Post-flood K-P becomes disaster zone

Education and health infrastructure hit hard by monsoon rains

PESHAWAR:

The recent floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa brought not only death, but mass destruction in their wake, severely affecting the health and education infrastructures in their wake. Numerous schools and health units have been damaged, leaving local communities in dire need of reconstruction efforts.

As authorities assess the devastation, there is growing pressure from the affected communities for swift rebuilding of essential infrastructure. A report by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) revealed the staggering human toll of the floods, with 96 fatalities reported. Of these, 46 were children, 31 men, and 19 women. Additionally, 133 people sustained injuries.

The floods destroyed 963 houses, 261 of which were completely leveled, while 702 were partially damaged. The most severely hit areas were the southern and western districts of K-P.

Education has taken a severe hit due to the floods, with more than seven primary schools in the southern districts destroyed. Children are compelled to study outdoors, under the open sky, further exacerbating the already fragile state of education in the province.

According to data from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the 2021 census, a staggering 4.7 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 are out of school in KP. A more recent report, The Missing Third of Pakistan, painted an even bleaker picture.

The report revealed that 4.9 million children in K-P are currently not attending school. Among these children, 59% are girls, reflecting the gender disparity in access to education.

The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where 91% of out-of-school children live. In urban areas, 400,000 children are missing out on education. Certain districts have the highest percentage of out-of-school children, including Swat's Rani Zai area (21%), Lower Dir's Timergara (20%), Balakot in Mansehra (17%), and Ghazi in Haripur (16%).

Beyond the damage caused by the floods, government schools in K-P have long struggled with a lack of basic facilities. The PDMA report revealed that 1,149 higher secondary schools lack access to clean drinking water, while 1,317 schools are without toilets.

Primary schools also face significant challenges, with 1,253 schools lacking toilets, 1,057 without clean water, and 200 schools still not connected to electricity. Furthermore, 1,816 primary schools in K-P have no boundary walls, making the environment unsafe and insecure for students.

Health units affected

The healthcare system in K-P has also been severely affected by the recent floods. According to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, more than 11 health units in the southern and western districts have been damaged. This has left communities without access to vital healthcare services, which are especially crucial in the aftermath of natural disasters like floods.

Public Health Dr Irshad Roghani Director stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged to support the reconstruction of the damaged health units across the province. The rebuilding efforts are expected to begin soon, offering hope for the restoration of services in the affected areas.

As K-P continues to recover from the floods, the reconstruction of schools and health facilities is critical to restoring a sense of normalcy and providing essential services to the affected communities.