By By: Nawal Samdani
Staff-Writer
Pakistan, a country in South Asia, is going through a humanitarian crisis. One-third of Pakistan remains underwater after the deadliest floods the country has ever seen. Heavy rains have resulted in uncontrollable urban and flash floods and landslides across the country.
On Aug. 25, The Pakistani Government announced a state of emergency in response to the floods affecting the country. According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, nearly 1,400 people have died, 13,000 have been injured and approximately three million people have been displaced since monsoon rains started in June.
Researchers say the floods started with phenomenal heatwaves. In April and May, temperatures reached 104-124 degrees Fahrenheit. The intense heat also melted glaciers in the northern regions, increasing the amount of water flowing. Several glacial lakes have burst through the dams of ice, releasing water.
The floods have also damaged two million acres of crops and caused an estimated 750,000 livestock deaths, heightening concerns of malnutrition. Almost one million houses have been damaged. Pakistani authorities have dedicated 5,500 schools as temporary shelters, but the majority of the population remains in the open. Displaced people living in the open air are particularly exposed to the risk of waterborne diseases, including malaria, diarrhea and dengue fever.
In the southern areas, the severe floods have turned plains into seas. The map pictured shows the difference from Aug. 4 to Aug. 28. Below, locals are shown wading through a flooded district.
The floods have also destroyed more than 1,000 health facilities in Sindh and nearly 200 in Balochistan, two of the four provinces in Pakistan. Sindh has suffered nearly 85 percent damage. Since the floods have damaged sources of clean water, some people only have access to contaminated water, which will eventually lead to disease outbreaks. Sindh is so inundated with water that emergency workers are struggling to reach those in need of help. The impact of roads is also expected to worsen, and landslides are likely to happen. Already, the floods have damaged 1,864 miles of roads and 150 bridges.
Officials have called on the international community for aid, and they have estimated that it may cost billions of dollars to recover from the damage. The biggest way to help is by donating to one of the following organizations: Islamic Relief, The United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF), and Save the Children. These groups work to provide food, clean water, healthcare, hygiene kits, shelter, education and other humanitarian resources.
If you are unable to donate, raising awareness is incredibly important, because it educates people about topics which are new to them and encourages them to make a change, even when the problem is halfway across the world. Let’s all get together and make a difference to those in need!
