The Floods and National Crisis in Pakistan
This article written by Somanna Houde, talks about the devastating flooding that has occurred in Pakistan and the affect this disaster has had on the Pakistani people.
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The Floods and National Crisis in Pakistan
The Floods and National Crisis in Pakistan
By Somanna Houde
By Somanna Houde
Torrential rains and downpours have extremely worsened the economic and political crisis in Pakistan. Water now covers a third of the country and over 33 million people are currently displaced. The situation is only getting worse, as food sources dwindle and more people are left without a home, food, or clean water.
photo from: https://images.app.goo.gl/2T2w6LdD8By5yRJMA
Pakistan experienced its hottest months in over 61 years in April and May of 2022, reaching temperatures of 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit.) Due to warmer air holding more moisture, it was predicted earlier this year by meteorologists that Pakistan would be experiencing above-normal levels of rain later in the summer, as stated by Zia Hashmi, a water-resources engineer. “The intense heat has melted glaciers in the northern mountainous regions, which increased the amount of water that flows into the Indus river” says Athar Hussain, a climate scientist at COMSATS University Islamabad. This situation is said to be the worst in over a decade, with 190% of Pakistan’s normal annual rainfall.
The people of Pakistan have all been affected in some way by this disaster, although it has been the most devastating to the people and homes that are located next to the Indus River Delta. The Indus River Delta is a complex system of rivers, streams, and swamp-land that all flows into the Arabian sea. Within Pakistan, certain provinces have been more severely affected. NASA states that “Balochistan and Sindh have so far this year received five to six times their 30-year average rainfall.'' For example, Oregon gets on average 41 inches of rain per year. Imagine Oregon receiving around 205 inches of rain. This level of flooding is such an extreme problem because it can wipe out long-term food sources, housing and transportation of all kinds. This is already occurring. According to NASA Earth Observatory, “About 150 bridges and 2,200 miles of roads have been destroyed. More than 700,000 livestock and 2 million acres of crops and orchards have also been lost.”
The flood has also impacted Pakistan's financial situation, Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari states that “Damages are expected to cost far more than the original estimate of 10 billion dollars” This price estimate is compiled of road, livestock, and homes damages, as well as the cost of importing food and other resources for Pakistani citizens. Financial aid is being given by a few different countries, the U.S. included. This money will primarily go to short-term relief efforts but is not expected to compensate for Pakistan's long-term costs. TIME magazine states that this staggering amount of money is roughly 4% of the country's total GDP.
photo source; https://images.app.goo.gl/mY6bcjZ379V835bM7
Climate change has undoubtedly affected the size of this disaster. As the planet continues to heat up, warm air increases and so does the amount of rainfall. TIME magazine states that “Pakistan is responsible for 0.7% of the world's carbon emissions but it is consistently ranked among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to the impacts.” This situation is far from fair, as this country of over 220 million people, whose people are only responsible for a fragment of the world's carbon emissions, is experiencing a crisis, which is described by Zardari as “a climate crisis of biblical proportions.”
The floods have directly impacted the people of Pakistan in many ways. According to InsideClimate News, currently, more than 1,500 people have died. Additionally, over 700,000 homes, as well as huge swaths of agricultural farmland, have been destroyed. This land is expected to be unusable for months; this will lead to food shortages throughout the whole of the country. The best way for people to help this struggling country is by donating to organizations such as Pakistan Emergency Flood Relief Appeal Project, which directly supports Pakistani people.
photo source; https://images.app.goo.gl/2T2w6LdD8By5yRJMA
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