ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues to reel from the “climate-induced humanitarian disaster” as climate change has directly affected the South Asian nation in the wake of above-normal rains, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and cloudburst.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) revealed that the residents of the four provinces of Pakistan — Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab (south), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — are fleeing flooding triggered by record monsoon rains.
On the appeal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, international organisations Thursday decided to donate $500 million for the relief of Pakistani as record monsoon rains have caused a “climate-induced humanitarian disaster”, as it killed over 900 people since June.
A report released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) showed nearly 73 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 82,033 houses were damaged, and 710 cattle were dead
According to NDMA, due to incidents related to heavy monsoon rainfall and floods nearly 400 people, including 191 women, lost their lives. While over 1,000 people suffered injuries. Residents are fleeing flooding triggered by record monsoon rains.
Govt declares national emergency
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday, while terming the ongoing flood situation in Balochistan and Sindh a national emergency, said at the critical juncture, there was need to show national spirit for dealing with the extraordinary natural disaster.
The entire nation, especially the overseas Pakistanis, should donate generously to help the flood victims as huge amount of money would be required for their rehabilitation in the wake of large-scale disaster, she said in a statement.
The minister said owing to heavy rains and severe flooding, there were difficulties in relief operations. However, the federal government, along with the provinces, was making vigorous efforts, and mobilizing all resources to carry out relief activities, she added.
She said the rescue and relief process of the victims could be accelerated with the public support.
Marriyum said that the details and process for depositing donations in the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Account 2022 had already been released.
She said local and overseas Pakistanis could deposit their donations in the account (Prime Minister Relief Fund Account 2022 Account No. ‘G-12164’).
“Compatriots in trouble were waiting for our help, let us all be a support for them.”
Overseas Pakistanis could also send donations through wire transfers, money service bureaus, money transfer operators and exchange houses, she said, adding the donations could also be deposited in cash at all commercial banks.
The deposits could also be made through cross-cheques, mobile and internet banking, ATMs, ABFT, and Rast, the minister said.
The Met Office statistics were startling, she said, adding the flash floods caused by massive rains had swept away bridges and communication infrastructure in various areas of the provinces. The current deluge in the Indus River was even more than the super flood of 2010, Sherry remarked.
The minister said a national emergency had been declared in the country as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had postponed their official visits abroad.
“We are in the eighth spell of monsoon rains with southern Pakistan receiving heavy rains, including 23 districts of Sindh declared as calamity-hit.”
She said as half of the country in the south was inundated, the armed forces and NDMA along with provincial governments were actively engaged in rescue and relief activities.
“Almost 30 million people are without shelter, thousands of them displaced and have no food. As needs assessment is underway and will be completed soon, which will help in approaching donor agencies for relief and rescue as the crisis has surpassed the capacity of the government.”
‘Alarming’: Forecast of monsoon activity in Sept
The minister underlined that there was a forecast of extended monsoon activity in September, which was again “alarming”.
She said the Sukkur and Taunsa barrages had high water flow and all available machinery and other resources were being utilised in the affected region. At present all the departments were focused on flood-hit areas to cope with any evolving situation.
Sherry said some 913 people had perished in rain-related incidents, with a greater number of deaths of the children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the number of the injured was also reported high, she added.
She said it was now time for donors and the world to support Pakistan, which had always volunteered to assist nations, including its neighbours during natural disasters.
PM cancels London trip, to visit Sukkur today
PM Shehbaz has cancelled his London visit in view of floods in the country. On his return home from Qatar, he chaired a meeting regarding the flood situation and relief activities.
The premier had to leave for London from Qatar due to the ailment of his granddaughter who is under treatment at the British capital. In view of the flood situation, the prime minister, however, decided to immediately return to the country.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PM Shehbaz will visit Sukkur today (Friday) to review flood rescue and relief activities.
“PM chaired international partners meeting for cooperation in flood rescue, relief, rehabilitation right after reaching Islamabad at the Economic Affairs Division,” she said in a tweet on Thursday.
Marriyum said the NDMA chairman and the representatives of provinces briefed the prime minister on flood relief and rescue, and cash distribution updates.
