In Pakistan, the floods aggravate the crisis

by time news

In Mirpur Khas, the tension is palpable between the army and the local population. This town, located in the province of Sind (southern Pakistan), was hard hit by deadly floods this summer, “the worst in history” of the country according to the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, which left more than 1,100 dead.

Dispatched as part of the humanitarian response organized by the government, the men in uniform received a particularly stormy reception on Saturday, August 27, on the spot. Some families of victims demanded in particular greater government action in this time of crisis. Other protest movements of this type have been recorded in several regions of the country.

Economic collapse and political crisis

Hit hard by this natural disaster on an unprecedented scale, this country of 220 million inhabitants is already in the grip of the collapse of its economy, linked to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In 2019, a loan envelope of $ 6 billion was granted to the country by the IMF, before being suspended several times. This Monday, August 29, the financial institution agreed to the relaunch of a rescue loan for Pakistan.

But unable to face this deluge alone, the Pakistani authorities and the United Nations launched an appeal for donations of 160 million dollars on Tuesday August 30, in order to provide emergency aid to the country for six months. For his part, the Minister of Planning and Development estimates that more than 10 billion dollars are needed for the reconstruction of the country.

On the political level, the ousting of Imran Khan as head of government last April after the adoption of a motion of no confidence has only aggravated the acute crisis in progress in Pakistan. Replaced by Shehbaz Sharif, head of the government coalition, Imran Khan has since been fighting in the streets and is asking for the organization of early elections.

Very critical of Pakistani institutions, the former professional cricketer had been accused of “terrorism” by the authorities, after remarks made at a meeting in Islamabad in August. This event had set the country ablaze, and many supporters of Imran Khan had gathered in front of his house in the suburbs of Islamabad, in order to prevent his arrest.

An exhausted population

After inflation peaks and power cuts, floods are now contributing to the depletion of the most precarious populations in Pakistan, who are particularly exposed to extreme weather events. Twelve years after the devastating floods that killed more than 2,000 people, some are wondering about the inability of successive governments to anticipate this type of disaster and to organize a coherent humanitarian response to the needs of populations.

For their part, the authorities explain that they are facing a “crisis of unimaginable proportions” and emphasize that these extreme phenomena are a direct consequence of the practices of major CO emitting countries2. Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world, now produces less than 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions, while being considered by experts as one of the states most affected by the effects of climate change. .

You may also like

Leave a Comment