Citizen Journalist: bridges

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Thursday, August 25, 2022

Severe rain and floods kill more than 900 in Pakistan

Pakistan is passing through a crisis. It witnessed severe rains and flooding this summer. The country’s Minister for Climate Change told a section of the media that Pakistan needs international assistance. It is a "humanitarian disaster" and thousands have no shelter and food. The communication lines have broken and people do not have the basic amenities. The death toll has crossed 900 and the dead include 326 children. Heavy monsoon rains and floods since June have affected more than 2.3 million people in the country. This is as per the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA. It reveals at least 95,350 homes are destroyed. Most affected regions are the southeastern province of Sindh and the southwestern province of Balochistan. Over 900 killed by Pakistan monsoon rains and floods, including 326 children. Apart from loss of livestock, nearly 1,864 miles of roads and 129 bridges are damaged. These have cut off access to many flood-affected areas.

The governmental National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan wants international funding for flood relief, rehabilitation, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change, spoke at the NDMA briefing. She compared the situation to record flooding in 2010. She also mentioned about the "unprecedented humanitarian disaster" in parts of Balochistan and the Sindh region. The forecast is of more heavy rain and floods. Schools in Balochistan and Sindh will remain closed in anticipation of a fresh spell of monsoon rain expected towards the end of the week. China indicated that it would provide emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan. These would include tents apart from cash. Monsoon rains are not new to Pakistan but this year was an exception. About 15 inches of rain poured down in the course of a few hours in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. This July was the wettest in three decades.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Flash flood in Afghanistan kills at least 95, sweeps away thousands of homes

Crisis-hit Afghanistan loses lives in flash floods. Apart from deaths, homes have been swept away leaving the people stranded. The country is reeling from an economic and humanitarian crisis. These are because of Western sanctions imposed after the Taliban returned to power last year. It is now the people who are suffering and are at the receiving end. The extreme weather is aggravated by the flooding in neighboring Pakistan. Its Disaster Management Authority reveals floods have killed 820 people since mid-June. Moreover, thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed as are many bridges. These have disturbed the lives of the people and limited the travel options. Nearly 100 dead in Afghanistan floods, officials say.

Deputy Minister of Disaster Management of Afghanistan informed a section of the media that food assistance had been dispatched to many flood-affected areas. Moreover, there are promises from aid organizations for delivery of emergency assistance. However, these might fall short of actual requirements. With winter around the corner, the affected families with women and children would face difficult times. They have lost their shelters. To add to their miseries, they have lost their agricultural farms and orchards. Either these are destroyed or their harvest has been damaged. In fact, their survival is at stake and the situation will worsen in the coming weeks and months. They need help to return to normalcy as soon as possible. An earthquake in Afghanistan in June killed more than 1,000 people and the country has been through a number of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Hence, aid organizations, the United Nations and the global community have to extend help to the flood-affected Afghans. The immediate need is for basic amenities like food, shelter and medicine apart from homes, livelihood and drinking water sources.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Harrowing times in Pakistan - more than 280 people killed in rain-related incidents since mid-June

Life in Pakistan is in tatters with hundreds of deaths in rain-related incidents since mid-June. The National Disaster Management Authority NDMA estimates loss of at least 282 lives with injuries to more than 200. Heavy downpours have lashed the country and the dead include nearly 160 women and children. The rains have damaged houses, bridges and business establishments across the country. Most of the damages and casualties were from Balochistan province. The death toll is 88 with more than 60 injured. The flash floods were triggered by the rains. Other casualties were 57 in the east Punjab province, 56 in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and 14 in other parts of the country.

The authorities have launched rescue and relief activities. They are providing basic amenities like food packets, tents, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, blankets and tarpaulins to those affected by the rains and floods. Forecast of the Met department is more rains in the coming days. 282 killed, over 200 injured in rain-related incidents in Pakistan It believes the monsoon spell would continue through the ongoing week. It has also cautioned about urban flooding and waterlogging apart from landslides in northern parts of the country. These could lead to travel hurdles.

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