Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that it would take between three to six months to drain water from province’s flood-hit areas, as authorities continued to struggle to contain floodwaters that were approaching city of Dadu.

Monsoon rainfall and subsequent floods have killed 1,396 people across country between June 14 and September 9 and have left 12,728 injured. More than 30 million have also been displaced. Sindh is worst-hit province so far, accounting for most deaths and injuries. Of 1,396 fatalities countrywide, Sindh’s total 578. Injuries number 8,321 of countrywide total of 12,728, according to NDMA’s most recent update. Speaking to media he gave a breakdown of current situation in province and losses incurred due to catastrophic floods. “Whole world has to come together to combat climate change,” he said, adding that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had also called on world to “pitch in” to help Pakistan navigate crisis.

He said that around 35 million people had been displaced while “millions of acres of fertile land” had also been flooded. He said that farmers in Sindh had suffered a loss of approximately Rs 3.5 billion while livestock sector had suffered a loss of Rs 50 billion. “In some areas, there is at least eight to 10 feet of water. Even in places where it is receding, situation is not such that people can return,” he said.

“This year, we received 10-11 times normal amount of rainfall. Normal flood at Guddu and Sukkur is around 400,000 cusecs.”

He said that government was working on rehabilitating people and working on province’s drainage and irrigation network. He admitted that province was facing a shortage of tents and medicines, saying that he had raised issue during meeting with UN Chief.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 12 2022

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