Staggering toll of floods

The casualty toll of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history has hit a staggering 1,033 in the last week of August, 2022.  The monumental damage, loss of human life and dilapidated state of the national infrastructure eclipses the 2010 floods, which gained widespread coverage for inundating villages, towns and cities within days. The 2022 scenario is nothing short of a humanitarian disaster and if emergency measures  are not implemented in letter and spirit, humanity in Pakistan would gravely suffer.

No region, barring Islamabad, has been spared, with only the intensity varying significantly. The floods ensured that life for many residing in embankments became a horrendous quagmire where relief operations fell short in alleviating  suffering. Think of those living in makeshift houses or homeless roamers who earn a living through traveling and nomadic lifestyles. The most impoverished segments of Pakistani society in two of the most impoverished provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan had to bear the brunt of inundation. River banks became over-flooded, residents were displaced and the sudden surge of gushing waves targeted the vulnerable in Pakistan’s worst natural disaster in its 75-year-old history. The black bands worn by the Pakistani cricket team during their opening encounter against India in the Asia Cup of 2022 reveals the severity of the disaster at hand.

Years of neglect and lack of contingency planning by provincial governments has contributed to the quagmire. Think of Sindh, where the ruling elite paid little attention in ameliorating the woes of the downtrodden where mega cities such as Karachi, home to millions of immigrants from across Pakistan, was engulfed with water. Balochistan’s sparse but impoverished population was also not spared as houses collapsed amid harrowing scenes of mayhem. This indifference, lack of urban planning, understanding the implications of rural-urban settlements and ability to generate employment for the lower strata of the society has contributed to the existing malaise. It is noteworthy that international donors, the United Nations, friendly Muslim countries and China had to step in to fill in a policy vacuum with massive implications for the average Pakistan.

According to a situation report from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 1,527 individuals were injured in various rain related incidents while over 719,000 livestock animals were lost. In a primarily agrarian society, holding onto basic sources of income is not a necessity, but a matter of survival. For those relying on a sound infrastructural base to transport goods, commute and connect with major cities across the country, 3,451 kilometres of roads, 149 bridges and 170 shops were damaged. A staggering 949,858 houses were demolished with flood warnings remaining high. Not all of this can be attributed to climate change alone. In a climate vulnerable country, it is the responsibility of policy makers to take evasive measures, adopt emergency guidelines and prepare before an impending disaster looms. The glacial pace through which the authorities met the initial floods catapulted flash floods into widespread inundation and here lies part of the problem.

As for climate change, the melting of glaciers due to global warming and rising water levels across the world has meant that Pakistan will never remain immune from disaster. Bursting of barrages and bridges can be attributed to the natural decline of an ecosystem which once sustained livelihoods and promoted greater sustainability. Floods in New South Wales Australia demonstrate that even in the driest regions on the planet, climate change remains a concern and for a country which heavily relies on the Indus River for economic sustenance, rising water levels have a more severe impact. This is precisely the time when Pakistanis, regardless of caste, creed, religion or political affiliation, must remain united and donate generously to reputed platforms to help flood victims.

If there is any positive out of this disaster, it is the sense of national unity which has been unwavering, resolute and determined. Millions of people from across the country have donated generously and appealed to local authorities to do more. The media has also been active in depicting the severity of the damage with lesser attention paid to political vendettas and point scoring. The calamitous destruction of the agricultural sector has also been taken note of where donations have shifted from mere monetary contributions to providing food and shelter to those who have witnessed their basic source of income vanish. If there is one criticism, then it is that national unity  must continue to remain undeterred as the task at hand is monumental with little room for complacency. Pakistani civil society which has often cried foul over human rights violations must step up in their advocacy for the naturally devastated so there can be a palpable impact.

What is clear, however, is that torrential downpours have resulted in Pakistan’s entire landscape being shaken to the core. There is little respite despite ongoing responses with a collective responsibility now for all stakeholders of the nation to take hold of. The country has weathered several disasters, conflicts, wars and the scourge of terrorism, but the ability to bounce back after being cornered will be a massive test of character. Through concerted international and localized efforts, the predicament of those left behind can be improved which is exactly what Pakistan needs at this time and hour.

The writer is an Assistant Research Associate at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute