Extreme Weather Causes Humanitarian Calamity: Sherry

News Desk

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman on Thursday said abnormal monsoon rains would remain a regular feature and the country’s overall infrastructure was not ready for such disasters, which would lead to a severe humanitarian crisis.

The minister was expressing these views at the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change presided by Senator Seemee Ezdi.

The meeting discussed the prevailing weather conditions, monsoon rain damages and the management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) events.

PPP Senator Sherry told the forum that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), which comes under the Ministry of Aviation, was responsible for weather warnings.

She said that it was the role of the provincial government for preventive measures, and rescue and relief operations.

She added the MET office warnings which were loud and clear, were of no use since the provincial governments did not have the capacity to rescue a disaster because of its infrastructure, road construction and poor rainwater drainage system.

“All the stakeholders should jointly work together to redress this problem which will now seem to occur regularly as the climate change occurs globally” —Senator Sherry

She said that as long as the water channels would not be cleared and the country would not equip itself with enough resources, there would be no way forward.

“All the stakeholders should sit together and work on a plan, each contributing to redress this problem which will now seem to occur regularly as the climate change occurs globally.”

Senator Taj Haider, while discussing possible solutions to address such calamities, said the country was also lacking water reservoirs, through which adversity could be changed into opportunity and accumulate water, addressing the issue of water scarcity.

The Secretary Ministry for Climate Change also argued that early warning was area-specific as certain areas could not be forecast due to lack of modern equipment.

He said that one million people were residing at the bed of the River Indus when the flood occurred and these residents disseminated in the local area which continued to disrupt the rescue and relief operation.

Pakistan is amongst the top ten vulnerable countries in the global climate risk index.

The committee stressed that legislation should be formulated to prepare the country for natural disasters due to rapid climate change globally.

It was also decided to work on national simulation exercises to validate and enhance preparedness and response plans, procedures, and systems for all hazards and capabilities.

Senator Faisal Javed also proposed that the committee to take briefing from the Ministry of Climate Change on the National Adaptation Policies for Climate Change on a priority basis in the next meeting.

Committee Briefing on Rescue Activities

The Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) briefed the committee that the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) was operational 24/7, continuously monitoring daily occurrences, and was in coordination with all disaster management stakeholders, including UN agencies, donor NGO’s, and media.

He informed that Pakistan is among the top ten vulnerable countries in global climate risk index. The committee was briefed that the NDMA exercised multiple scenarios on June 28 and 29 for better assimilation of disasters.

The committee was also briefed by the NDMA on mass awareness programs and rescue activities. The NDMA said a total of 11,639 rescue activities had taken place across the country, and 78 relief camps were set up which accommodated 23,061 affectees.

The committee was also apprised that from June 13th to date, 575 deaths (with a maximum of 176 in Balochistan and 127 and 119 in Sindh and Punjab, respectively) occurred due to monsoon rains, and 939 injuries took place across the country.

The meeting was attended by Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Keshoo Bai, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Abida Muhammad Azeem, and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz, along with senior officials of the attached departments, were also in attendance.

Additional input from APP.