Forgotten floods
February 02, 2011
Sometimes it takes a third party to drive home the obvious to those involved. The visiting president of the International Federation of the Red Cross has warned that if food prices continue to spiral in flood-hit areas and food insecurity caused by submerged agricultural lands is not checked, Pakistan could be looking at a situation similar to that seen last month in Tunisia where spiralling food prices played a part in triggering massive riots which finally forced President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali to flee. Mr Tadateru Konoe tells us that President Zardari is extremely worried by the situation. So he should be. But we wonder why the president or members of the government have chosen not to share their concerns with the people of the nation. Indeed, we have had little word about the disaster and its terrible aftermath for months. This attitude does not suggest a great deal of concern for the over 150,000 people still based in camps according to UN agencies, or for those who have returned home to ravaged farmlands and destroyed houses, and who now wonder how to rebuild lives. The help they have received has been limited.
Mr Konoe also made it plain that the international community, which is dealing with many other international disasters, lacked the resources to give more for flood relief. Pakistan will then need to tuck its shiny begging bowl away under its robes and think of means to stand on its own feet. The aftermath of flood remains a dismal one; much needs to be done, ways have to be found to raise resources, and a sustainable long-term strategy needs to be adopted. From most parts of the flood zone, the waters may have receded, but the suffering of people has not. Human misery can still be seen in many places, notably in Sindh, where abject poverty makes matters worse. There seems to have been only limited discussion at the government level on what should be done to tackle the situation. Tightening official belts could be one way. It is tragic this has not happened already. Other sources too, like Pakistanis based abroad, need to be tapped. Mr Konoe’s words of warning must lead to action. As he has said, the threat of anarchy is very real and must be warded off at all costs. People so far have demonstrated immense patience and great fortitude. This cannot last forever. Rage may lie not far around the corner.
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