-floods-kill-33-in-afghanistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462568/heavy-rain-and-flash-floods-kill-33-in-afghanistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 24 16:16:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2462568</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Most casualties were from roof collapses while some 600 houses were damaged or destroyed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 33 people have been killed over three days of heavy rains and flash flooding in Afghanistan, the government&#39;s disaster management department said Sunday.

&quot;From Friday onward, because of the rains there were flash floods which caused high human and financial losses,&quot; department spokesman Janan Sayeq said.

&quot;The primary information shows that, unfortunately, in the floods, 33 people were martyred and 27 people got injured.&quot;

Most casualties were from roof collapses while some 600 houses were damaged or destroyed, nearly 600 kilometres (370 miles) of road demolished, and around 2,000 acres of farmland &quot;flooded away&quot;, Sayeq said.

Some 20 of the nation&#39;s 34 provinces were lashed by the heavy rains, which have followed an unusually dry winter season which has parched terrain and forced farmers to delay planting.

Read also:&nbsp;Cold wave in Afghanistan kills over quarter-million livestock

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 the flow of foreign aid into the impoverished country has drastically diminished, hindering relief responses to natural disasters.

At least 25 people were killed in a landslide after massive snowfall in eastern Afghanistan in February, whilst around 60 were killed in a three-week spate of precipitation ending in March.

The United Nations last year warned, &quot;Afghanistan is experiencing major swings in extreme weather conditions&quot;.

Scientists say harsh weather patterns are being spurred by climate change and after being ravaged by four decades of war Afghanistan ranks among the nations least prepared to face the phenomenon.]]>
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			<title>Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate over 100,000 people amid worst flooding in decades</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462206/russia-kazakhstan-evacuate-over-100000-people-amid-worst-flooding-in-decades</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462206/russia-kazakhstan-evacuate-over-100000-people-amid-worst-flooding-in-decades#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 24 14:33:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2462206</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Deluge overwhelms scores of settlements in the Ural Mountains, Siberia and areas of Kazakhstan close to rivers]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Russia and Kazakhstan ordered more than 100,000 people to evacuate after swiftly melting snow swelled mighty rivers beyond bursting point in the worst flooding in the area for at least 70 years.

The deluge of meltwater overwhelmed scores of settlements in the Ural Mountains, Siberia and areas of Kazakhstan close to rivers such as the Ural and Tobol, which local officials said had risen by metres in a matter of hours to the highest levels ever recorded.

The Ural River, Europe&#39;s third largest which flows through Russia and Kazakhstan into the Caspian, burst through an embankment dam on Friday, flooding the city of Orsk just south of the Ural Mountains.

Downstream, water levels in Orenburg, a city of around 550,000, were rising.

Read also:&nbsp;Death toll from Indonesia flash floods, landslides jumps to 21

Sirens in Kurgan, a city on the Tobol river, a tributary of the Irtysh, warned people to evacuate immediately. An emergency was also declared in Tyumen, a major oil producing region of Western Siberia - the largest hydrocarbon basin in the world.

In Russia, anger boiled over in Orsk when at least 100 Russians begged the Kremlin chief to help and chanted &quot;shame on you&quot; at local officials who they said had done too little.

The Kremlin said Putin was getting updated constantly on the situation but that he had no immediate plans to visit the flood zone as local and emergency officials were doing their best to cope with the deluge.

Evacuate now

In Kurgan, a region with around 800,000 residents, drone footage showed traditional Russian wooden houses and the golden kupolas of Russian Orthodox Churches stranded among a vast expanse of water.

In Orenburg, a city of more than half a million, residents paddled along roads as if they were rivers. Dams and embankments were being strengthened as the Ural river rose to nearly 10 metres high.

Russian officials have said some people ignored calls to evacuate. Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumkov urged residents to take the warnings seriously.

&quot;We understand you very well: It is hard to leave your possessions and move somewhere at the call of the local authorities,&quot; Shumkov said.



An aerial view shows flooded area in Orenburg, Russia, in this still image taken from video released April 8, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

&quot;It&#39;s better that we laugh at the hydrologists together later and praise God for the miracle of our common salvation. But let&#39;s do it alive.&quot;

In Kurgan, water levels were rising in the Tobol and Russia said 19,000 people were at risk in the region.

Rising water was also forecast in Siberia&#39;s Ishim river, also a tributary of the Irtysh, which along with its parent, the Ob, forms the world&#39;s seventh longest river system.

It was not immediately clear why this year&#39;s floods were so bad as the snow melt is an annual event in Russia. Scientists say climate change has made flooding more frequent worldwide.]]>
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			<title>Gwadar drowns in negligence</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460701/gwadar-drowns-in-negligence-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460701/gwadar-drowns-in-negligence-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 24 10:40:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[MOHAMMAD ZAFAR BALOCH]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2460701</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Recent floods and lack of government response have washed away Gwadar’s image as the crown jewel of CPEC]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The port city of Gwadar in Balochistan has been Noreen&rsquo;s home for the last six years. It has so far been a dwelling of misery for her. She has not paid her rent for three months now and faces threats of eviction from the landlord. &ldquo;Feeding the children has become the biggest challenge, the business of sea is also closed, and there is no other way of winning bread for the family,&rdquo; lamented Noreen.

To top all this, the recent rains and urban flooding hit Gwadar, and her life, which was already full of worries, became more difficult. With the sea being closed for business the fishing community has been hit badly.

Massi Begum, an aged resident of Gwadar who is also a councillor and has been severely affected by the recent devastation. &ldquo;I belong to a fishermen family,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;My children are Janshu [boat worker in Balochi]. Nobody helped us. There is only misery and disaster all around.&rdquo;

Massi Begum demanded that the provincial government help the people in need.

Only a few months earlier, world leaders had gathered in UAE for the Conference of Parties (COP28). Photos were clicked, pledges were made, and many decisions were undertaken, including the transition from fossil fuels. Far away and far from having a say in all that, the people of Balochistan are among the worst affected by climate change. In the flash floods of 2022, the entire province presented a spectacle of a devastated war-ravaged area.

Two years on the government has not been successful in rehabilitating the effects of the floods, and yet another crisis has hit the coast of Balochistan. This time the disaster happened in Gwadar, touted as the crown jewel of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC. Houses drowned, roads were broken, the infrastructure ravaged and people went hungry. Gwadar is not an image of the future at all.

Suffering the impact of the climate crisis created by the heavy industries of the First World, the local people in Gwadar have lost much in the recent devastation. When there were ongoing negotiations in the power corridors about the distribution of ministries and the re-shuffling of bureaucracy in Balochistan, the urban flooding in Gwadar stood as a stark image to what the mainstream media generally shows with views of the marine drive.

Shahid, a fisherman, expressed helplessness in the face of disaster. &ldquo;My home is filled with water, my furniture is destroyed, and the walls of my house are full of cracks, I await help,&rdquo; he said. He said that neither does he own a generator, nor is he getting any help from the government to pump the floodwater out of his home. His misery doesn&rsquo;t end here. As a fisherman, he does not have any alternative to earn bread and butter for his family when the sea is closed.

It is not that nobody knows about climate change in Balochistan. Mirza Ghalib, a resident of Gwadar, who studies at FC College Lahore, was home when the recent rains hit. His take on the issues is informed, he said &ldquo;We are at the frontline of climate change. It has not been so long since the floods wreaked havoc across Balochistan, and the current climate crisis is not natural but a result of human stupidity and negligence.&rdquo;

Highlighting the climate effects all over the world, he mentioned that the world is responding to this issue with adaptive infrastructure, whereas billions were spent here in the name of development and infrastructure building but ambiguous developmental schemes became quite evident when rain washed away the city. Mirza believes that this issue is political and the response should in turn be to politicise the climate crisis. Also mentioning that there are currently two cities within Gwadar, one belongs to the powerful and the wealthy, and the other to the deprived and the poor.

The Baloch Yakjetii Committee (BYC) which gained prominence in recent times after the Balaach Mola Baksh case and the Long March to Islamabad has also been seen as quite active in this scenario. Their prominent leader, Dr Mahrag Baloch reached Gwadar and met the people, and also organised a public session on the indigenous perspective around it. The BYC activists were seen active, collecting data and establishing relief and donation camps for the people of Gwadar in multiple cities. According their webpage, the camp that they established in Gwadar was not granted an NOC by the Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar and was later torn apart, creating discontent among the public of Balochistan and outrage on social media.

Shaheena Rashid, a student activist who has been surveying the old city areas and collecting data about the devastation with her team. She said that there are many places where they cannot go yet. She said, &ldquo;As per the data which we collected of certain areas, there are more than 200 homes which are in immediate need, there are females who are ba-parda.&rdquo;

Sameer Baloch, a resident of Gwadar and also a student activist also directed towards the climate crisis being a political issue, facing the whole world. Sameer mentioned that the federal and provincial authorities make tall claims about the development in Gwadar but the reality is the opposite. He stressed that &ldquo;The only development which has been done is Marine Drive and the cricket stadium, whereas the failed infrastructure of the Gwadar old city is the reason behind the recent rains descending devastation&rdquo;. Sameer believes that the Government has a lot of work that needs to be done.

The people are angry with the administration and provincial government. They believe that the funds and all the development that is taking place in ambiguous and are not benefitting the people. Angry Hassan from Gwadar said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know anything about any funds if they were sent from somewhere, they didn&rsquo;t reach us, we are badly affected, if the rain comes again, nothing would be left.&rdquo;

In the first speech, the Chief Minister of Balochistan highlighted that one of the major threats to Balochistan is Climate Change. He also mentioned that it is a crisis in which Balochistan&rsquo;s contribution is none. He pledged that it would be among the top priorities of his administration.

Mohammad Younus Mengal, an Assistant Relief officer and Incharge of the Provincial Emergency Operation Center, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said that &ldquo;kaccha houses&rdquo; (Mud Houses) are always among the worst affected whenever a disaster hits because of weak drainage system. He further mentioned that&rdquo; It was observed during the recent urban-flooding in Gwadar that the newly constructed planned houses were saved because of a better drainage system and the old populations suffered because of low lying areas and poor drainage system. However, after continuous hard work, the teams working there managed the dewatering.&rdquo;

Mr. Mengal said that the Government of Balochistan is trying to plan a better mechanism to protect the low-lying areas from future disasters through a properly planned drainage system.

In response to a question about the effects of climate change and the long-term plans of the provincial government, he said &ldquo;There is no doubt that the region is facing a climate crisis and Balochistan has been hit much recently, but the provincial and federal governments are working on minimising its impacts, and plan a well manner mechanism to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change in future&rdquo;.

The recent urban flooding in Gwadar has washed away the perception of Gwadar being the crown Jewel of CPEC. At a time when the Pakistani Government is claiming that the CPEC has entered its second phase, the people of Gwadar are alienated from the ambiguous developments.

However, Sarfaraz is the first CM who has at least used the term climate change in the assembly. That is hard to decide whether it is out of serious concern or because of trendy appearances. The people of Balochistan undoubtedly are at the frontline of multiple disasters, whether it be climate change or other longstanding political crises.]]>
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			<title>Gwadar drowns in negligence</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460332/gwadar-drowns-in-negligence</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460332/gwadar-drowns-in-negligence#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 24 22:06:23 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[MOHAMMAD ZAFAR BALOCH]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2460332</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Recent floods and lack of government response have washed away Gwadar’s image as the crown jewel of CPEC]]>
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				<![CDATA[The port city of Gwadar in Balochistan has been Noreen&rsquo;s home for the last six years. It has so far been a dwelling of misery for her. She has not paid her rent for three months now and faces threats of eviction from the landlord. &ldquo;Feeding the children has become the biggest challenge, the business of sea is also closed, and there is no other way of winning bread for the family,&rdquo; lamented Noreen.

To top all this, the recent rains and urban flooding hit Gwadar, and her life, which was already full of worries, became more difficult. With the sea being closed for business the fishing community has been hit badly.

Massi Begum, an aged resident of Gwadar who is also a councillor and has been severely affected by the recent devastation. &ldquo;I belong to a fishermen family,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;My children are Janshu [boat worker in Balochi]. Nobody helped us. There is only misery and disaster all around.&rdquo;

Massi Begum demanded that the provincial government help the people in need.

Only a few months earlier, world leaders had gathered in UAE for the Conference of Parties (COP28). Photos were clicked, pledges were made, and many decisions were undertaken, including the transition from fossil fuels. Far away and far from having a say in all that, the people of Balochistan are among the worst affected by climate change. In the flash floods of 2022, the entire province presented a spectacle of a devastated war-ravaged area.

Two years on the government has not been successful in rehabilitating the effects of the floods, and yet another crisis has hit the coast of Balochistan. This time the disaster happened in Gwadar, touted as the crown jewel of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC. Houses drowned, roads were broken, the infrastructure ravaged and people went hungry. Gwadar is not an image of the future at all.

Suffering the impact of the climate crisis created by the heavy industries of the First World, the local people in Gwadar have lost much in the recent devastation. When there were ongoing negotiations in the power corridors about the distribution of ministries and the re-shuffling of bureaucracy in Balochistan, the urban flooding in Gwadar stood as a stark image to what the mainstream media generally shows with views of the marine drive.

Shahid, a fisherman, expressed helplessness in the face of disaster. &ldquo;My home is filled with water, my furniture is destroyed, and the walls of my house are full of cracks, I await help,&rdquo; he said. He said that neither does he own a generator, nor is he getting any help from the government to pump the floodwater out of his home. His misery doesn&rsquo;t end here. As a fisherman, he does not have any alternative to earn bread and butter for his family when the sea is closed.

It is not that nobody knows about climate change in Balochistan. Mirza Ghalib, a resident of Gwadar, who studies at FC College Lahore, was home when the recent rains hit. His take on the issues is informed, he said &ldquo;We are at the frontline of climate change. It has not been so long since the floods wreaked havoc across Balochistan, and the current climate crisis is not natural but a result of human stupidity and negligence.&rdquo;

Highlighting the climate effects all over the world, he mentioned that the world is responding to this issue with adaptive infrastructure, whereas billions were spent here in the name of development and infrastructure building but ambiguous developmental schemes became quite evident when rain washed away the city. Mirza believes that this issue is political and the response should in turn be to politicise the climate crisis. Also mentioning that there are currently two cities within Gwadar, one belongs to the powerful and the wealthy, and the other to the deprived and the poor.

The Baloch Yakjetii Committee (BYC) which gained prominence in recent times after the Balaach Mola Baksh case and the Long March to Islamabad has also been seen as quite active in this scenario. Their prominent leader, Dr Mahrag Baloch reached Gwadar and met the people, and also organised a public session on the indigenous perspective around it. The BYC activists were seen active, collecting data and establishing relief and donation camps for the people of Gwadar in multiple cities. According their webpage, the camp that they established in Gwadar was not granted an NOC by the Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar and was later torn apart, creating discontent among the public of Balochistan and outrage on social media.

Shaheena Rashid, a student activist who has been surveying the old city areas and collecting data about the devastation with her team. She said that there are many places where they cannot go yet. She said, &ldquo;As per the data which we collected of certain areas, there are more than 200 homes which are in immediate need, there are females who are ba-parda.&rdquo;

Sameer Baloch, a resident of Gwadar and also a student activist also directed towards the climate crisis being a political issue, facing the whole world. Sameer mentioned that the federal and provincial authorities make tall claims about the development in Gwadar but the reality is the opposite. He stressed that &ldquo;The only development which has been done is Marine Drive and the cricket stadium, whereas the failed infrastructure of the Gwadar old city is the reason behind the recent rains descending devastation&rdquo;. Sameer believes that the Government has a lot of work that needs to be done.

The people are angry with the administration and provincial government. They believe that the funds and all the development that is taking place in ambiguous and are not benefitting the people. Angry Hassan from Gwadar said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know anything about any funds if they were sent from somewhere, they didn&rsquo;t reach us, we are badly affected, if the rain comes again, nothing would be left.&rdquo;

In the first speech, the Chief Minister of Balochistan highlighted that one of the major threats to Balochistan is Climate Change. He also mentioned that it is a crisis in which Balochistan&rsquo;s contribution is none. He pledged that it would be among the top priorities of his administration.

Mohammad Younus Mengal, an Assistant Relief officer and Incharge of the Provincial Emergency Operation Center, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said that &ldquo;kaccha houses&rdquo; (Mud Houses) are always among the worst affected whenever a disaster hits because of weak drainage system. He further mentioned that&rdquo; It was observed during the recent urban-flooding in Gwadar that the newly constructed planned houses were saved because of a better drainage system and the old populations suffered because of low lying areas and poor drainage system. However, after continuous hard work, the teams working there managed the dewatering.&rdquo;

Mr. Mengal said that the Government of Balochistan is trying to plan a better mechanism to protect the low-lying areas from future disasters through a properly planned drainage system.

In response to a question about the effects of climate change and the long-term plans of the provincial government, he said &ldquo;There is no doubt that the region is facing a climate crisis and Balochistan has been hit much recently, but the provincial and federal governments are working on minimising its impacts, and plan a well manner mechanism to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change in future&rdquo;.

The recent urban flooding in Gwadar has washed away the perception of Gwadar being the crown Jewel of CPEC. At a time when the Pakistani Government is claiming that the CPEC has entered its second phase, the people of Gwadar are alienated from the ambiguous developments.

However, Sarfaraz is the first CM who has at least used the term climate change in the assembly. That is hard to decide whether it is out of serious concern or because of trendy appearances. The people of Balochistan undoubtedly are at the frontline of multiple disasters, whether it be climate change or other longstanding political crises.]]>
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			<title>Gwadar declared ‘disaster zone’ after heavy rains</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458007/gwadar-declared-disaster-zone-after-heavy-rains</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458007/gwadar-declared-disaster-zone-after-heavy-rains#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 24 19:19:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gwadar]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2458007</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Interim Balochistan govt imposes emergency in coastal city, kicks off relief and rescue ops]]>
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				<![CDATA[The caretaker Balochistan government on Thursday imposed an emergency in Gwadar and declared it a disaster zone after heavy rains triggered devastating flash floods in the coastal city.

In a statement, Balochistan caretaker Information Jan Achakzai said the provincial government had decided to declare Gwadar calamity-hit and impose an emergency, acknowledging the severity of the situation.

According to Achakzai, caretaker Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki has already signed a summary for this purpose and a notification will be issued soon.

He added that the interim CM would personally monitor relief activities in all the rain-hit areas of the province.

Following the devastating flash floods in Gwadar, triggered by heavy rainfall that lashed the area for several hours and left thousands of residents homeless as well as in dire need of assistance as the downpour caused widespread destruction, Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan (HDTB) chief Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, who won the election for PB-24, on Thursday reached the coastal city -- where his constituency was located -- to coordinate rescue operations.

The torrential downpours not only inundated residential areas but also disrupted essential services including the power supply and already strained sewerage system, adding to the miseries of the locals.

With the situation growing increasingly dire, urgent measures are being taken to provide shelter, food, and medical aid to those affected by the calamity.

The rainwater inundated the streets of Gwadar with an alarming depth of six to seven feet.

According to officials, Gwadar district received over 180 millimetres of rainfall over the past two days.
The coastal highway connecting Karachi with Gwadar was damaged because of the heavy rainfall, disrupting vehicular traffic.

The impact of the flash floods has reverberated beyond Gwadar, with heavy rainfall also battering Quetta and other parts of Balochistan

In the statement, the interim provincial information minister said relief and rescue operations were under way in coastal areas hit by heavy rains.

&ldquo;Teams of the district administration, army, navy, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Levies and National Disaster Management Authority are working day and night in Gwadar, Ormara, Pasni and other areas,&rdquo; he added.

He continued that all available resources were being used to drain the accumulated rainwater and for the well-being of the affected population.

Achakzai expressed concerns about the major damage to Gwadar&rsquo;s fundamental infrastructure because of the continuous rains.

&ldquo;According to the latest information, two out of six disconnected roads from Gwadar city have been restored, and around 300 individuals have been safely relocated,&rdquo; he maintained.

He added that around 80 boats had been dispatched to the area for evacuation.

&ldquo;Assessments are being conducted in the area to determine the extent of damage,&rdquo; the statement read.

Separately, caretaker CM Domki said that rescue operations were under way in the rain-hit areas with the help of the army.

In a statement, he observed that an &ldquo;unusual and disastrous situation&rdquo; had emerged because of the heavy downpours.

In light of the adverse weather conditions, the Balochistan education department has taken the proactive step of ordering the closure of all private and government-run schools across the province, prioritising the safety of students and staff.

Relentless rainfall and hail continued to lash Gwadar and its surrounding areas, compounding the challenges faced by rescue teams and exacerbating the plight of the affected population.

Furthermore, the rains in Nagor have led to the breach of protective dams, exacerbating the already precarious situation.
Amid the devastation, efforts are under way to provide relief and assistance to those grappling with the aftermath of the flash floods.

The solidarity and swift action demonstrated by MPA Hidayatur Rehman and other stakeholders underscore the resilience and compassion of the Pakistani people in times of adversity.]]>
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			<title>Floods and havoc</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457908/floods-and-havoc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457908/floods-and-havoc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 24 20:48:27 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[IT demands foolproof master plan of drainage, water channels, irrigation and quality road and bridges infrastructure]]>
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				<![CDATA[Torrential rains and flash-floods have once again come to test the resilience of Baloch masses. More than 12 hours of late winter downpour has not only inundated many of the low-lying districts of the remote and underdeveloped province of Balochistan, but has also played havoc with highways and private property. Though no casualties have been reported, Gwadar and the entire coastal belt of Ormara, Turbat, Pasni and Jewani stand truncated from the national grid and road network. There is literally no mobility linkage between Karachi and the restive rain-drained zones, posing a simple question as to why proper infrastructure and water channels are yet to come into force. It is no history that last year the backward unit of federation was reeling with death and destruction, and contingency plans were drummed to avoid the repeat of misery.

The fact that Gwadar and Ormara turned into such a bad shape drives us to some interrogation. These two towns are on the map of international development, and luckily part of activities under CPEC. Yet they crumbled under 200mm of rainfall, which is surprising and hints at lethargy, unprofessionalism and inherent corruption in planning and development. It is also no surprise that the locals of the area keep on complaining against the indifferent attitude of authorities, and the discrimination they are met with in terms of development on par. Apart from unemployment, their tales of sorrow include electricity shortage, non-availability of drinking water and an uneven mosaic of interaction at the state level. Thus, despite being laden with rich minerals, livestock and a hospitable culture, the Baloch are ages away from growth and progress.

It is, moreover, unfortunate to learn that small-scale dams in the region could not stand the tide and volume of cloudburst, and were themselves hit with calamity. This calls for a genuine and foolproof master plan of drainage, water channels, irrigation and quality road and bridges infrastructure, and that too under the supervision of the locals. The prevalent sense of ad hocism has only bred discontent.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Accountability and resilience</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455055/accountability-and-resilience</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455055/accountability-and-resilience#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 24 20:07:55 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Political upheaval, frequent changes in government lead to officials finding it easier to misappropriate funds, aid]]>
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				<![CDATA[A year and a half later since the devastating floods of 2022, millions of Pakistanis still require humanitarian assistance and access to essential services. One-third of the country was submerged, affecting nearly 33 million people, a majority of whom were women and children. The hardest-hit regions were among the most vulnerable in the country, where people already lacked critical infrastructure and basic services such as healthcare, sanitation, education, etc. The EU has recently pledged assistance worth 100 million euros by signing five new grant agreements. 

Pakistan has had a poor track record with the utilisation of funds and distribution of aid meant for people affected by natural disasters. As a result, locals, climate activists and civil advocates approach announcements of grants and agreements with caution. Political upheaval and frequent changes in government have created an environment where officials find it easier to misappropriate funds and aid. Rather than ensuring accountability, there is a tendency to shift blame onto predecessors and political opponents. Amidst this political quagmire, people continue to endure and grapple with daily challenges on their own. The infrastructure in many flood-hit areas remains unrepaired and unrehabilitated, adversely impacting people&rsquo;s livelihoods and preventing thousands of children from accessing education. Many families are struggling to regain stability and have to fend for themselves to afford even a single meal.

The support package aims to encourage resilience in communities affected by the floods by resurrecting the rural economy of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The aid must be utilised appropriately to not only rebuild and rehabilitate the affected communities but also empower locals to deal with future climate challenges. This will enable them to better cope with and adapt to the challenges posed by changing environmental conditions and ease the burden on the government&rsquo;s resources.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>EU grants over Rs30b more for flood resilience</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454837/eu-grants-over-rs30b-more-for-flood-resilience</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454837/eu-grants-over-rs30b-more-for-flood-resilience#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 24 20:50:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2454837</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sign five new agreements aiming to support recovery]]>
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				<![CDATA[The European Union (EU) has pledged an additional EUR 100 million to strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s resilience following the devastating floods of 2022. The floods had a severe impact on the nation, and the new funding aims to support recovery efforts. According to a press statement issued by the Economic Affairs Division, EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Riina Kionka, and Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dr Kazim Niaz, formalised this commitment by signing five new grant agreements.

&ldquo;These agreements are part of Team Europe&rsquo;s response to the 2022 post-flood Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework. The funding, amounting to nearly EUR 100 million (equivalent to over Rs30 billion), underscores a significant commitment,&rdquo; reads the statement. This brings the total Team Europe response to the 2022 floods to over EUR 930 million. The focus areas include revitalising the rural economy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and restoring disrupted livestock value chains in flood-affected Balochistan. 

Read&nbsp;Flood-hit people suffer bitter cold under open sky

The package aims to fortify Pakistan&rsquo;s long-term resilience by making targeted investments in human rights, gender equality, and civil society. Niaz expressed gratitude to the EU for their support and highlighted the remaining unmet needs in flood-affected areas that require assistance from development partners. EU Ambassador Riina Kionka highlighted that Pakistan is not alone in overcoming economic challenges and flood recovery. She stated, &ldquo;The EU and Team Europe partners are committed to building back better, sustainably improving lives in the most affected communities in K-P and Balochistan.&rdquo;

Annually, the EU provides approximately EUR 90 million in grants, supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s initiatives to combat poverty, enhance education, promote good governance, human rights, rule of law, and ensure sustainable natural resource management. The EU&rsquo;s cooperation spans across Pakistan, with a special focus on K-P, G-B, Balochistan, and Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2024.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Flood aftermath</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450759/flood-aftermath</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450759/flood-aftermath#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Dec 23 19:49:55 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[OCHA recently reported that 83% of last year’s flood response plan in Pakistan has been funded]]>
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				<![CDATA[The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently reported that 83% of last year&rsquo;s flood response plan in Pakistan has been funded, amounting to $583 million against a requirement of $816 million. While acknowledging significant progress in humanitarian operations, the OCHA emphasised the need for efficient, inclusive and purposeful coordination within national sectors to enhance implementation.

Covering 34 prioritised districts, the plan successfully assisted 7.9 million out of the targeted 9.5 million individuals. While achieving this milestone, a gap of 1.6 million indicates that a substantial portion of the affected population still requires assistance. The challenges now include limited access to clean water, healthcare services, heightened food insecurity and malnutrition for 10.5 million people. Addressing this requires not only financial resources but also strategic and coordinated interventions. That 1.3 million people still remains temporarily displaced raises questions about the adequacy of the response in providing durable solutions. The concentration of displaced individuals in the hardest-hit districts of Sindh indicates specific regional challenges that need tailored attention. The call for urgent investment in long-term recovery efforts, particularly in climate-resilient infrastructure, is imperative to ensure efficient implementation and bring about meaningful change. Enhancing flood response plans necessitates a comprehensive strategy that intertwines financial prudence, strategic coordination and community-centric approaches. The effective utilisation of funds in Pakistan&rsquo;s flood response plan should be a continuous journey of improvement. Regular evaluations and adaptive strategies should be embedded in the process, enabling a dynamic response that evolves with the changing needs on the ground.

As we address the immediate needs of affected populations, let us not lose sight of the broader vision &mdash; a Pakistan that not only rebounds from the current crisis but emerges stronger and more prepared in the face of future challenges.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2023.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Hundreds stranded as parts of India's Tamil Nadu flooded after heavy rain</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450527/hundreds-stranded-as-parts-of-indias-tamil-nadu-flooded-after-heavy-rain</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450527/hundreds-stranded-as-parts-of-indias-tamil-nadu-flooded-after-heavy-rain#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Dec 23 11:42:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2450527</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least five people die in flooding and accidents related to rain]]>
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				<![CDATA[Heavy rain has paralysed several parts of India&#39;s southern state of Tamil Nadu, inundating roads, affecting train services, and leaving authorities scrambling to rescue those stranded.

The deluge occurred while the state was still recovering from the damage caused by&nbsp;Cyclone Michaung, which lashed the coast this month, killing at least 13 people.

Tamil Nadu received almost 50 mm of rainfall between Sunday and Monday, compared with the 2.5 mm that would be normal at this time of year, the weather department said, and more rainfall is predicted on Tuesday.

Local media reported at least five people died in the flooding and accidents related to the rain, which primarily affected the districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari.

Entire neighbourhoods remained submerged on Tuesday, with houses appearing like lonely islands surrounded by murky, brown water, according to footage from Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake.

Teams were using inflatable rafts to rescue people from houses and temples, and to distribute food packets to those they were unable to move to safety.

Read&nbsp;Hundreds still stranded, plants closed in India&#39;s flood-hit Chennai

P. Veeramanikandan, a resident of Tirunelveli, who was among the volunteers working with authorities in the rescue efforts, said some areas were still too dangerous to reach.

&quot;Areas lying closer to riverbanks are still badly affected, while water levels in other areas are starting to recede,&quot; he said.

About 500 passengers travelling to the capital Chennai remained stranded at a station on Tuesday afternoon, over 36 hours after their train was terminated early due to suspension of rail services in the region, local media reported.

The state government blamed the chaos on &quot;record rain&quot;, which they said was the highest in six decades, coupled with the fact that it was heavier than forecast and that the warning had also been received &quot;a bit late&quot;.

Chief Minister MK Stalin said at a media briefing the state had taken 12,653 people to 141 relief camps with food, water, medicines and essentials. Food is also being distributed using helicopters.

Tamil Nadu is no stranger to floods. Eight years ago, its capital city of Chennai was battered by heavy rains that inundated large sections of the city and killed around 290 people.]]>
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			<title>Thousands urged to higher ground as Australia battles floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450307/thousands-urged-to-higher-ground-as-australia-battles-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450307/thousands-urged-to-higher-ground-as-australia-battles-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 17 Dec 23 14:00:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Floods in Queensland, Australia, prompt urgent evacuation calls as heavy rain from ex-Cyclone Jasper hits the region]]>
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				<![CDATA[Australian authorities on Sunday urged thousands of people in north Queensland state to move to higher ground because of the danger of flooding from torrential rains.

Queensland authorities said major flooding was underway in some suburbs of Cairns, a tourist hub of around 170,000 people located around 1,700 km (1,060 miles) north of state capital Brisbane.

&quot;Properties in these areas may continue to experience flooding with the approaching high tide and continued rainfall. Residents should move to higher ground now,&quot; Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said on its website in one of several emergency alerts for parts of north Queensland.

The flooding came with heavy rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which hit the region this week, leaving tens of thousands without power and forcing evacuations.

Australia&#39;s weather forecaster predicted &quot;dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding&quot; in Cairns - a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - and said water levels later on Sunday could exceed a 1971 record flood peak of 4.1m (13.45 feet).

Cairns Local Disaster Management Group said homes, buildings, roads and bridges had been inundated.

Read also:&nbsp;Chaos as Optus outage disconnects half of Australia

&quot;Power, water, sewerage and telephone services could be lost in the area,&quot; the agency said in a statement.

There was also flooding about 120 km north of Cairns in the tourist town of Daintree Village, where around 350mm (13.8 inches) of rain had fallen since 9 a.m. on Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday), the weather forecaster said.

A spokesperson for the forecaster, Dean Narramore, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp the weather system had stalled but that it could move west overnight, which would ease rain in Cairns and surrounding areas.

Frequent flooding has hit Australia&#39;s east in recent years including &quot;once in a century&quot; floods that inundated neighbouring Northern Territory in January during a multi-year La Nina weather event.

Australia is now enduring an El Nino weather event, typically associated with extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones, droughts and heatwaves such as the one that baked parts of the country on Saturday.]]>
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			<title>2m face Glacial flooding in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449512/2m-face-glacial-flooding-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449512/2m-face-glacial-flooding-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Dec 23 04:33:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449512</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[In northern Pakistan such moraine-dammed lakes are linked to comparatively few GLOFs]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Fifteen million people worldwide are at risk of glacial lake flooding, with two million of them in Pakistan, according to a February study published in scientific journal Nature Communications.

From 2018 to 2021, about 14 GLOFs occurred in Pakistan, but that spiked to 75 in 2022, according to UNDP.

With the UN&rsquo;s COP28 climate summit is in progress in Dubai, pressure is ramping up on wealthy countries to fulfil promises to help developing nations. The Green Climate Fund said in October it had raised $9.3 billion, short of its $10 billion target.

Wealthy nations are set to meet a broader $100-billion climate finance pledge to developing countries this year, three years late and short of the actual needs, estimated by the UN at over $200 billion annually by 2030.
the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said changes driven by global warming to glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region are &quot;largely irreversible&quot;. The region has over 200 glacial lakes considered dangerous.

Darkut village, also part of GLOF II, sits surrounded by mountains and glaciers above verdant plains where yaks graze. At the bottom of nearby Darkut Glacier lies a deep turquoise lake.

Read&nbsp;India to declare dead 79 people missing in Himalayan lake floods

&quot;Until 1978 ... this whole place was a glacier, the pool of water came later,&quot; said 75-year-old Musafir Khan, pointing at the lake that formed as the glacier receded. Unlike the ice-dammed lake at Shisper, Darkut is formed in the soil and rock landscape left by a receding glacier.

In northern Pakistan, such moraine-dammed lakes are linked to comparatively few GLOFs, according to ICIMOD researcher Sher Muhammad, but in other parts of mountainous Asia they have been associated with higher casualty rates than ice-dammed lakes.

The risks of both types of lakes may increase, Muhammad said.

Muhammad Yasin, an environmental sciences graduate researcher at Karakorum International University, is studying the extent to which Darkut glacier is melting. &quot;We have (told) the community that risk factors exist in
this lake, you should be aware of this,&quot; he said.

Many families have left over the years after previous flash floods, said Khan, who was born in the remote village, but hundreds rebuilt nearby. Reuters]]>
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			<title>Hundreds still stranded, plants closed in India's flood-hit Chennai</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449369/hundreds-still-stranded-plants-closed-in-indias-flood-hit-chennai</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449369/hundreds-still-stranded-plants-closed-in-indias-flood-hit-chennai#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 23 17:37:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449369</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least 14 people have died in the flooding, triggered by torrential rains that started on Monday]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Volunteers waded through stagnant water to hand out food and supplies, and some manufacturing plants remained shut in India&#39;s southern tech-and-auto hub district of Chennai on Friday, four days after cyclone Michaung lashed the coast.

At least 14 people, most of them in Chennai and its state of Tamil Nadu, have died in the flooding, triggered by torrential rains that started on Monday.

The cyclone itself made landfall further north in Andhra Pradesh state on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities said some low-lying areas of the state were still inundated and government officials and volunteers were taking supplies to people stuck in their homes in slums and other areas.

The larger Chennai area is home to the Indian units of several global firms including Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), Daimler and Taiwan&rsquo;s Foxconn (2317.TW) and Pegatron (4938.TW) which do contract manufacturing for Apple (AAPL.O).

Read more:&nbsp;Chennai flooded as heavy rains from cyclone Michaung batter south India

While many of them including Pegatron and Foxconn resumed operations within a day or two of the cyclone making landfall, some plants of the TVS group located in the worst-affected areas are yet to open, industry sources said.

Adani Krishnapatnam Port (APSE.NS) in Andhra Pradesh, said on Friday the cyclone had &quot;very badly affected&quot; its operations and it was declaring a force majeure period starting Dec. 3.

Force majeure is a notice used to describe events outside a company&#39;s control, such as a natural disaster, which usually releases it from contractual obligation without penalty.

State-run Madras Fertilizers (MDFT.NS) notified stock exchanges that its Chennai plant has been shut and is tentatively expected to resume operations within two to four weeks.

Infrastructure questioned

Information technology (IT) services providers told staff to work from home for the week, while schools and colleges closed. A few schools and colleges were converted into temporary shelters.

This week&#39;s floods in Chennai brought back memories of the extensive damage caused by floods eight years ago which killed around 290 people.

In Andhra Pradesh, the damage from the cyclone was relatively contained, with roads damaged and trees uprooted as big waves crashed into the coast.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Chennai on Thursday and announced New Delhi will release a second instalment of 4.5 billion rupees ($54 million) to Tamil Nadu to help manage the damage. The federal government has also approved a 5.6 billion-rupee project for flood management in Chennai, he said.

Chennai residents questioned the ability of the city&#39;s infrastructure to handle extreme weather.

&quot;Not only has urbanisation itself caused a problem, but the nature of the urbanisation has preyed upon open spaces, holding areas like marshlands and flood plains,&quot; social activist Nityanand Jayaraman said.

Experts have, however, said better stormwater drainage systems would not have been able to prevent the flooding caused by very heavy and extremely heavy rains.

&quot;This solution would have helped a lot in moderate and heavy rainfall, but not in very heavy and extremely heavy rains,&quot; Raj Bhagat P, a civil engineer and geo-analytics expert, said on Wednesday.]]>
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			<title>Chennai flooded as heavy rains from cyclone Michaung batter south India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449093/chennai-flooded-as-heavy-rains-from-cyclone-michaung-batter-south-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449093/chennai-flooded-as-heavy-rains-from-cyclone-michaung-batter-south-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 23 06:52:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449093</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Cyclone Michaung triggers heavy rain, flooding in Chennai, rescue operations underway; at least 13 reported dead]]>
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				<![CDATA[Rescuers used boats to reach people stranded in their homes amid widespread flooding in the India&#39;s Chennai on Wednesday after cyclone Michaung barrelled into the southern coast, bringing in heavy rain and winds that uprooted trees and damaged roads.

An estimated 13 people, most of them in the manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu, have died in the flooding that was triggered by the torrential rains that preceded the cyclone, which made landfall in Andhra Pradesh state on Tuesday afternoon.

Rescuers used inflatable rafts and ropes to pluck people out of their homes in Chennai, a city of more than 6 million people and a major automobile and technology manufacturing hub.



A volunteer offers food to a resident after his house got partially submerged following heavy rains due to Cyclone Michaung, in Chennai, India, December 6, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

Local media showed images of rescue workers wading through waist-deep water and of submerged vehicles. Air force helicopters also dropped food rations to people stranded in flooded homes.

&quot;There are pockets of low lying areas,&quot; said Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Dr. J. Radhakrishnan. &quot;We to hope clear it soon.&quot;

Taiwan&#39;s Foxconn (2317.TW) and Pegatron (4938.TW) had halted Apple (AAPL.O) iPhone production at their facilities near Chennai due to the rains on Monday, sources told Reuters. Foxconn resumed operations on Tuesday.

In Andhra Pradesh, which bore the brunt of the cyclone, the damage was relatively contained, with roads damaged and trees uprooted as big waves crashed into the coast.

This week&#39;s floods in Chennai brought back memories of the extensive damage caused by floods eight years ago which killed around 290 people.

Read also:&nbsp;Chennai airport runway flooded as Cyclone Michaung nears India

Some residents questioned the ability of the city&#39;s infrastructure to handle extreme weather. State Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking 50.6 billion rupees ($607.01 million) for the damage.

Raj Bhagat P, a civil engineer and geo-analytics expert said better stormwater drainage systems in the city would not have been able to prevent the flooding.

&quot;This solution would have helped a lot in moderate and heavy rainfall, but not in very heavy and extremely heavy rains,&quot; he said.]]>
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			<title>PDMA finalises winter contingency plan for K-P</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448435/pdma-finalises-winter-contingency-plan-for-k-p</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448435/pdma-finalises-winter-contingency-plan-for-k-p#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Nov 23 20:06:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448435</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PDMA finalises winter contingency plan for K-P]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), under the guidance of the relief, rehabilitation and settlement department, has formulated the Winter Contingency Plan for 2023-24 in order to cope with various natural hazards which the province may face during the winter season.

The plan encompasses strategies to manage hazards such as extreme low temperatures, fog, smog, snowfall, rainfall, landslides, flash floods and seismic activities in the mountainous north and west.

In a press statement, PDMA Director General Muhammad Qaisar Khan stated that the Winter Contingency Plan 2023-24 had been initiated in October 2023 and involved key stakeholders such as the federal government, provincial line departments, the district administration, UNDP GLOF-II and other development partners.

The statement further said digital tools for data collection had been developed and shared, including information on district, sector-specific hazards, vulnerability profiles, hazard impacts, damages, compensation details, resource mapping, need assessment, and coordination efforts.

Read&nbsp;PDMA issues advisory guidelines for heatwave

The Winter Contingency Plan 2023-24 offers a comprehensive overview of the winter hazard profiles for each district in the province. It includes details on the composite risk score for every district based on various hazards and outlines corresponding risks, along with an estimation of the vulnerable population in cases of emergencies.

The plan further guides districts in mapping vulnerable sites and developing contingency plans, identifying roles and responsibilities of various departments to ensure a coordinated response to unfavorable scenarios.

The province faces several winter hazards. Each hazard presents unique challenges, such as disruptions in daily life, road closures, building collapses, landslides and shortages of supplies and commodities. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>$3b donor-funded projects under way in flood-hit areas</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2444880/3b-donor-funded-projects-under-way-in-flood-hit-areas</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2444880/3b-donor-funded-projects-under-way-in-flood-hit-areas#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 05 Nov 23 16:37:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2444880</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Planning ministry says project being implemented in 4RF framework]]>
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				<![CDATA[Since the launch of Resilience, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (4RF) framework by the planning ministry, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved 21 development projects worth $3billion for flood-affected areas of Pakistan while securing maximum pledges committed in Geneva for flood 2022, according to a press release issued here on Sunday.

Last year Pakistan faced an unprecedented devastation due to torrential rains and flooding in most parts of the country, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh, affecting 33 million people and resulting in economic losses worth $30 billion.

In response, the government had devised the 4RF framework, which proposed effective coordination and participation arrangements among federal and provincial governments, development partners, donors, international and national NGOs and academic and private sectors.

In January, Pakistan secured pledges of $10 billion from donors during an international conference on &lsquo;Climate Resilient Pakistan&rsquo;, jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UN in Geneva. Since then, the CWDP had approved 21 development projects in the affected areas.

The projects include Emergency Flood Assistance Project (EFAP) on Farm Water Management worth $475 million, Access to Clean Energy worth $47 million, DRR project for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction worth $31.28m; Emergency Flood Assistance Project worth $8 million; Post-Flood 2022 Reconstruction Programme: Resilience Enhancement and Livelihood worth $400 million; Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project worth $8.3 million; Competitive and Livable City of Karachi worth $27 million; Sindh Flood Housing Reconstruction worth $500 million; Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project Sindh worth $500 million; Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project worth $98 million; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Rural Accessibility Project worth $300 million; K-P Irrigated Agriculture worth $11.7 million; K-P Integrated Tourism Development worth $2 million; K-P Human Capital Investment worth $25 million; Pakistan Hydromet and Climate Services Project worth $150 million; Crisis Resilience Institutions for Social Protection (CRISP) worth $73.14 million; Pandemic Response Effectiveness Programme worth $2 million; Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth worth $2.8 million; Sindh Integrated Health and Women Empowerment worth $50 million; Polio Eradication Programme worth $100 million and K-P Food Security Support Project worth $100 million.

Read also:&nbsp;Provinces asked to submit list of projects for flood-hit areas

&ldquo;After the approval of the CDWP and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council [Ecnec], these projects are being successfully executed by the respective provinces funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank,&rdquo; the press release said.

On the other hand, the Federal Steering Committee (FSC), established to implement the projects, has been actively working and three meetings of the FSC were held for implementation of development projects in the flood&ndash;affected areas.

The committee regularly asked the provinces about the implementation status of their respective projects. &ldquo;The first-ever exclusive dashboard for 4RF, which will be made operational by November 10 will ensure real-time monitoring and provide information to the public as well development partners about the execution of development projects in the flood-affected areas,&rdquo; the release added.

Pakistan has been witnessing challenging impacts of climate change, ranging from devastating floods to prolonged droughts, from heat waves to melting glaciers. These changes pose immense threats to the country&rsquo;s environment, economy, and the well-being of the people.

Pakistan&rsquo;s carbon emission is less than 1%; however, it is among the countries most vulnerable to climatic disasters. The World Bank has already appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to successfully approve the projects and assured its continued support in the future.]]>
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			<title>EU releases €1m aid to respond to floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2437683/eu-releases-1m-aid-to-respond-to-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2437683/eu-releases-1m-aid-to-respond-to-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 23 13:34:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2437683</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[New funding in addition to €16.5m already earmarked in humanitarian assistance to country]]>
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				<![CDATA[The European Union (EU) has released an additional &euro;1 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the floods that have affected the country in the past weeks, according to an official statement issued here on Monday.

It said that the funding would help to address the most &quot;pressing needs of vulnerable people in the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)&quot;.

It also added that around 0.9 million people had been affected by the recent floods across the country.

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič affirmed his support to help the most in need in the wake of climatic changes, affecting Pakistan the most.

&ldquo;One year after the tragic floods that caused tremendous suffering in Pakistan, the EU remains committed to helping those most in need. As a new rain season has again displaced thousands of people in parts of the country, this additional EU funding will help support vulnerable communities as they try to recover their former lives,&quot; he stated.

Read More: Climate change or bad governance: A case of unprecedented flooding in Pakistan

Furthermore, this allocation would be used to provide multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to those who remain displaced, as well as those who have returned to their place of origin, given the level of damage to houses and key basic services such as water and sanitation or health.

It also pledged to continue with its support in the winter season as well. Moreover, &quot;a multi-purpose cash assistance, shelter and [provision] of non-food items would also be prioritised for the affectees&quot;, it shared the future prospects of injecting funds.

The release also registered that this new funding was in addition to the &euro;16.5 million already earmarked in humanitarian assistance to Pakistan earlier this year.

This, the union said, was in order to assist the most vulnerable population affected by conflict and climate-induced disasters.

Read More: Pakistan floods echoed in EU Parliament

Recently, Sutlej River which experienced severe flooding resulted in the devastation of adjacent villages, leading to the migration of people from the affected areas while many others face the looming threat of being drowned out by the unsparing deluge.

The flood water then reached 175,000 cusecs, breaching protective dykes, submerging numerous villages and disrupting transportation links.

The flooding had also resulted in the inundation of hundreds of acres of farmland alongside sumberged standing crops. Villages such as Shahoo Baloch, Baqarki, Mari Amb, Kot Bakhsha, Bheni Noor Jahanian, and others had remained under threat from the floods.

The situation prompted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to assess the damage caused and discuss measures to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations and assets.]]>
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