Committee: UNHRC

Topic: FLOODS IN PAKISTAN AND ITS EFFECTS ON CHILDREN.

Country: AFGHANISTAN

School: Lahore Grammer School

Floods can potentially increase the transmission of water and vector-borne diseases. Heavy monsoon rainfall and floods have affected 33 million people in Pakistan since mid-June, destroying 806,387 houses and damaging another 2,114,546. Sindh and Balochistan are the two most affected provinces in terms of human and infrastructure impact. Since 14 June 2022, floods in Pakistan have killed 1,717 people. It is the world's deadliest flood since the 2020 South Asian floods and described as the worst in the country's history. On 25 August, Pakistan declared a state of emergency because of the flooding. The government of Pakistan has estimated losses worth US$40 billion from the flooding. 2010 flooding in Pakistan affected the lives of nearly 20 million individuals. The unprecedented disaster resulted from heavy monsoon rain and killed more than 1,700 people and caused $10 billion worth of loss due to infrastructural and agricultural damage. Unfortunately, the country has experienced at least one major flood every year since then.

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres visited the flood affected areas in Pakistan, as he wrapped up a two-day trip aimed at raising awareness of the climate-driven disaster with flights over some of the hardest hit areas. Mr. Guterres told reporters as he concluded his field visits, “I have seen many humanitarian disasters in the world, but I have never seen climate carnage on this scale. I have simply no words to describe what I have seen today: a flooded area that is three times the total area of my own country, Portugal”. Guterres told the assembly. “Pakistan is on the verge of a public health disaster”. The U.N. has appealed for $816 million to fund aid to Pakistan through May.

Dams are the best way to prevent flooding anywhere because they are the largest infrastructure for storing water for later use. Pakistan consistently endures flooding during the monsoon season due to a lack of dams in the nation. As Pakistan is Afghanistan's largest trade partner and being good neighbour of Pakistan, All Afghans feel thorough pain for the people affected by natural disaster. Afghanistan is deeply concerned about the current situation in Pakistan and appeals UN that they should adopt policies and raise more funds to help Pakistan suffer from this devastating natural disaster.