KARACHI: To assess the true picture of flooding in all the provinces of Pakistan, a webinar of dispatches from Sindh was held here on Monday in which speakers highlighted the plight of rain-hit people across the province.

They said that the government was showing lesser number of flood-affected people as around 10 million people had been affected due to the floods in Sindh alone.

However, they also agreed that it was premature to say anything about the intensity and impact of the flood since floodwaters were still coming.

Speaking at the event, which was organised by The Knowledge Forum (TKF), social activist Jan Odhano said that Sindh, besides dealing with its own flooding, is also getting the brunt of the flooding in Balochistan.

Speakers highlight plight of millions of people affected due to heavy rain, flood

“The districts of Sindh bordering Balochistan had their own rainwater flooding the area, but now a new situation has developed where they are hit by the flash floods from Balochistan too. And it is all affecting land, crops, livestock and the livelihood of people,” he said, adding that 90 per cent of the rice crop had been ruined, clay and straw homes have collapsed and where the homes had RCC roofs they were also unliveable because they were flooded.

“Riverine floods one still has inkling about, but the people here had no idea about the flash floods and the length of devastation from them so they didn’t take out their animals, which has increased their losses manifold,” he added.

Development expert Dr Sono Khanghrani was of the opinion that it was still premature to assess the intensity and impact of the floods as the waters were still coming.

“Still, if you compare the 2011 rains millimetre wise with these rains, the rain was less in 2011. But this time there is the mismanagement factor with landlords and people doing as they feel, making cuts in drains, digging ditches, etc, wherever they feel like,” he said.

He also said that the absence of international non-governmental organisations was also being felt.

“There were some 55 international NGOs which were made to pack up from Pakistan. Now, their partners who used to work in such situations are also not there anymore. The absence of relief agencies is also a major negative factor in this crisis. And the political people with influence are only looking out for their areas as people lose faith in them. The political angle only victimises,” he said.

About the impact of floods on livestock, he said that there has been a huge loss for which they have no estimate or numbers. But once the water drains out of the areas there will also be growth of fresh green grass.

“Still, people are cash-deprived and so they are selling their animals at throwaway prices right now,” he said.

Akram Khaskheli of the Hari Welfare Association said that the flood drains were also not strong enough due to which they developed breaches. “That is also why people didn’t get time to move their animals as they drowned,” he said.

He also pointed out that government estimates regarding losses due to the floods are not correct.

“According to our estimates, 10 million people have been affected due to the floods in Sindh alone. Government estimates show lesser numbers,” he said.

“The cotton crop was at its peak when the floods came. Only one time picking of cotton had been carried out after which the crop was ruined before the second picking. The sugar cane crop was also ruined and the wheat stored with the farmers has also been washed away. Now our food security is threatened,” he said.

“The government camps set up in school buildings have elderly folks, pregnant women and children. There are four to five families in single rooms which are also flooded with water. The same is the case with hospitals. And there is no electricity or gas in most of these places. Also, help has still not come to many due to lack of accessibility. Life is completely paralysed,” he said.

Radha Bheel of the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network, who works with scheduled castes, said that the scheduled castes work in agriculture so they are the worst hit by the floods as the crops have been ruined.

“These people could only save their children when the floods came and they have to run to save their lives,” she said.

She said that the people are only being helped by other people as there has been no help from the government for them.

“The government has not extended any help for the scheduled castes. Everyone is helping each other in whatever way they can. Some people are cooking food and distributing it, some are distributing medicines as no one could be rescued by the government in Mirpurkhas,” she said.

Other speakers included Dr Riaz Sheikh of Szabist, Uzma Noorani of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mohammed Yaqoob of Takhliq Foundation, Yasir Husain of Darya Lab, Zeenia Shaukat and Shujauddin Qureshi of the TKF.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2022