An increasingly restless earth is producing climate
anomalies in distant regions. Europe has just emerged from a severe
drought only to be flooded by heavy rains. Pakistan, too, has been
inundated, and as the poor possess fewer resources their suffering is
worse. Its province of Balochistan is one example.
According
to Pakistan's environment minister, Sherry Rehman, the monsoon season
affects the region usually in three or four waves bringing in much
needed rain. This year they have already had eight waves and severe
flooding is the result. Bridges have been washed out leaving many
people stranded away from their homes. These, which are often constructed of mud,
have not been spared.
Aid is difficult to provide quickly when many roads and bridges have become unusable. As often happens, the army has been called in and also the navy as the area has become a virtual inland sea. Also in a relatively sparsely populated region the problem of reaching everyone in need quickly is understandable.
Ths
catastrophe is being called the country's worst natural disaster on
record. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) estimates
that 287,412 homes have been completely destroyed and another 662,446
partially destroyed. The death toll has surpassed 1000, and the NDMA estimates
that 1 in 7 of the population or 33 million people have been affected.
In
addition, the floods have covered millions of acres of farmland
inundating the crop fields and adding to the losses of flood victims --
the tragedy is the crops were ready for harvest. The inevitable
consequence is soaring prices across the country.
Cumulative
infrastructure data since mid-June shows 3451km (2000 miles
approximately) of roads damaged or washed away and 149 collapsed bridges
leaving a colossal task of repair and restoration.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, is familiar with power plays and counterplays but is no doubt shocked at Pakistan's neighbor India -- right next door and so far immune to Pakistan's calls for international help when a third of the country is under water.
Guterres
has called it "a monsoon on steroids" and launched a $160 million
appeal in aid of those affected by the disaster. He has also drawn
attention to global warming: "Let's stop sleepwalking towards the
destruction of our planet by climate change. Today, it's Pakistan;
tomorrow it could be your country." His UN appeal would supply 5.2
million people with food, water, sanitation, and continuing emergency
education and health support.
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