Web Desk (LTN NEWS): Pakistan is still getting more rain than usual, having glacial lake outburst floods, and having clouds burst because of climate change.
ISPR said that people in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab (south), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are leaving their homes because of flooding caused by monsoon rains.
At Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s request, international groups have said they will give $500 million to help flood-hit Pakistan.
Since June, more than 900 people have died because of the record monsoon rains. This is called a “humanitarian disaster caused by climate change.”
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) put out a report that said almost 73 people had died in the last 24 hours. In the meantime, 82,033 homes were damaged and 710 animals died. Heavy monsoon rains and floods killed almost 400 people, including 191 women. While more than 1,000 individuals were hurt.
“Alarming” outlook for September
The minister said that it was “alarming” that the monsoon season was expected to last longer than usual in September.
She said that there was a lot of water flowing through the Sukkur and Taunsa barrages and that all available machinery and other resources were being used in the affected area. At the moment, all the departments were focusing on the flood-affected areas to be ready for anything that might happen.
Sherry said that 913 people had died because of the rain, and more children had died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa than anywhere else. She also said that there were a lot of people who were hurt.
She said that it was now time for donors and the rest of the world to help Pakistan. She said that Pakistan had always helped other countries, including its neighbors, when natural disasters happened.
PM Shahbaz trip to London called off
Floods in the country have forced PM Shehbaz to cancel his trip to London. When he got back from Qatar, he led a meeting about the floods and what was being done to help.
Qatar’s leader had to leave for London because his granddaughter is sick and getting treatment in the British capital. But because of the floods, the prime minister decided to go back to the country right away.
PM to visit Sukkur tomorrow
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PM Shehbaz will go to Sukkur on Friday to check on rescue and relief efforts after the flood.
In a tweet on Thursday, she said, “PM chaired international partners meeting for cooperation in flood rescue, relief, and rehabilitation right after arriving in Islamabad at Economic Affairs Division.”
Marriyum said that the NDMA chairman and the provincial representatives gave the prime minister an update on flood relief, rescue, and cash distribution.
Imran Khan will go to places that have been flooded
As heavy rain continued to fall on much of Pakistan, Imran Khan, the head of the PTI, decided to go to the parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab that had been flooded.
Fawad Chaudhry, who used to be the information minister, told reporters that Khan will visit flood-affected areas tomorrow. He also said that DG Khan and Rajanpur will be given the most help.
“The state has turned away from the problems of the people because it is more concerned with filing false cases against the PTI chief”, he said criticizing the authorities for their lack of care.
How international money for flood relief is split up
According to the notice, Najy Benhassine, who is the World Bank’s Country Director for Pakistan, told the prime minister about $350 million in immediate help. It was found out that all of the money will be sent out by the end of this week.
As for the other help, it includes:
World Food Program: $110 million
Asian Development Bank: $20 million
UK aid: $1.5 million
Over 30 million pounds has been given by the UK to help people who were hurt by floods.
The Global Climate Risk Index made by the environmental group German watch shows that Pakistan is eighth on a list of countries that are most likely to be affected by extreme weather caused by climate change.
