MONSOON downpours have wreaked havoc in Bangladesh and India with at least seventy people reportedly to have been killed there in the past two weeks whilst more than nine point five million people are stranded with little food and drinking water.
UNICEF has said it is urgently seeking $2.5 million to respond to the emergency in Bangladesh and it is working with the government to supply water purification tablets, emergency medical supplies and water containers.
Whilst the international community should come forward for the assistance of flood affected Bangladesh, our authorities should also make the requisite arrangements to cope with any emergency situation as the pre-monsoon rains have also started lashing parts of Pakistan.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the Met Office, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Climate Change have issued timely alerts, responsibility rests with the district and provincial disaster management authorities rescue services as well as local administrations to ensure early mobilization of machinery and staff in the areas which are at most risk of flooding.
According to the forecast of Met Office, the country is expected to receive above normal rains during the monsoon season.
Hence no effort should be spared to minimize the risk of damage to life and property.
Matters such as encroachments along streams and dumping of solid waste and construction material there must be addressed besides nullahs be further dug and flood channel projects launched.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, thus more prone to serious disasters.
After a prolonged dry spells, the country is now expecting to witness a long wet season. We need to build the necessary infrastructure to build resilience against such disasters.
There is a dire need to accelerate the pace of construction work on the ongoing water reservoirs besides more such projects also need to be launched in order to save the precious water in monsoon season.
This will also serve as a very effective flood control measure. Better regional cooperation will also go a long way in better managing disasters.
