Torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan affected approximately more than 33 million people, including around 16 million children, which have also brought devastating rains, floods and landslides.

Some major rivers breached their banks and dams overflowed, destroying homes, farms and critical infrastructure including roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and public health facilities. 

This year In Pakistan, heavy monsoon rains triggered the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history, washing away villages and leaving millions of children in need of immediate lifesaving support, assistance and at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition.  That heartbreaking dilemma has haunted hundreds of thousands of homes/families since record-breaking unprecedented floods swept across much of Pakistan this summer, engulfing entire villages, displacing millions and damaging critical infrastructure like schools, bridges and hospitals. Bridges, rail networks and roads have been wiped out. The extreme comes its end when the burial became impossible for the citizens, the question mark gloomed the people that when cemeteries are flooded, where do they bury the dead? Since, a heart touching feeling which can never be expressed in words.

Alas! no funeral, no burial, only the pity and disappointment ware observed. The graveyards where generations of their relatives were buried were still mostly submerged. The nearest intact cemetery they could find was an hour away, too far for the frequent visits. Severe floods tore through southern Pakistan, transformed the villages into islands and destroyed the farmlands which were the ultimate source of earning money for millions of people.

People struggled to find food and clean drinking water. their walls collapsed, children died, crops were swallowed, diseases were spread, swarms of disease-carrying mosquitoes swelled. The illnesses brought fevers, diarrhea and crippling pain that shot through their joints. One of the biggest health concerns is malnutrition in children. Before the floods, nearly twenty per cent of the population was considered either moderately or seriously food insecure, and more than forty per cent of children under five were stunted, according to the UN World Food Program This monsoon rains started in June, and over the next three months, 390.7 millimetres fell in Pakistan — nearly 190 per cent more rain than its 30-year average for that quarter. By August, nearly one-third of the country was under water, no drinking water, no food, and no livelihood.

As we are aware of the fact that Pakistan is one of the ten countries’ most vulnerable to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, but it contributes less than one per cent to the global greenhouse gas emissions associated with a warming planet. Those warmer temperatures are blamed for super-charging this year’s rains and speeding glacial melt from mountains in the north of the country, putting added pressure on the Indus River, which runs the entire length of Pakistan. People there now navigate a drowned world, the lives they once led now at the bottom of a new lake: cotton fields, an airport road, and all the in-betweens of day-to-day life. Undoubtedly, it may be observed that when it comes to facilitate brotherhood, Pakistanis always stand for this noble cause – no matter how personal glitches they face on daily basis.

What a mournful life they are living, but when the time comes, they leave their sorrows behind the bars and stand for their country.  After the relentless loss, many Individuals began their tasks to suffice the need of people. People of Pakistan voluntarily helped their brothers in this crucial time.  

Old, young, male, females even a child was enthusiastic and ready for the assistance.  Pakistanis always keep their heart open for their brothers and these dilemmas always prove it.  Numerous NGO’s, national and international organizations, government and private partners responded immensely after the incident, helping to deliver safe drinking water; lifesaving medical supplies; therapeutic food supplies; and hygiene kits to children and families. Many temporary learning centres were established and abundant campaigns for supporting the protection and psychosocial wellbeing of children affected by these devastating floods were initiated. Despite several organizations delivering around million litres of clean water each day, many families have had no alternative but to drink disease-ridden water. They bore the brunt of deadly water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dengue, and malaria, which only reinforces already acute malnutrition.

Many of the hardest-hit areas were amongst the most vulnerable in Pakistan, where children already suffer from high rates of malnutrition, and poor access to water and sanitation. Climate-related crises will not affect everyone equally. Children will suffer more than adults, with those in the poorest communities bearing the biggest burden. In flood affected areas, people and local district health authorities also sent mobile-boat clinics out to villages around the city, which are still cut off by floodwaters that authorities said that those could take months to recede. Many boats with fortified food for children were loaded, medicines and vaccines were carried in coolers to protect them against sweltering heat. 

Anyhow, this all was about what happened in past, but about forthcoming? What is decided? What is going to be happen in the next year? Crops are dead, water is fouled, homes are shattered, even the lives are no more !!! but what will happen? Everyone is silent and probably will always remain silent. This was the 75th year’s anniversary gift for Pakistanis. With a deep sorrow, I must say; despite this social disaster, we need to wait for more devastating end results unless we create awareness and wipe out our country with corrupt people same as the torrential flood!

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 26 2022

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