KARACHI:
Climate change has led to unprecedented and grave disasters, which was exemplified by the recent catastrophic floods across the country. The disaster occurred on a large scale and affected millions of people. According to government estimates, the floods have caused economic losses of up to $17 to $18 billion.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that the floods destroyed more than 1.7 million homes and led to more than 0.75 million livestock losses. The calamity left millions of people in a miserable state without basic necessities. Disease outbreaks and a lack of food and healthcare in the affected areas have continued to claim the lives of citizens.
In the wake of the disaster, the civil society and government responded to the crisis promptly, which revealed the deep-rooted unity and solidarity in the country. Several digital financial platforms have stepped forward to lend a helping hand in mitigating the impacts of the floods. These financial platforms have made donations easy through online and mobile banking platforms. Many non-governmental organisations and philanthropic individuals have also undertaken the task of providing relief to those affected. The government also raised the issue on an international scale and asked the global north for reparations and support. All these efforts are worth appreciating and should be continued to speed up the process of rehabilitating and rebuilding the flood-affected regions.
Shaiza Kiran
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2022.
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