Dylan Bettencourt
Devastating floods have killed at least 1,130 people in Pakistan and left almost one third of the country underwater.
Its government is overwhelmed and has sent out a cry for help after the heaviest monsoon rains in over a decade ravaged the country over the last week.
Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zadari revealed on Sunday that floods from an extreme monsoon rainfall season and 7,000 melting glaciers have left them in a dire situation.
“Going forward, I would expect not only the International Monetary Fund but the international community and international agencies to truly grasp the level of devastation,” the minister said.
“I haven’t seen destruction of this scale, I find it very difficult to put into words … it is overwhelming.”
Bhutto-Zadari said the extreme conditions have also left farms unable to produce, which for many in the country is a main source of income.
“Obviously this will have an effect on the overall economic situation,” he added.
The floods come amidst rising inflation, a depreciating currency and an account deficit. But Bhutto-Zadari hopes the current crisis persuades the IMF to release around R17 billion as part of Pakistan’s bailout programme.
Foreign aid began coming into Pakistan on Monday, with the first batch arriving on flights from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
A relief operation also started on Monday in the hopes of alleviating a disaster that has affected over 33 million people.
Pakistan Climate Minister Sherry Rehman blamed climate change for the current situation.
“What we see now is an ocean of water submerging entire districts. This is very far from a normal monsoon – it is climate dystopia at our doorstep,” the federal minister told AFP.
Rehman explained that glaciers in the northern mountainous areas were melting at a faster rate than normal.
Pakistan is home to around 7,500 glaciers, more than any other nation outside of the polar regions. This leaves the country as one of the most susceptible to climate change.
Areas such as Bangash have evacuated 180,000 people with over 300,000 homes left in ruins across the country.
Image source: @TheAtlantic
