Car crashed in ongoing floods. PHOTO: APP
More than half a million people (591,674) have been affected by the flood, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). With a fatality count of 43, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the leading sufferer among provinces and regions while Azad Jammu and Kashmir accounted for 19 deaths, followed by Punjab 13, Balochistan 12 and five in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Though it has been a month since the flood began swamping several parts of the country, no segregated data is available with the NDMA about the number of women and children affected by the disaster.
A senior official working with relief efforts in flood-hit areas on the condition of anonymity said that it is a known fact that women, children and elderly people are more vulnerable during natural calamities.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the official said it is because they are more susceptible to illnesses and getting displaced as compared to men.
“Whenever there is a natural calamity data is collected highlighting the affected number of women, children and elderly people so that relief efforts could be made accordingly,” said the official.
“Indeed, it is a big question mark that without having segregated data on women and children how the relief efforts are being carried out. In flood hit areas all genders and age groups have different kind of requirements,” he said.When contacted NDMA member Ahmed Kamal said: “Several times we have requested and sent reminders to our Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to provide segregated data. However, we have received no response.”
He was of the view that it all happened due to the lethargic attitude of PDMA staff in all provinces which are being hit by the floods.
“We are sending our teams to flood-hit areas to gather gender based data. This will give us a clear picture about how many women and children have been affected or died in floods so far,” he said.
Additionally, the head of NDMA gender and child cell will also be visiting Chitral this Sunday to collect data, said Kamal.
GLOF alert for G-B, Chitral
A severe weather system is likely to persist for next 3-4 days in GB and Chitral, having potential to produce Glacial Lake Outbrust Flood (GLOF), particularly in PMD’s pilot GLOF sites Bagrot, Bindogol and Golain Valleys.
Flood warning at Guddu, Sukkur
According to the latest meteorological and hydrological conditions observed by Flood Forecasting Division Lahore, the River Indus at Guddu is likely to attain high to very high flood level. The level is expected to range between 650,000 cusecs and 750,000 cusecs during the period from 2 pm on August 1 to 12 am on August 3. However, high flood levels will continue for another seven days.
The River Indus at Sukkur is also likely to attain high to very high flood levels. The water is expected to flow between 650,000 cusecs and 750,000 cusecs during the period from 1200 PST of 2nd August 2015 to 2400 PST of 4th August 2015. However, high flood levels will remain for another seven days.
Significant flood forecast at Taunsa
The River Indus at Taunsa is expected to retain flood level ranging between 540,000 cusecs and 580,000 cusecs. The flood is expected to flow through the region till 6:00 pm on July 31, 2015.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2015.
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