-PMD forecasts more rain in already inundated upper Sindh
-Victims suffer from dengue, skin diseases
-PM urges Cabinet to enhance efforts to help flood-hit people
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast another spell of rains in Sindh in continuation of the existing monsoon season, not long after Pakistan took a break from the torrential rains causing severe flooding across the country.
As per the Met department, a low-pressure system located in Indian state of Gujrat has integrated into another low-pressure system present in Central India. The rain-producing system is likely to cause more precipitation in areas of upper Sindh — many of which are already under water and bearing the brunt of catastrophic floods — till September 15.
The areas likely to receive rain include Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Jamshoro, with showers accompanied by windstorms in Sanghar, Badin, Khairpur, Thatta and Tando Muhammad Khan.
Pakistan is currently reeling from the havoc caused by the catastrophic floods, largely depending on aid from international organisations and friendly countries for relief and rehabilitation.
The devastating floods caused by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in northern mountains have affected 33 million people and killed almost 1,400, sweeping away homes, transport, crops and livestock in damage estimated at $30 billion.
While more rains are on the way, victims in flood-hit areas of Sindh — with or without shelter — are feared to be at risk of being hit by another episode of misery.
The outbreak of water and vector-borne diseases has intensified in the flood affected areas, with two girls dying of gastrointestinal disease in Khairpur. Meanwhile, four children drowned in floodwaters in Qambar and Maher.
Over in Thatta, Sujawal and Makli, flood affectees in roadside makeshift camps await relief.
Though Pakistan Army continues its rescue efforts in affected areas, there are many locations where people are still trapped in water and suffering from dengue and skin diseases.
The death toll from the cataclysmic floods in Sindh has topped 621. The province received 466% more rain than average and all the flood waters roll through Dadu, which has a population of 1.5 million. Meanwhile, PM urged the members of cabinet to come forward to help address the miseries of flood-hit people and enhance the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Presiding over the federal Cabinet meeting Tuesday, the prime minister in his televised remarks urged the ministers to put more focus on helping the poor flood-stricken at this critical time besides fulfilling their official duties.
“In this digital world, you can even do your official work through zoom. But you also have to help those [flood-affected] people as well,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister while acknowledging the efforts of those cabinet members, who are active in flood relief activities, said those not active in such efforts should also come forward and help the affected people.
He hoped that water in the flood affected areas will recede in two to three months and people will be rehabilitated. “Be it the philanthropists, doctors, police officers, bureaucrats, army, all know what is the situation. Your efforts will be remembered by the flood affected people.”
The Prime Minister lamented that the flood affected masses, who also knew the people doing politics at this critical time and were quiet, will respond when the time will come.
He said that Pakistan despite its meager contribution in the global emission was facing the huge effects of climate change.
The Prime Minister appreciated UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for visiting Pakistan at the critical time as well as the UN flash appeal of US $ 160 million to help the flood affected people.
He said that the UN Secretary General, who also visited the flood affected areas during his visit, urged international community to take practical steps to help Pakistan to mitigate the sufferings of the flood affected people as well as to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
The Prime Minister also praised UN Secretary Antonio Guterres for his empathetic attitude towards the flood-affected people and his views about climate change injustice with Pakistan.
