It has been many months since the disastrous floods ravaged major parts of Pakistan and caused immense loss and destruction across the country. The response by the world in general and the Pakistani government in specific has been slow and weak. The UN Satellite Centre’s imagery indicates an estimated eight million people are still exposed to flood waters or living in vulnerable areas while some eleven districts in Sindh and Balochistan still remain inundated with water.
In many areas, the water level has naturally receded but stagnant water still remains and little effort has been made to clear it out. It is feared that this has already compounded the problem and flood-affected communities continue to reel with diseases and health issues. There are also more than 600,000 unvaccinated children for whom simple diseases such as diarrhoea can prove to be fatal. Such wide-scale destruction does not require a massive one-time response but instead systems should be in place to provide sustained and continuous efforts. This cannot happen without mobilising local and nearby communities, along with feudal lords, who not only can help in bridging the communication gap but can also provide the manpower necessary to distribute essentials. Relief efforts are dwindling, so the government must periodically create awareness to continue fighting the battle. If the concerned officials are clever enough, they can collect the standing water through pumps and tankers, and store it for other purposes such as irrigation. But the primary goal should be to help these communities get back on their feet as soon as possible.
The ‘loss and damage’ funds that Pakistan might secure in the near future, as agreed in COP27, will be essential in initiating the recovery and rebuilding phase. Priority areas must be determined beforehand to best utilise the funds — with complete transparency.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2022.
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