15.09.2022

Poorest Pakistanis Face Heavy Cost Of Floods

Floods have ruined crops and homes across Pakistan, leaving many of the country's poor struggling to restart their lives. Floodwater covered a third of the land, affecting 33 million people and creating an estimated $10 billion in damage. But funds for recovery are tight as villagers struggle to meet basic needs. Across Pakistan, millions of families had lost their homes and belongings, crops, animals and even relatives, with many struggling just to find dry patches of land to erect tarpaulin shelters. Key roads and bridges had been washed away, hampering aid efforts and forcing authorities in many places to deliver limited emergency help mainly by costly helicopter. Helicopters had dropped parcels of rice and beans but "it's far too little" and villagers cannot cook it without kitchens or dry firewood. With Pakistan saddled by heavy debt and international humanitarian agencies overwhelmed by global demand for assistance, Pakistan's families may have to fund much of the cost of recovery themselves. The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had said that about 2 million acres of crops had been spoiled by flooding in Pakistan, which could not only affect the economy but also put food security at risk. As the price of remaining scarce supplies of fruit, vegetables and meat soar, the poorest in particular are struggling. Floods also had contaminated most of the wells communities in most area, threatening a health disaster. Credit: ALJAZEERA / AJ+