By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD: The UN Refugees Agency started a huge airlift operation for Pakistani flood victims as over 33 million people affected by the decretive flood. 

In a statement, UNHCR, said  they started a huge airlift operation from Dubai – meant to focus on the worst affected areas of southern Sindh province, where Larkana and Sukkur are the most impacted cities in the country with limited assistance for those displaced from their homes, who require various essential supplies.

“The first three of nine scheduled flights arrived on Monday in Pakistan – with the other five on their way. Aid includes 40,000 sleeping mats, nearly 15,000 kitchen sets and some 5,000 multi-purpose tarpaulins.

An additional six flights are also scheduled from Dubai for Wednesday and Thursday, with 4,500 sleeping mats, 400 tarpaulins, and nearly 5,000 kitchen sets,” said the agency.

Some trucks are also on the way from Uzbekistan bringing tents for 11,000 families and it will arrive soon.

Initially, the UN agency will provide assistance to 50,000 families in the worst hit areas. 

“People are facing many challenges in the informal settlements, camped along roadsides to escape surrounding flood waters, setting up shelters with whatever resources they have. Most want to stay close to home, hoping to go back soon. The authorities need much more support with shelter, relief supplies and technical expertise. UNHCR and partners are helping authorities to conduct rapid humanitarian needs assessments.

“We fear the situation could deteriorate the latest Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts predict more rains for the coming month,” said UNHCR.

 The new spell of rain will increase challenges for flood survivors, and likely worsen conditions for nearly half a million displaced people, forcing more to abandon their homes.

“We are dispatching all our existing humanitarian stocks in the country for Pakistani communities and refugees, particularly in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkwa, some of the most heavily affected provinces, where more than 420,000 Afghan refugees live alongside generous host communities,” its added.

Pakistan and its people have hosted millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades, with some 1.3 million currently registered in the country. UNHCR is standing in solidarity with the country and its people – as we did during the devastating 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods.  

But the scale of the devastation requires urgent international support. 

The impact of the global climate crisis on countries like Pakistan must be shared by the international community. Much more will be needed to help Pakistan to overcome this catastrophe and rebuild when the waters subside.