PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION
Date: 16th August 2013 PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION Floods Situational Information 2013
Recent Thunder Showers and unprecedented spells of current rain is developing systems on ground are emerging as threats to three times ruined areas in complete Sindh. The rains are predicted with scattered thunderstorms especially in the northern areas of Sindh. Despite threats of upper terrain and its total dispatch through Sindh areas creates vulnerability and major concerns in Katcha areas of Sindh. Recent flooding is sweeping rural and non planned bands in other parts of Pakistan. The showers are leading to pressurize Guddu Barrage, situation developing in Punjab and KPK have increased threats to Sindh as the people consider fourth consecutive flood. Previous heavy rains had created havoc in rural and urban areas of District Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore @ KandhKot, Sukkur, Khairpur Mir’s, Sanghar, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas.
We must not forget that government focal persons and local people reported that the rain 2012 had broken the hundred year’s record rainfall. Whereas post rain conditions in other also speak of no less harm they have received by the current heavy rain falls. Government must have taken measures to avoid the fourth year of consecutive flooding in Pakistan especially in Sindh. Experts have predicting that the flood water will not exceed beyond 600 thousand cusecs, this will be called a medium flood in Sindh, the has a potential of constant threat in already damaged flood protection embankments throughout Indus basin. Recent rains are of its kind and are visible threat to emergency.
In previous months we read many reports that rains will be recorded above the normal rainfall. The question rises that how much our homeland is ready to face another heavy spell within mid August and September? Loss of life is vital to address in current weather situation in Sindh. Floods and heavy spells have caused persistent damage to public and private infrastructure, displacing millions in previous floods and loss of hundreds billion rupees with major loss to economy of country. Civil society and other officials have demanded earlier to improve major infrastructures to prevent failures in the wake of extreme weather conditions.
It is duty of disaster management authorities to oversee natural waterways (Dhoras) and reservoirs as per prevention measures. This will help drainage of water spells to Indus delta. Though we hear improvements throughout the irrigation system in Sindh, we must not forget the consequences that we faced even with better management initiatives at all levels in previous floods twenty ten to twelve. Emergency is commonly declared in districts, while it should be declared in departments as well, this approach will cope to enhance emergency initiatives from departments with specific goals to accomplish. It is essential to include federal government to manage disasters and as per need we should declare emergency in Health, Education, Agriculture, Irrigation, Local Government, Social Welfare, Relief and Rehabilitation, Revenue and Police department to respond the disaster as one.
In many places yet in southern Sindh we have persistent threat of Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) to breach and vulnerable to flash flood in major rural settlements in these rains. Hakro Dhoro and Dhoro Puran
1 | P a g e
PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION
were evenly controversial to cause flood, it is intimated to the government and civil society we should take prevention measures as immediate as possible before heavy showers in September. It is in civil society continuous observation that the Monsoon Humanitarian Operational Plan (MHOP) has just been expired in March 2013, while ongoing activities have just been carried out across the operational areas.
It is also been evoked by international funders to have fatigue to invest any more in disasters. While having this situation we should not forget our eternal resilience to disasters. We can even have started for crowd- sourcing, community support, national giving, supported national fund for disasters, national and provincial relief funds.
Pakistan Meteorological Department has timely updated the authorities. PMD predicted widespread As per Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rains in Central and Southern parts the country with widespread rain-thunder shower with isolated heavy at times very heavy falls in South Punjab heavy falls in northeast Punjab (Gujranwala, Lahore (D.G.Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan and Sahiwal divisions) and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday. divisions), Eastern Balochistan (Kalat, Sibbi, Zhob Scattered rain-thundershower with isolated heavy and Naseerabad divisions) and Upper Sindh falls is expected in upper Sindh (Sukkar, Larkana (Sukkur & Larkana divisions) on Thursday and divisions) and southeast Punjab (Bahawalpur division) on Friday. Source: PMD Friday. Scattered rain-thundershower is also TH expected elsewhere in the country1. 15 AUGUST 2013
Karachi has experienced worst of its flash flooding. This is even not seasonal one and could be managed by prevention and proper management of torrential reservoirs in Gadap Town. It was a kind perception that Thado Dam was broken, but the field reality shows that the Lath Dam was broken by the heavy spill of rain water.
Yesterday evening it was reported that many areas of Ghotki and Sukkur were under flood water and inundated land cultivatable land upto 5-6 feet. Those areas include Wazeer Chachar, Soomar Panhwari, Khan Muhammad Soomro, Sadhoja, Goth Sao, Goth Narejo, Hassan Kalwar, Goth Aendhar Alaf Kacho, Qadir Pur, Kacho Hassan, Beli Village.
Water level growing at Hamal Lake, it directly effects suburbs of Johi to district Dadu. Because of increasing water it affects 22 villages of Flood Protection Embankment. Most common threat to villages is disconnection and loss of major communication infrastructure. Kachho is one of the zone of flash floods, cyclones, droughts. Every year Taluka Johi faces potential risk. Around 75 thousand population, mostly 8 union councils are identifying at risk names of UC’s are UC Pat Gul Mohammad , UC Phulji, UC Bahawal Pur, UC Drigh Bala, UC Johi, UC Kamal Khan, UC Chinee, UC Sanwro, UC Tando Rahim2.
1 Source: PMD 2 Kacho Foundation Johi, Dadu. 2 | P a g e
PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION
Table-1: Comparative Data of Sindh. Total Damages in 2012 and 2013 (Yet) Year Persons Persons Persons Crops Houses Damaged Village Relief Camps Persons in Died Injured Affected Affected Partially Fully Affected Established Relief (Acres) Camps 2012 283 2421 3174716 245,459 188,935 245,459 11,894 108 141,843 2013 22 10 15,000 0 1 0 15 1 850 Source: NDMA
Damage Assessment of Karachi flooded areas has not yet been issued. It was seen that few of dewatering pumps and motors were installed. In wake of any further damages we must not forget to reconstruct the Lath Dam and improvement in infrastructure of Thado Dam and others in Gadap Town. White color people who have lost their homes and loved ones should be compensated for life loss, injuries and infrastructure damages.
Gushing water from Koh Suleman is of major concern, to take permanent relief initiatives we must include local peoples in confidence and resolve their concerns before any catastrophes.
In disasters the vulnerability also pertains to peoples which are in direct contact of calamities but those who are working day and night to rehabilitate those societies. Revenue and Irrigation official should be given security for speedy action in affected areas. During food items aand NFI distribution points, we see unrealistic behavior of beneficiaries, snatching and looting items. This causes frustration among volunteers and relief officials. All Rescue and Relief operations should be coordinated with law-enforcement agencies for appropriate measures.
On 15th August, Ghotki was first reported to be inundated. Peoples from various villages have taken refuge on roadsides. They are in dire need of food items, high potency food for children, medicines and shelter. While jeopardizing many of the northern areas of Sindh flood water is still a major concern to deal with.
Monsoon in the country and predictions of PMD can’t be over-ruled. NDMA and PDMA’s has their mandate to coordinate and prepare policies for disaster management. Civil society being a contributor and helping hand of state, it is always been neglected in planning and development. It is essential to adjoin all pillars of state at one place and take participatory and pro-poor decisions.
ROLES OF LINE DEPARTMENTS IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT Rural and urban areas of various districts are witnessing inundation. De-watering in the affected areas is very critical and Irrigation Department should show seriousness in dealing with issue. De-watering machines were already un-operational due to shortage of fuel and electricity and out of order. Now it is time to take measures.
WAPDA In some affected areas, where De-watering machines are available, there is problem of power shortage as a result of De-watering is seriously affected. We have observed ourselves such situation in Purana Sukkur, where De-watering machines were available but there was no light. Reportedly there are also incidents of
3 | P a g e
PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION
electrocutions in various districts. There is need of cooperation and coordination of WAPDA With line Departments.
RELIEF AND REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT It is prime time for Relief and Rehabilitation Department to come into action and operate as its constitutional authorities in the province. Relief and rehabilitation should practice in all disaster management right from prevention, rescue, relief, rehabilitation, early recovery and development in the affected areas. It should be understood that Relief Department has constitutional authority to work on epidemic, fire, threat and control and prevent any calamity ether it is manmade or natural.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT Due to stagnation of rain water, people of affected districts are exposed to epidemic diseases and there is urgent need of sending mobile medical teams from the safer areas to the affected areas to provide medical facilities and assistance to the people to reduce chances of diseases. LIVESTOCK DEPARTMENT The condition in the rain affected areas is seriously affecting the livestock and it can spread epidemics in the cattle. There is need of precautionary vaccinations to prevent the diseases in livestock.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT As the rural and urban areas have been inundated, Local Government Department should take effective healthful measures by keeping the areas cleared and arrange for anti-malaria and dengue spray in urban settlements.
REVENUE DEPARTMENT Revenue officers/staff appears to be insufficient tzo deal with the magnitude of calamity in the calamity declared Districts; hence for the smooth and urgent nature of work of rescue, relief assistance, there is necessity to requisition the services of officers/staff of revenue or any other Department from the adjacent districts, less affected by the rains.
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT The department should provide assistance in registering the rain affected people in coordination with other departments.
RECOMMENDATIONS/WAY FORWARDS 1. Identification of potential safe zones should be identified for temporary settlement of IDPs. 2. Allocation of rescue and relief teams should be ensured before any flood situation occurs. 3. Continuous monitoring of rain, flash and river water should be in practice to ensure timely action in field. 4. Emergency in districts should be declared to respond immediately, while a persistent emergency in all line departments should be in general practice. 5. Vulnerable points of LBOD, RBOD, FP Embankment and Indus Basin should be plugged immediately. 6. Spill gates of Guddu Barrage, Sukkur Barrage and Kotri Barrage should be opened to avoid any damage within the Katcha areas. 7. Revenue staff of Sindh should be increased in wake of calamity ahead. 4 | P a g e
PAKISTAN RELIEF FOUNDATION
8. MNV drain and its gates were already broken by flood water from Hamal Lake, MNV drain should be rehabilitated before heavy water gushes from torrential sites. 9. Prevention at measures should be administered in southern and northern region of Sindh. 10. Medical support should be given to district hospitals with vaccination of rabies, snake bite, measles and others. 11. Emergency schooling of children should be managed. 12. Potential dams in Gadap should properly be administered by district authorities and capacity of those dams should be strengthened. 13. Civil society should work and strengthen government departments to effectively operate in disasters. 14. Compensation of damages and losses should be given on timely basis. 15. A study should be carried out on causes of flood in Karachi. 16. Hakro Dhoro and Dhoro Puran should be monitored and prevention measures should be taken as immediate as possible to avoid losses again after flood 2011.
5 | P a g e