On the 21st of July, a flood ravaged Pakistan causing many deaths, and leaving a large portion of the population homeless. So far, it is estimated that 1,500 lives have been lost and 20 MILLION people have been displaces, made homeless, contracted diseases from the unclean water or have otherwise been severely affected by the flood.
A fifth of the country's land mass is now flooded and International Aid has been very slow to react. Just today a large group of Pakistanis came together and blocked a major highway in anger because of the lack of effective aid they have been receiving.
Pakistan is ravaged by monsoon floods every year. It has never been as bad as it is now, but every year people are driven away from their homes and every year the people of Pakistan face the suffering and destruction natural disaster brings them.
I have read comments from people who believe the Pakistanis shouldn't even receive as much aid as they do. They face floods every year and some people think the money is wasted on structures and lives that will only be destroyed again next year.
It saddens me that there are people who think this way. The flood has wiped out homes, schools and hospitals - and took lives with it. The survivors have to deal, not only with death of family, friends and countrymen, but also with cholera, diarrhea and other water-borne diseases that they contract because they cannot find clean water to drink. Relief is not coming quickly enough, and food is only being handed out by some organizations when TV crews are filming for publicity.
Yes, they will face it all again, but rather than disparage their plight it would be more worthwhile and useful that people donate more funds to implement preventative measures rather than just funnel funds to repair damage. If better houses can be built in better areas, wouldn't that save more lives? How about funding research and applying evacuation procedures that will warn these people of the floods before they arrive and help them save their families before it was too late?
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families and people that have suffered and are still suffering on account of the flood. I only hope that the aid they need will arrive and that they will be given the provisions they require and deserve. I hope in future the world reacts quicker to the disasters this area faces and someday that they will be able to prevent the loss of so many lives and livelihood.
Tomorrow, I'd like to address an issue that came to light in my research of the flood in Pakistan. Can charity organizations be trusted with our donations?
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