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.’
We must donate money but pl send it to private Trusts like Edhee and others .
Sending money to Govt created funds be eaten up by Zardaars and Mar-Dhaars (looters).
I was surprised to see the amount that was pledged – but not so much after reading these comments about Pakistan and Pakistanis. In this situation, we’ve to help ourselves and motivate people around us. I’m not a religious person but I’m using Ramazan to encourage people to give charity to flood victims and not to any masjid or musalla.
“Enjoy” these comments and share with others to inspire that this is the time we change our ways.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/pakistan- flood-victims-ne_n_667303.html#comments
@Brian – do you know that all the international aid pledged so far, USA is the biggest donor ? We just love to bash USA, not look at anything positive it does.
Why is international aid missing? the general feeling is that it would be misappropriated by the government and donors know for a fact that nothing would reach the deserving. They have seen it one too many times.
I will pay a dollar for every cent Nawaz and Zardari pay from their own pocket. Thats a pledge.
The estimated cost given from the aid should be utilized in the interest of the citizens. That is the more important thing. We can come out these miseries if we unite.