ISLAMABAD: Floods have damaged major sources of livelihood in Sindh and Balochistan, a new report said, affecting 84 per cent of agriculture, 82pc livestock, 74pc labour, and 47pc jobs.

Besides, 82pc of fisheries have been affected in Sindh, according to the findings of a rapid needs assessment carried out by Islamic Relief, a UK-based international aid agency, to gauge flood damage in the two provinces.

In Balochistan, 200,811 acres of agricultural cropland have been damaged. No major crop exists in fields except cotton as some districts remain inundated, the report said.

Horticulture in the surveyed areas of Quetta, Killa Saifullah, Pishin, Jafferabad and Nushki has also been severely affected. The harvesting of grapes was near completion, but the existing fruit has been damaged. Apples have also been largely affected.

Rapid needs assessment carried out in Sindh, Balochistan puts damage impact at 84pc on agriculture, 82pc livestock, 74pc labour and 47pc on jobs

In Washuk and Nushki, 90pc of date fruit has been damaged. The trees of peaches, pomegranates, apples, apricots and grapes have also been partially affected due to heavy windstorms.

In Sindh, agriculture-related livelihood has taken the brunt. Crops spread over 407,560 acres have been swamped. A total of 551,364 acres of cropland was assessed in four districts, and it was found that 169,353 acres in Mirpurkhas, 47,682 acres in Thatta, and 86,670 acres in Sujawal have been affected.

The assessment showed 83pc of crops in the affected areas have perished. Date crop — a major source of horticulture produce in Mirpurkhas — has perished and inundated in the wake of heavy rains.

In Balochistan, the second-most affected source of livelihood was livestock, with damage assessed at 81pc.

Livestock losses were 10,816 in the six assessed districts of Balochistan, and 2,383 in the four districts of Sindh.

The situation may aggravate in the coming days due to chilly weather, fodder shortage, and animal-related diseases. Of the total livestock losses, goats and sheep losses are significant at around 93pc.

Small enterprises have also been affected by disruptions to life-sustaining activities, access to markets and supply chain.

The existing food stocks have been damaged due to rainwater influx in rooms and stores. The stocks mainly include wheat reservoirs (cereals) with 23pc damage. People living in far-flung areas are faced with a severe food crisis, the report said.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2022