Impact of Flood on Children

The recent devastating floods in Pakistan have had a great impact on millions of children. Floods of this scale have the potential to impair children’s emotional, intellectual and physical development which, in turn, could impair the nation’s future. We must tackle the flood’s root causes as we rebuild affected areas. As the numbers of flood victims show, we cannot afford inaction. 500 plus children died and hundreds others have been injured during emergency and relief operations. We need proper and quick response in case of children. Failure to invest in quick recovery of these flood affected areas will exacerbate our children’s long-term scarring from this disaster. Children are Pakistan’s future generation – they have borne many of this disaster’s costs, and greater poverty in the future due to these floods could worsen their educational attainment, earnings, health, and even lead to criminal activity. All these will have a ripple effect on the country’s future. Sources quoted in Pakistan media say around four million children have been affected by the floods with?1.2 million children needing urgent attention due to multiple water borne and related diseases. Concerns about the spread of cholera have grown, particularly in areas where water is still standing.

Sensible, short-term public and private investments in children are needed in order to reduce the flood’s long-term repercussions. Some government investment would bolster income support and employment among poor and unemployed parents while other assistance would directly serve children most in need.

Floods have?damaged thousands of schools buildings?and those which are intact are housing victims. Thus, thousands of children are now out of school and are falling behind in their studies. Consequently, they are more likely to drop out of primary and middle school in their teens, and less likely to opt for a college degree. Children out of school face social, economical and emotional issues. Their health also suffers – gaps in wellness appear early in poor children’s lives and widen over time. No education, bad health and poverty, among other factors such as discrimination in flood aid distribution, will result in change of emotional behaviour. Female Children in age of 10-15 are also facing some discrimination, insecurity, sexual exploitation and related violence. Camps are unsafe for female in puberty age. They need urgent attention and rehabilitation of their houses.

Government schools in rural areas of Sindh & Balochistan are still under water. Rehabilitation of government buildings is yet to start. All this adds up to a higher dropout ratio, chronic poverty cases and health and psychological issues. What should be done in this situation? The first question to consider is what economic and fiscal costs could the floods impose? How can our relief and rehabilitation efforts settle families without any further loss??Can our anti-poverty and employment policies fight these problems in both the short and long-term — especially with a tight fiscal budget? Unfortunately, International communities response of flood flash appeal by UN is very slow. Till todate 20% amount of appeal has been collected. World's rich nations are not responding to flash appeal call by the United Nations. Unfortunately, at this stage our provincial and federal government is facing issues of low budget. They have no answer to questions related to slow International response. Pakistan's standing in comity of nations has been suffered. In last two disasters (Earhquake in 2005 & Floods in 2010/2011) response of International community/donors was very encouraging. 2022 response of flash appeal is very slow. World knows better that Pakistan is facing climate change disaster and floods wreak havoc on 33 million people.

Climate change adaptation and climate smart agriculture is only option to face disasters in the future. To address these problems we need a set of robust public policy responses to flood-affected areas to resolve issues of education of children and unemployment of the parents. I suggest that provincial governments not wait for the contribution from donors but resolve issues and rehabilitate communities from own budget and with the help of Philanthropists. Government can keep control on lavish expenses of Ministers and government officials & save money for the rehabilitation of flooded communities in Sindh. Children are future of Pakistan so we must act together to response quickly and resolve issues which children are currently facing. Greater short-term government expenditures are necessary to mitigate the devastating flood’s harm to parents and their children, and for cost-effective longer-term strategies to reduce poverty. Failure to do so will not only hurt the flood-affected communities and their future but also the future of an entire generation.