Front Burner - More than 1,000 dead in calamitous Pakistan floods

Episode Date: August 30, 2022

Devastating flash floods in Pakistan have submerged one-third of the country, according to its climate minister. Officials say more than 1,100 people have died since monsoon season began in June and an estimated 33 million people have been affected. BBC correspondent Farhat Javed recently visited Manoor Valley in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where locals tossed her a handwritten note asking for help: "We need supplies, we need medicine and please rebuild the bridge, we are left with nothing now." Manoor Valley is just one of many remote regions hit by torrential rain and cut off from the main roads — making it difficult for rescue teams to reach. Millions of people are now waiting for food, shelter and clean drinking water. Today on Front Burner, Javed tells us more about what she saw and about the disaster unfolding in a country already dealing with political and economic instability.

In the Dragon's Den, a simple pitch can lead to a life-changing connection. Watch new episodes of Dragon's Den free on CBC Gem. Brought to you in part by National Angel Capital Organization, empowering Canada's entrepreneurs through angel investment and industry connections. This is a CBC Podcast. Hi, I'm Jamie Poisson. There's this video circulating online of a young boy being rescued from the floods in Pakistan. He's sitting on a bed frame with an orange life jacket on, and he's being pulled over high, rushing floodwaters with a kind of makeshift pulley system.

It's just one of the extraordinary scenes that are coming out of the country in the last few weeks. That video was taken in Swat, a region in the north that's been hit exceptionally hard. Entire villages, fields of crops, now entirely submerged. This was the terrifying moment a luxury hotel in the area washed away in seconds. All four of Pakistan's provinces have been impacted by a monsoon season that started in June. Over a thousand people have died and more than 33 million people have been displaced.

We are carrying our own belongings. Our house is submerged. There's nobody from the government, nobody to help, nobody to even ask about us. Today, we're talking to BBC correspondent Farhat Javid on the disaster unfolding in Pakistan amidst political and economic instability. Hi, Farhat. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today. Thank you for having me. So I understand yesterday you traveled to a part of the country that's been hit really hard by the floods. And where were you? What did you see? I went to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It's the northwestern province of Pakistan.

And this province is very famous for many, many reasons. It borders Afghanistan, for example. It's the same province where Osama bin Laden was killed, for example. And these days, it's one of the most scenic places in Pakistan. It's a tourist destination. And I went to a valley, Kagan Valley, another famous tourist destination in summers. A flash flood hit that valley last Friday and I went there on Saturday and I could see the devastation. There were buildings on the banks of the river, they were

swept away by the flood, a lot of bridges were gone, you know, people were disconnected, there were valleys cut off from the main cities. So that was the sort of destruction. And I met people there who were, you know, who were sitting outside their homes, they were waiting for aid agencies to reach them. And situation is bad. Situation is really, really bad. And this is not about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only, this northwestern province. It's worse in other parts of the country. It's really bad in Balochistan, the south or Sindh province, and also in central Punjab. There are these towns and villages which are still inaccessible. One third of Pakistan is completely submerged by historic flooding. So we really don't know what is the exact situation in those far off towns and villages. And we really don't

know the correct assessment of the damages that this flood has caused. Right. And of course, we've heard that the death toll is already enormous, right? Like more than a thousand dead, many of them children, but it's expected to be far more than that, right? children, but it's expected to be far more than that, right? Absolutely. Today, the government data that we have received, it says that more than 1,100 people have died in these floods and there are more than 900,000 homes are destroyed. These are just estimates. National Disaster Management Authority says that, you know, if you just estimate that around six people live in one household, it means that more than 33 million people are directly affected by these floods. And this is a conservative estimate. It also means that more than 15% of the total population

is either homeless or living without adequate shelter. We haven't received any help so far. We're extremely stressed and we've lost everything. Our houses, our livestock and our crops are gone. We've been left empty-handed. We're worried because we don't have enough to survive in these circumstances. Here was my house. My entire life savings are gone. We were told that a concrete wall would be built to protect us from the river, so we built a house, but the promise was not fulfilled. It sounds absolutely horrific.

I understand when you were on the ground this week, there were people that were stuck, like literally stuck. So they were throwing you and your crew notes. Like what did those notes say? So we went to a valley, which is called Manur Valley. We had a local fixer with us. He was suggesting that we shouldn't go to that valley because even in normal circumstances, it's a very far off area. And the road that leads to that valley is, you know, it's a bumpy one. It's never, it's not's a very far off area and the road that leads to that valley is you know

it's a bumpy one it's it's never it's not a good ride and usually people from cities and settled areas they don't they don't go there because of the remoteness but i decided to take some calculated risk and you know we we decided that we would go there and if if the weather changes we would come back because there is always a danger of landslides. When we reached there, the scene was, I wasn't expecting. In normal circumstances, it was just a stream. But that day it had turned into a roaring river. It was huge, really huge.

And there was a bridge which was completely collapsed. And that village was divided into two villages now and I could see people sitting outside their homes with you know with their luggage packed with them and they were like waiting for some miracle to happen and because they wanted to leave that village and we were standing there we were filming them. It was then that I saw one of them threw a blue-colored plastic bag to us. And I was like, what is there in that bag? And when we opened it, there were stones in it, and then there was a piece of paper. They had written, we don't know who you are, whether you are government officials or you are media people.

But whoever you are, we want to convey this message to the authorities that there are 12 bridges which have been collapsed they told us about their property loss their loss of their livestock and their shops and their hotels and their businesses and crops they had written about their demands they wanted these bridges to be at least some of them to be repaired as soon as possible and then they told us that they're short of food supplies and they need medicine and medical help because there are people who are unwell and they are unable to reach the hospital or there are no clinics available in those villages. So they were stuck there.

So that was their only means to communicate and seek some help. they're only means to communicate and seek some help. As we speak now, one of my colleagues in that area told us that no aid has yet reached those communities. And when I spoke to the deputy commissioner of the city, he told me that there are like 10 to 12,000 people who are still stranded and they are trying to find the means to help them. Wow. It sounds like such a harrowing and incredibly desperate situation. Absolutely. This is just one remote village that we reached. There are more than 116 districts which have been affected by this flood. And here in Pakistan, like every district can have maybe 100 villages.

And now imagine the level of devastation that the country is facing right now. I can give you a number, but I'm 100% sure that half of them are still inaccessible. Imagine what these people must be going through because these are all poor people. They really don't have money or means to survive without work for a long time. We have nothing. Help me. Help me now. We'll all die.

Look at this. There is nothing left to save and no one is coming to us. At night, there are bandits roaming around here. Hunger is making us crazy. What can we do? What makes this monsoon season different from monsoon seasons of past years? You know, it is already very much clear that scale of this disaster is many times greater than that of the 2010 floods. Millions of gallons of water pouring through the Swat Valley, a force of nature with no respect

for the route it takes or the millions of people it's affecting. And devastating as they were, back then there were like certain areas where these floods reached. But this time, this water is everywhere and it's relentless, you know. When we talk of rescue and relief operations, they simply cannot cope. And as waters stagnate and people are forced to shelter under open skies or else in hurriedly established relief camps, the dangers of water and, you know, these diseases ever present. Rescue crews are stretched thin. The local government is overwhelmed by the number of families in need.

We are trying our best to find missing bodies. Their families are in pain. We have rescued hundreds of people, including children, elderly and women. The situation here is catastrophic. You know, I'd heard that this Bansuzi season seems to be long and that's contributing to the flooding, but also the government is blaming this event on climate change. The country's climate change minister called this ground zero event on climate change. The country's climate change minister called this ground zero of the climate crisis. But it is not possible to even start rebuilding

while people are out there waiting for rescue. So suddenly we're at this ground zero of a climate dystopia. What role is climate change playing in these floods so the government has been repeatedly blaming climate change for the catastrophe and calamity that pakistan is facing today and to some extent it is true as well but at the same time there there has been quite a lot of mismanagement at the part of the government after 2010 thirds the government formed a commission to come up with a report with details about where the fault lies, for example, when it comes to dealing with such a situation. That commission did prepare a comprehensive report, not only about the damages, but also about where the government and local bodies and authorities failed. And it also gave a lot of recommendations to deal with such a situation in future. But in the last 12 years, nothing was done in that regard.

You know, I understand there's a lot of criticism being leveled against local authorities for allowing hotels, apartment buildings to be built along rivers, along these flood zones. And can you tell me more about that since i was in kagan valley which as i mentioned earlier there is a famous tourist destination and it's the river kunhar that flows into that valley it's a big river these builders and business community they have built hotels and parks for tourists and children and structures right on the bank of River Kunhar. And there was a structure which was right in the middle of the river.

And I was told that that was home to two families and eight members of that family drowned. And half of them, their bodies haven't been recovered. People are rightly criticizing the government and local authorities for giving permit to these developers and builders. The magnitude of this devastation could have been decreased if there were no such structures blocking waterways. And this didn't happen only in those tourist destinations. It was happening in the urban centers as well, like Karachi, the economic financial hub of the country. There were communities and whole housing societies which were built on those waterways.

So as a result, when floods came, they destroyed everything. In the Dragon's Den, a simple pitch can lead I'm going to go. and industry connections. Hi, it's Ramit Sethi here. You may have seen my money show on Netflix. I've been talking about money for 20 years. I've talked to millions of people and I have some startling numbers to share with you. Did you know that of the people I speak to, 50% of them do not know their own household income? That's not a typo, 50%. That's because money is confusing.

In my new book and podcast, Money for Couples, I help you and your partner create a financial vision together. To listen to this podcast, just search for Money for Couples. I wonder if you tell me a little bit more about the criticisms that have been levied against the government since the actual floods began. How would you describe the more immediate response? We are witnessing this flood-like situation since June. It's almost two and a half months now. Earlier, there was no response from the government.

It only came when there were videos that went viral on social media. It was only then that government came up with some response. But then, you know, it was a time when there was this political chaos in the country. Imran Khan was doing political rallies and government was also busy in the politics. So nobody really bothered about it. On the mainstream media, it was all political news. And there was nothing about, you know, what was happening to the millions and millions of people out there we didn't find it on on mainstream media in in detail as it should be but it was after this flash flood hit savath valley it was

after that they started relief operations these rescue and relief operations have been intensified for the last two, three days. A government is also appealing international aid agencies, friendly countries and donors to come up and help the country with this calamity. It has stretched all resources so thin to the ground that human vulnerability and fragility is very high. And the situation is not improving. More and more humanitarian assistance is required. And I just want to note for our listeners who maybe aren't following the politics in the country super closely, you know, you mentioned attention being on the politicking.

The former prime minister, Imran Khan's tenure came to an abrupt end in April, right, of this year after a vote of no confidence. Then the country got a new government under this new PM, Shabazz Sharif. And it is also in the midst of an economic crisis. So there's lots of stuff going on there, issues the country was already struggling with before these floods really hit. We always said that Pakistan is politically a very active country and we really don't have to sit and wait for stories. There's always a new news. There's always a new day. So the current political crisis basically started in April this year.

174 members have recorded their votes in favor of the resolution. When there was a no confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, tabled by the then joint opposition, which is now ruling the country, it was a successful no confidence motion and Imran Khan had to go home, but he didn't accept that. He has been blaming foreign interference and he has been blaming Washington, D.C. for interfering, which they have denied. But he hasn't sit quietly since then and he has been holding rallies across the country and people are coming out in support. And then at the same time,

now the ruling parties parties it's a coalition government so these parties are also very actively doing their campaigns against Imran Khan and in the middle of all these the country is also facing an economical crisis inflation rate has gone very high to unprecedented levels in fact and at the same time fuel prices have gone up so as i mentioned earlier that the government and and the opposition both have been more focused on their own politics and they didn't realize what is coming their way and now that since there is there was no planning and there are no proper agencies or system in place so it's getting really difficult for for the government to reach out to the people and help them and you know try to minimize the losses but it is going to hurt

bad because you know since provincial chief minister said that all of their crops have been completely damaged and it means pakistan is an agricultural country and when your crops, whether it's cotton crop or other crops, if they are damaged, it means it is going to impact your GDP for the next year and it doesn't affect farmers only. It is going to affect the whole of the agricultural sector and the textile industry,

which is the largest exports of Pakistan. So, you know, the challenge is big and it won't end when the floods will be over. It is to stay there for at least next one year. Right, right. The country will be struggling with this for a long time after. And of course, as you mentioned,

we don't even know the extent of the damage yet and it's not even over. Like monsoon season isn't even over. It could conceivably get worse, I understand. Farhad, I wonder if I could ask you personally, if you don't mind. I imagine with the disaster of this scale, everyone is touched in some way. And how are you doing watching this all unfold? On a personal level, it's very difficult for me. I have been covering a lot of stories. I've been

working in conflict zones. I worked in Fata region where there were military operations. I worked in Afghanistan. I've been covering, you know, these terrorist attacks and many, many other things, earthquake and all that stuff. But it's really seeing people cut off the way they look into your eyes. I really don't have words to describe those that feeling it's really hard and i've been covering you know both sides i've been covering these these political people as well and i've been covering these common men you know living life like

that of ours and how they are struggling uh today and how they are struggling for their survival it really makes me feel sad that there are two extremes that we are living in today. On one hand, you have very powerful people who could have done everything to at least minimize the loss, but they didn't do it. And as a result, millions and millions of people are suffering today. I'm traveling to Gulochistan in two days. And Gulochistan is the worst hit province at the moment. And so I hope when I go there, I would be able to bring some information about the stranded people

so they could get some help or something. But it's not only me. I mean, there are like millions of people. And for them, this is the first time that they're seeing such sort of thing. Yeah. Farhad, thank you so much for being here and for talking with me today.

And I wish you very safe travels on your next trip. Thank you. Thank you too. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That's all for today. Thanks so much for listening to FrontBurner, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. For more CBC Podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.