Floods havoc-an unprecedented calamity befallen on us.

The recent torrential rains of the months of July and August gave birth to heaviest possible floods in the country’s history whereby each and every province of the country has been devastated far beyond our calculations and expectations though the loss varies from a province to province.

The damage in terms of human lives and property is quite huge and though government and other agencies have given the figures as to who have been killed and affected, it is very much doubtful to ascertain and authenticate the figures for very simple reason. As of today (14^th August) 1,500 have been killed and 13.8 million are displaced. The question is as to how to confirm the figure of 1,500 since bulk majority of them have died in villages where hardly any one knows how many were living at a particular given time. The visitors to any village are not reported and therefore when the water gushed in, it must have swept away residents and visitors alike so it is quite possible that some visitors may not have been included. It is almost certain that the number of deaths must be more than what has been officially reported. Moreover, at times intentionally figures are lowered so that people are not demoralized which is quite understandable.

The photos released through the media have shown that miles and miles have been completely swept away meaning by how any one could survive to report as to who died and who survived. Moreover, even for argument sake if we admit that there were some survivors in a village, then the question is whether those who survived from the onslaught were supposed to run away to safer places or to report the deaths and the damage. We must not forget that our villages are still far too backward and disorganized and hardly there is any mechanism worth mentioning to register and record such like events. Under the given situation, it is very much proved that the situation warrants immediate action and those who lost their bread earners must be taken care of by all of us who are capable of supporting others.

The figure of 13.8 million as displaced is also misleading and it is feared that the number must be much more than 13.8 but nevertheless the plight of these displaced and uprooted is very much pathetic which simply can neither be viewed nor explained. As a human we must just spare a moment and out ourselves in their shoes to realize what the hell they must be facing. Once they were living within four walls and enjoying their lives but all of a sudden every thing is turned upside down for them and as the bad luck had it, now they are right in open under the sky with no cash and belongings and striving hard to live on. What is their crime? Those who lived at their own are now not only helpless but also are obliged to depend upon others to survive. They are really fighting against all the untold odds and none knows when they can live again happily. The father who respectfully and dutifully fed his family is struggling to keep himself alive what to talk of feeding his dependents and this is very much true of most of those who are uprooted and facing the brunt of ruthless floods.

It is very much gratifying to know that both federal and provincial governments coupled with NGOs and other philanthropic organizations are doing their best to help the destitute but no denying the fact, the task is really much more gigantic and more we think more perplexed we are how to cope up with such a catastrophic situation.  Pakistani leaders have appealed to world community to help us and of course some help has already been received in the country and much more is demanded and expected in near future but still it is too short to meet the demand. It must be very clearly understood by all of us whether in public sector or private sector, living within the country or overseas that the rehabilitation of the marooned ones is a very much demanding task which can not be fulfilled by all those agencies which are operative at this point of time. We as individuals in general and rich businessmen or property owners in particular will have to come forward to elevate the poor to any extent one can do.

The places which have been swept over by flood waters need sufficient time to dry up before the residents could go back to their dwellings.  Say for example, even if the place is fully dried up, the question is as to what one can do with the naked barren dried up place? The family which returns to the place definitely needs a house to live on but where is the house which once housed the family? The family deprived and devoid of any cash simply can not build four walls to live in and hence the society as a whole is to share the misfortune and extend all possible help both in shape of cash and kind to rehabilitate the needy. Mere four walls is not the answer since the dwellers within the four walls do need some essentials of life in shape of cots, mattresses, bed sheets,  blankets, cooking utensils, plates, glass, cooking stove and some eatable items for cooking and eating otherwise just housing becomes meaningless.

The agricultural farms which had not only fed many families but also had extra produce for sale are now deprived of the crops and thus the naked agricultural lands howsoever fertile may be are of no use and the situation demands that special efforts are to be put in tinged with money to revitalize the barren lands so that next crop can be sown in. It needs planning and concentrated efforts so that we turn back our farms as green as before. In case of industrial areas, floods did not spare them also and though not all but yet many plants and equipments have been very badly hit which as such are to be repaired and or replaced which is neither an easy task nor a quick activity. Floods have not only inflicted deep wounds on individuals but also the very national economy is adversely hit both in terms of self sufficiency and exports. The loss is really mind boggling and it is so colossal that even the richest country on the face of earth can not sustain it what to talk of an under developed country like Pakistan.

Summing up, the only answer is that each one of us is to discharge our national, religious and social obligations to relieve the needy of their sufferings to some extent but God forbid, if we leave them at the mercy of the government, NGOs, foreign donors etc then it is very much likely that the process may take decades, not years, and still our unlucky compatriots may not be fully rehabilitated. The residents of Swat which bore the brunt of massive earthquake are still suffering and could not recover despite the fact that not only many years have passed but also quite handsome money had been donated by the Friends of Pakistan but yet the scars of destruction could not be removed. One should not forget that this calamity is much greater than Swat earthquake, or for that matter, even tsunami of 2004.

I can very proudly pen that all of our affluent Pakistanis who have the capacity and will to help their brethren will never ever shirk their responsibilities at such a grave hour unless and until we are our own enemies. One should not forget that today they need our help and who knows may be tomorrow it is our turn to need their help instead. Each second is very precious and we as a nation should not wait any further and voluntarily help those who are depending on us at such a disastrous hour.

Sky will not split apart if we help none but our own brothers and sisters.

                                                        ***********************

With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait