Author: Lucy Gao
October 31, 2024
Pakistan has been gripped by severe flash floods due to an intense monsoon season, exacerbated by unusually high temperatures that accelerated snowmelt. Similar to the floods in 2022, this year’s floods have also been attributed to increased rainfall driven by climate change and warming. This year also marks the most rainfall in over four decades. This deluge has led to widespread destruction, devastating housing, agriculture, schools, and roads.
Since July 1, 2024, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported 337 fatalities, 604 injuries, 24,026 damaged houses, and 40 damaged bridges across the country. Additionally, 141,601 people have been displaced in flood-affected districts like Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Badin, and others. This environmental disaster has also led to a crisis in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), presenting a significant human rights challenge.
Understanding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Its Importance
WASH refers to access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices. In the aftermath of a disaster, the breakdown of these services can have severe consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. Pakistan, already susceptible to natural disasters, is now facing a public health catastrophe as floods damage water sources and sanitation facilities, leading to contamination of the water supply. The risk of waterborne diseases has skyrocketed, and the lack of adequate sanitation has left affected communities vulnerable to illness.
The Pakistani government has been widely criticized for not prioritizing flood recovery or climate change mitigation. While officials claim to have implemented early warning systems and strengthened embankments, critics argue that Pakistan’s political, economic, and security instability has pushed these efforts to the periphery. For instance, recovery related to the 2022 seasonal floods is still ongoing, highlighting the country's inability to respond swiftly and effectively to such crises.
Health, Human Rights, and Vulnerable Populations
The lack of WASH services directly violates basic human rights, affecting people’s health and well-being. The lack of clean water, basic sanitation, and hygiene has left people vulnerable to potentially fatal waterborne diseases. Access to these services is essential for basic needs like washing and food preparation.
Children are especially vulnerable. Repeated episodes of diarrhea, a common waterborne illness, can cause children to miss school or even drop out, leading to long-term developmental setbacks from interrupted learning. Furthermore, inadequate nutrition due to poor water quality can result in permanent stunting.
Women and girls also face unique challenges in such crises. Without proper facilities, menstruation becomes a source of further hardship, compromising their dignity, safety, and health. Gender-based violence has also been shown to be associated with areas that suffer from a lack of clean water and hygiene for a multitude of reasons, including a lack of privacy and increased travel to water sources in the area. These gender-specific needs highlight the necessity for a human rights-based approach to addressing WASH in disaster response efforts.
Current Response and Needed Improvements
While there have been efforts to address the disaster, they remain insufficient. Organizations such as the Agha Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) have provided tents and non-food items, and the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II) Project, supported by the Green Climate Fund, is working to improve the climate resilience of affected communities. However, these responses are fragmented and insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis. As experts emphasize, flood response should be part of a broader initiative that addresses critical vulnerabilities like clean water, sanitation, early warning, food, and healthcare.
Although early warning systems are in place, there is a growing consensus that they are ineffective in reality if the population cannot act on them. One way to encourage a cohesive response is through community-led responses or training programs for flood preparation. This engagement would increase implementation because it encourages community discussion and input into the program itself. Empowering the community is imperative for future progress as a bottom-up solution. To truly make effective progress in this public health issue, the government, nonprofits, and other agencies must work together to create a cohesive response that includes the community.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Pakistan’s WASH crisis in the wake of the floods is a human rights issue that demands urgent action. Long-term sustainability is key, and interventions must be locally appropriate, taking the availability of water, local perceptions of water quality, and existing sanitation practices into account. Comprehensive preparedness, disease surveillance, and water and sanitation management are essential to safeguard the health and rights of Pakistan’s vulnerable population. It is only through sustained efforts that Pakistan can bridge the gap between the demand for and supply of key services and protect its citizens in the face of natural disasters.
Glossary
Climate Change: The long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, largely driven by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
Diarrhea: A waterborne illness characterized by frequent and watery bowel movements, often caused by contaminated water or poor sanitation. It can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, particularly in children.
Early Warning Systems: Technological and community-based frameworks designed to provide advance notice of environmental hazards, such as floods.
Embankments: Raised structures, often built along rivers, to prevent water from overflowing onto land.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
Monsoon Season: A seasonal weather pattern characterized by heavy rainfall.
Sanitation: The provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human waste. Flooding often damages sanitation infrastructure, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Stunting: A condition caused by chronic malnutrition, resulting in impaired growth and development in children. Poor water quality and frequent illness during floods exacerbate the risk of stunting.
WASH: An acronym for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene services, which are essential for maintaining public health.
Waterborne Diseases: Illnesses caused by microorganisms present in contaminated water. Common examples include cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, which often surge after floods due to poor sanitation and unsafe water supplies.
Vulnerable Populations: Groups that are at higher risk of harm due to social, economic, or environmental factors.