Recently, relief agencies confirmed that more than 16million people have been affected by the traumatic flooding that has engulfed Pakistan. It is estimated that more than 1,500 lives have been lost in the disaster, since the monsoon struck Pakistan at the beginning of August.
650,000 homes have been destroyed across 51,000 square miles and now there is severe danger that disease could spread across the homeless, especially as clean water and other supplies are running thin. More heavy rain has been forecast, in the country’s worst flooding in its sixty-three year history. Helicopters carrying emergency aid have struggled to reach those who have been affected, due to further storms. Many are now living in makeshift tents and crowded public buildings.
Criticism has been laid severely on the country’s Prime Minister Raza Yusuf Gilani. Although he has addressed the nation and is attempting to make up for his slow initial action, there have still been widespread calls for him to step-down. When the floods were at their worst, Gilani continued his tour of Europe and has even been in the UK during the crisis to meet David Cameron. Even though he was attempting to fix strained international relations with many European countries, he should have been there at a horrendous time for his country, as they struggled on their own to deal with the flooding.
Many troops have been brought in to rebuild bridges and set-up emergency relief camps. However, many locals are angry that more is not being done. Britons have donated over £5million so far to the crisis and more has been urged as the country attempts to recover from the devastation.
My thoughts are with all of those affected by the floods and I hope things can recover as soon as possible for those who have suffered. However, it is going to take a lot of rebuilding and togetherness for this to happen.
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