Pakistan flood victims still await compensation

For the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan, the year 2010 will forever be remembered for the worst floods in its history.


The unprecedented monsoon rains triggered a raging torrent which ripped through Pakistan's heartland. The damages ran into billion of dollars, with over 20 million Pakistanis affected by the wrath of mother nature. A year on from the Super flood, thousands of flood affectees still await the promised compensation from the government.

On the first anniversary of the devastating flood, "Action Aid Pakistan" and the "Institute Of Social And Policy Science " highlighted the significance of an effective framework for disaster risk management and demanded the immediate compensation for the flood affectees particularly the women and the vulnerable sections of society.

With the monsoon season less than a month away, Pakistan is in the grip of a heat wave, compounded by power outages and water scarcity. Experts opine that the issue of "Disaster Risk Management" has created a disconnect between those in the corridors of power in the Capital Islamabad and those governing the provincial government, which lacked the capacity and skills to play a leading role in dealing with floods and other disasters.

President Zardari's Peoples Party government is in the grip of an unprecedented plethora of crises. Many lessons were to be learnt from last year's floods, however experts and NGOs are still convinced that the government needs to urgently re-visit its disaster risk management policy.

Billions of dollars were pledged by the international community following the floods last year. What remains to be seen however, is whether President Zardari's government has effectively utilized the aid for an effective preparedness program this year.