Pakistan Floods One Year On

Emergency Rehabilitation Division

Pakistan Floods One Year On

Autores

Descripción

The 2010 floods in Pakistan were one of the most devastating natural disasters of our times described as a slow motion tsunami. Beginning in late July, unexpectedly severe monsoon rains caused flash and riverine floods which combined to affect almost one-fifth of the country’s land mass, an area larger than Greece. The humanitarian impact was immense. The disaster affected more than 20 million people, claimed nearly 2 000 lives and destroyed 1.6 million homes and key infrastructu re in 78 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. Agriculture – the basic livelihood for 80 percent of the affected population – was hardest hit, with the loss of 2.4 million hectares of unharvested crops, and damages estimated at USD 5.1 billion. The devastated area included a large portion of Pakistan’s most fertile land, including the breadbasket province of Punjab, and already vulnerable communities. The disaste r struck at a crucial point in the agricultural calendar. Not only was it just before the harvest of spring (kharif) planted crops, such as cotton, rice, maize, vegetables and sugar cane, but was also within weeks of the critical winter wheat (rabi) planting season. Livestock surviving the flood waters lacked feed, veterinary support and shelter. With existing and future sources of food and income washed away, there was urgency to prevent a domino effect, compounding already seve re losses. Agriculture and livelihoods have been a key pillar in the Pakistan Floods Relief and Early Recovery Response Plan, with linkages to ensure preparedness for future shocks,rehabilitation and development interventions.