Pakistan warned on Wednesday that floods triggered by monsoon rains could affect millions more people this year, but claimed it was better prepared after a massive humanitarian crisis in 2010.
Last year, monsoon-triggered floods affected up to 21 million people and killed an estimated 1,750 people, causing approximately $10 billion in losses and hammering the already depressed economy.
“There is a very little chance of flooding at the scale of last year and not more than two million people are likely to be affected by floods this year,” said Zafar Qadir, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“Even if there is flooding like last year, not more than six million people will be affected and we are prepared for that,” Qadir said.
Qadir said normal annual rainfall in Pakistan is 137.5 millimetres and that this year a 10 per cent decline is forecast by the meteorological department, except in northern areas where a 10 per cent increase is likely along with possibility of flash floods. According to the NDMA, an early warning system has been put in place and disasters are being monitored in real time. With additional input from AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.
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If government already knows that flood may affect 2 million people than why they take steps to secure those people on timely basis. I think politicians have no love for people