THE deluge was catastrophic, but what may follow could be even worse — playing out agonisingly over the next few months, probably longer — unless the international community acts fast.

A couple of recent reports/documents spell out the gargantuan challenge facing the nation.

A revised flood response plan launched by the UN in Geneva on Tuesday appealed for $816m in immediate aid for “lifesaving humanitarian assistance to 9.5m people” in the worst-affected areas. The document records 33m as the total number of people impacted by the floods, of which 7.9m have been displaced. Almost 600,000 are living in relief camps.

The Population Council has also recently launched a report which includes considerable granular data about vulnerabilities among the flood victims. As per its findings, among the affected populace, 5.1m are children under the age of five in need of immunisation and nutrition care; 940,000 are senior citizens with special needs; and 610,000 are pregnant women who require antenatal, delivery and postnatal services. Sindh’s indicators are the most dire: nearly 3m under-fives; 539,000 people over 65 years; and 380,000 pregnant women.

In pictures: Devastating floods affect millions in Pakistan

Hearteningly, the UN General Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution urging donor nations and institutions to fully support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan. There may be many a slip betwixt the cup and lip, but at least the world has recognised it must help this country deal with a tragedy not of its own making. After all, in a cruel twist of fate, although Pakistan emits less than 1pc of greenhouses gases, it is among the most vulnerable to climate change.

Nevertheless, it would be utmost folly for Pakistan not to realise that its own short-sighted and inequitable policies have exacerbated the effects of the ‘monster monsoon’ and left its people more vulnerable to its after-effects.

To list but some of these: oversight authorities have turned a blind eye to utterly irrational and illegal constructions encroaching on natural drainage channels; lowering population growth rates appears to be far from the government’s priorities, and climate change will put further pressure on a shrinking resource base; and grossly inadequate investment in health has resulted in a populace more susceptible to disease. Most importantly, climate vulnerability is best tackled at the local level through empowered local administrations — that critical, missing third tier of government.

We must change course and place climate change at the heart of policymaking. Otherwise, an apocalyptic future awaits us.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2022