Adil Najam and Owais Mughal
There are many numbers that we can and should be thinking of today. And we will. But there is only one that counts: One.
That ‘one’ is you. And what you can do to make the life of just ‘one’ of the over 6.5 million people affected by the floods in Pakistan that much better.
Of course, that ‘one’ is not just you. It is also me. And all of us. And what we do, or not do, is our choice. This is the moment to make that choice. We will, each of us, make that choice separately. But we will, all of us, reap the fruits of those choices together.
That is the nature of the challenges we face. That is the nature of the responsibilities that confront us.
All the other relevant numbers continue to rise – and will nearly certainly rise further. All except this ‘one’. Here is where those other numbers stand, as of today (see earlier compilation here):
Pakistanis Affected:
13,800,000
(According to the UN this eclipses even in the 2004 Tsunami)
Death Toll:
1650+
(Estimate of 1500+ in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa only)
Total International Aid Pledged:
US$102,000,000
(Of which only $10-20 million has been delivered thus far)
Cost to Agriculture:
US$1,000,000,000+
(US$ 1 Billion in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa only)
Agricultural Cropland Already flooded:
1,400,000 acres
(Also 10,000 cows have perished)
Estimated cost of rebuilding roads destroyed:
US$59,000,000
(Mostly in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Punjab)
Estimated cost of rebuilding power infrastructure and dams:
US$29,500,000
(This will only worsen the existing energy crisis)
Houses Destroyed:
650,000
(In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa)
Boats available for rescue activities:
583
(According to NMDA numbers, 8 August)
Helicopters available for rescue activities:
41
(According to NMDA numbers, 8 August)
We have all talked a lot about this flood and the havoc it has wroght. But in all honesty I did not realize the full intensity of this event until I saw this picture below. The fury of the torrent (taken in the Swat area a few days ago) depicts what no words possibly can.
Let us close with one other picture. A picture that reminds us of the power of ‘one’, and of the responsibility of ‘one.’
Some of you may have seen this already. But look again, please. Look at the eyes of this mother. You will no doubt heard the unsaid message and that feeling of ‘be-chaargi’ – of helplessness – that is being felt by just everyone in Pakistan today. The only way to respond to helplessness is to help oneself. No one in the world will – or should – come to help us, if we do not help ourselves. So, let us please help the flood affectees of Pakistan. let us do whatever we can. Let us be the ‘one.’
// But there is only one that counts: One. //
Jee bilkul … 1 Jota !!
Hum to wasey he madad karain gey jesey pehley earthquake k waqt ke the .. lakin jo log Govt ke kohtaion ke wajah se mar gae hain or jin ke aik nasal aab sari zindagi suffer karey ge un ka hisab kon dey ga??
Those two pictures at the end are both very very powerful ones.
Looking at the number of houses destroyed, an estimation of 3 Million are homeless now out of total 13.8 million effected. Its a huge huge number as compared to those who become homeless in 2005 earthquake. May Allah have mercy on us. Surely this is the time when we should ask forgiveness for our sins and open our hearts to donate as much as we can for our homeland. Lets celeberate 14th of Aug this year in Saving Pakistan.
Actually, the most amazing number there is just how little international assistance is pledged, and how much less than even that is actually coming!
41 helicopters is all they have!!!!!!!!
And how many helicopters (and drones) is the US using to kill Afghans and Pakistanis !!!
Of only the US deployed half the resources it uses in killing Pakistanis for saving a few, maybe it will not have to wonder why it is so unpopular around the world!