Children most vulnerable flood affectees as diseases tighten grip

As the catastrophic monsoon flooding has died down, challenges pertaining to rehabilitation have arisen and the biggest one for now is the lack of proper healthcare especially for children.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority so far 579 children have perished during the floods. A death toll which will only increase, given the roughly 1.6 million children affected, the lack of food and shelter, and the alarming spread of diseases like diarrhoea and cholera in tent settlements.

This prospect frightens, Muhammad Ibrahim, who has already lost a son a few days ago to a high fever and stomach ailment. “I have five more children and I fear the worst is yet to come,” the visibly torn native of the Rojhan tehsil of flood devastated Rajanpur district, informed. Ibrahim’s fears have led him to send three of his children along with his wife back to their village of Basti Lashari so that they do not contract any disease.

“However, two of my children are living with me in the tent and we are trying to get by on the aid we receive,” he said, adding that he was in a constant state of paranoia. Many others in the tent settlement where Ibrahim is currently living have lost their children to various diseases in recent days. “We have had to bury our children in these unknown areas since we do not know when we will be able to go back home.” Dr Mohammad Usman, who belongs to the medical team of a welfare organisation, concurred that the situation is as dire as Ibrahim assessed. “Children in the tents are suffering from diseases of the skin and stomach.

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Furthermore, they have low immunity so their chances of survival are constantly decreasing,” he said, adding that every other child in the tents had a fever either due to malaria or dengue. Dr Usman and others from his team also informed The Express Tribune that the situation would only get worse. “We suggest that the different welfare organisations and government work hand in hand to provide relief as soon as possible,” Dr Usman opined. Children’s rights activist Rashida Qureshi, who has been helping out in flood-affected areas, agrees. “The children are scared and confused.

So many of them are being attacked by various diseases which are also taking a toll on their mental health,” Qureshi explained, adding that medical experts should also address the anxiety minors were feeling. She further informed that there were challenges such as sexual abuse as well, which might arise if children are not educated about self-protection. “So many strangers visit the tent settlements every day and any untoward incident can happen. Therefore, the parents and children both need to be vigilant to avoid any instances of kidnapping or sexual abuse,” Qureshi cautioned while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2022.