NDMA fears monsoon rains may cause food shortage

Report says most crops already damaged by locusts

ISLAMABAD:

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has expressed concerns over the impact of monsoon season on crops – most of which have already been destroyed by locusts, saying it will result in food shortage.

Also, the autonomous federal authority has declared containing coronavirus a challenge during the current monsoon season as it believes that maintaining social distancing while conducting relief operations in flood-affected areas in the country would not be possible.

According to the ‘National Monsoon Contingency Plan 2020’ compiled by the NDMA, as the country already faces an imminent threat of food security due to the recent locust attacks on crops, the monsoon rains would aggravate the situation.

The report states that there is high probability that the locust-affected areas during the current monsoon season could become breeding dens for locusts, as a result of which, the risk of food shortage has increased. 

The report further states that maintaining social distancing while providing relief to the people of the areas affected by floods during the monsoon rains would not be less than an exam.

“If social distancing is not practiced in flood-relief camps, it will be difficult to stop coronavirus from spreading.”