Pakistan has faced relentless floods after several months of intense rainfall that has affected over a third of the country. Over 33 million people have been affected by the floods, with many losing their homes, livelihoods and their lives.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released information stating that Pakistan is facing $10 billion of damage, as 1.6 million homes have been damaged or lost to the floods. The NDMA have also stated that more than 1,300 people have lost their lived due to these extreme weather conditions.
…Pakistan is facing $10 billion of damage…
According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around two million acres of crops have been destroyed by the floods. This means that there are disastrous effects to the landscape and the environment. This loss of food produce not only means those in Pakistan are currently struggling to find food, but that their livelihoods will suffer due to not being able to sell the food they have grown. This not only creates food insecurity, but also puts a strain on the economy.
Climate change is one of the main culprits for the devastation caused by the floods.The floods have occurred due to the extreme spring heat and the rainfall.
The extreme spring heat has caused glaciers to melt, and the increase in rainfall is due to the rising temperatures of the Earth, through Global Warming. Hotter weather causes increased evaporation, and increased evaporation causes increased rainfall. These two elements have been the cause of the disastrous floods Pakistan has faced.
The people affected in Pakistan are struggling to find food to eat, clean water to drink and shelter to keep them dry and safe from the rain. Parcels of food, including rice and beans, have been sent into Pakistan and have been dropped down to villagers by helicopters. However, these supplies are not a sustainable food source.
Those that are bringing aid into the country by land are struggling to get this aid to those who need it, as roads and bridges have been washed away by the floodwater.
Funding is being released to the country, in order to help rebuild Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to send the country $1.1 billion in order to help Pakistan’s economy from going under whilst they rebuild.
The Government of Pakistan have the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Policy in place to help those that have suffered. Families can receive up Rs50,000, and farmers can receive Rs5,000 per acre.
On the 8th of September 2022, the UAE’s Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan announced that they were giving Pakistan $10 million dollars in aid to those affected by the floods.
…we must work together…
These floods are a stark warning to the world, as events like these will become more frequent as the planet warms up further, due to climate change. It is events like this that show us that as a planet we must work together to all do our part to reduce our global carbon footprint and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions we are emitting.
