UNICEF says a year on from Pakistan's catastrophic floods, millions of children still need support

A flood-affected child sits under a charpai near by his family alongside flood waters after heavy monsoon rains in Jaffarabad district of Pakistan's Balochistan province on August 31, 2022. (AFP/File)
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Updated 25 August 2023
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UNICEF says a year on from Pakistan's catastrophic floods, millions of children still need support

  • An estimated 8 million people continue to live without access to safe water in flood-affected areas
  • Warning comes as Pakistan races to evacuate people from areas affected by overflowing River Sutlej

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations children’s agency on Friday warned that a year on from Pakistan's devastating floods, an estimated 4 million children continue to need humanitarian assistance and access to essential services as a shortage of funds remains a hurdle in recovery. 

The warning from UNICEF comes as authorities in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province are racing against time to evacuate people from areas affected by the overflowing River Sutlej. Since Aug. 1, rescuers have evacuated over 100,000 people from marooned areas in the districts of Kasur and Bahawalpur. 

More than six months ago, dozens of countries and international institutions at a U.N.-backed conference in Geneva pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan recover and rebuild from last summer's floods. But most of the pledges were in the form of loans for projects, which are still in the planning stages. 

“This season’s monsoon rains are worsening the already challenging conditions for flood-affected communities, tragically claiming the lives of 87 children across the country,” UNICEF said in a statement. 

It said an estimated 8 million people, around half of whom are children, continue to live without access to safe water in flood-affected areas. It said more than 1.5 million children still require lifesaving nutrition interventions in flood-affected districts, while UNICEF’s current appeal of $173.5 million remains only 57% funded. 

“Vulnerable children living in flood-affected areas have endured a horrific year,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF representative in Pakistan. “They lost their loved ones, their homes and schools," he said. The return of monsoon rains has raised fears of another climate disaster, he added. 

Last year's floods caused more than $30 billion in damages as large swaths of the country remained underwater for months, affecting 33 million people and killing 1,739. The deluges destroyed or damaged 30,000 schools, 2,000 health facilities and 4,300 water systems. 

UNICEF said one-third of children were already out of school before the floods, while malnutrition was reaching emergency levels and access to safe drinking water and sanitation was worryingly low. 

Southern Sindh province was one of the worst hit last year. But Ajay Kumar, a spokesman for the local disaster management agency, told The Associated Press that authorities haven't received any complaints or demands from districts affected by the floods. 

People who were living in relief camps or on the roadside have returned home because they received compensation for the damage and loss suffered, he said. Local organizations are carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation work on houses, schools and health care facilities. “I can say that the situation here is normal," he added. 

In its statement, the children’s agency said because of support from the international community, aid reached 3.6 million people with primary health care services. Access to safe water was enabled for 1.7 million people in areas where water networks were damaged or destroyed, reaching over 545,000 children. 

Mental health and psychosocial support was also provided to 258,000 children, it said. 

UNICEF called on Pakistan and aid agencies to increase and sustain investment in basic social services for children and families. "The flood waters have gone, but their troubles remain, in this climate-volatile region,” said Fadil. 


Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

Updated 7 sec ago
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Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

  • Pakistan has been key topic of Indian election speeches by PM Narendra Modi, top leaders of his ruling BJP party
  • Foreign Office urges Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for ‘electoral gains’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Tuesday rejected “baseless” and “unhealthy” remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of his cabinet regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program, Kashmir dispute and other regional issues, which came during campaigning for ongoing elections in India.

Pakistan has been a key topic of speeches by Indian leaders during campaign rallies, with Modi and top leaders from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making strong statements about their South Asian neighbor.

At an election rally in Bihar this week, Modi indirectly referred to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and said he would make Pakistan “wear bangles.”

Noting the “alarming” surge in anti-Pakistan rhetoric, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it rejected the “irresponsible statements” by Indian leaders about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, counter-terrorism efforts, bilateral relations and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.

“Regrettably, these statements reflect an unhealthy and entrenched obsession with Pakistan and reveal a deliberate intent to exploit hyper-nationalism for electoral gains. These also signify a desperate attempt to deflect attention from mounting domestic and international criticism,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson, said in a statement.

“The bravado and jingoism exhibited by Indian leaders expose a reckless and extremist mindset. This mindset calls into question India’s capacity to be a responsible steward of its strategic capability. On the other hand, the purpose of Pakistan’s strategic capability is to safeguard its sovereignty and defend its territorial integrity.”

Baloch noted that Pakistan had clearly demonstrated its resolve to defend itself in the past and would not “hesitate to do so in the future should the Indian side choose to embark on a misadventure.”

About Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that Azad Kashmir was part of India, she said Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally-recognized disputed territory and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly mandated a plebiscite in the territory for its final determination.

“No amount of inflated Indian statements can change this reality,” Baloch said. “India should, therefore, focus on implementing these resolutions instead of indulging in fantasies of grandeur.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

Baloch urged Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for “electoral gains” and to handle sensitive strategic matters with “utmost caution.”

“We call upon the international community to take note of Indian leadership’s belligerent rhetoric, which poses a grave threat to regional peace and stability,” she said.

“The vision of peace, progress, and prosperity in South Asia can only be realized through the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, and a shift from confrontation to cooperation.”


Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

Updated 14 May 2024
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Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

  • At least four people were killed in protests over subsidized wheat flour and electricity that began on May 11
  • The protests were called off on Tuesday after Pakistan approved $83 million subsidies for the disputed region

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in a few days to personally review the situation after days-long violent protests over subsidies, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.

At least three protesters and a police officer were killed and several others wounded in days of clashes between demonstrators demanding subsidies on wheat flour and electricity and law enforcement.

The protests were called off on Tuesday, a day after Pakistan announced $83 million subsidies and prompted the regional government to notify a reduction in prices of wheat flour and electricity.

On Tuesday, Sharif presided over a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the situation in Azad Kashmir, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir in a few days to personally review the ground situation and promote the tendency of resolving issues at the dialogue table,” the report read.

“He said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by the founder of Pakistan, and maintaining law and order there is the top priority.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

While the Indian portion has faced an ongoing insurgency for decades and multiple armed attempts by the state to quell it, the Pakistani side has remained relatively calm over the decades, though it is also highly militarized.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized the protests that began on May 11. “On the appeal of the Awami Action Committee, it has been decided to end the ongoing lockdown and wheel-jam strike across Azad Kashmir,” Amjad Ali Khan, a member of the JAAC core committee, told Arab News on Tuesday.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Sharif commended the AJK government for demonstrating restraint to foil “nefarious designs of the elements, who intend to sabotage the situation under the pretext of protests,” according to the Radio Pakistan report.

He thanked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and AJK PM Anwar-ul-Haq for their cooperation in resolving the issue “amicably.”


PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

Updated 14 May 2024
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PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

  • Law minister says federal cabinet will take final decision after coalition partners give feedback on draft law
  • Critics say the amendments could be used to stifle dissent and free speech instead of protecting digital rights 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising representatives of allied parties to review amendments to Pakistan’s electronic crimes law, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, highlighting that the federal government wanted to form political consensus before making changes to the law. 

The government says amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 are aimed at protecting the digital rights of millions of Pakistani users, encouraging responsible Internet use and regulating online content to prevent hate speech and disinformation. Critics say the amendments, like PECA itself, could be used to stifle dissent and free speech. In the past, PECA has been used against critics of Pakistan’s all powerful army as well as governments and cases under the blasphemy law among others have also been filed using the legislation.

Earlier this month, the government notified a new National Cybercrimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to probe electronic crimes, which digital rights activists described as yet another attempt to stifle online criticism of the state. The NCCIA was approved by the caretaker government-led federal cabinet last year to take over cybercrime investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Addressing the media on Tuesday, the law minister said the draft legislation has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval after being drafted by the IT ministry according to Article 19, which deals mainly with freedom of speech.

“Despite this, the PM was of the view that a political consensus was necessary for legislation, the cabinet also agreed to the premier’s view,” Tarar said. 

“Now he has formed a committee in this regard which will include allied parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Istehham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP).”

The law minister said allied party representatives would examine the draft legislation and report feedback to the federal cabinet which would then take a final decision.

PECA

PECA was passed in 2016 during the government of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, which is once more in power and leading a fragile coalition at the center. 

The law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment.

But the law has variously been used to crackdown on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state. 

The popular social media platform X has been blocked in the country since February when Pakistan held general elections marred by widespread allegations of manipulation and rigging. 


New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

Updated 14 May 2024
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New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

  • The 56-year-old South African has served as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League
  • The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach

ISLAMABAD: Gary Kirsten will start his two-year assignment as the coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team when he joins the squad in England on Sunday.
Pakistan will play four Twenty20s against England to prepare for the T20 World Cup next month in the Caribbean and the United States.
Pakistan has delayed naming its final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup until the first T20 against England next Tuesday at Leeds.
Kirsten served as the mentor and batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. They were knocked out of playoff contention on Monday.
“I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential,” Kirsten said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday. “I’m committed to working closely with the (Pakistan) team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
Kirsten has coached India and South Africa.
Last month, the 56-year-old South African was confirmed as the white-ball coach along with Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach.
Pakistan has done well in the last two T20 World Cups. It made the semifinals in 2021 and the final against England in 2022.
The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach of the national team for the T20 World Cup. Reid will join the team next Monday while Helmot will team up with the Pakistan side on May 31 after the T20 series against England.


Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

Updated 14 May 2024
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Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

  • Local police chief said strike occurred in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 
  • It was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating, the official added

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A missile fired by a drone struck a house in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in northwestern Pakistan along the Afghan border before dawn Tuesday, killing at least four villagers, including children, police said.

The strike happened in South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Hidayat Ullah said. He said it was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating. The Pakistan army evicted Pakistani Taliban insurgents from the region years ago, but they have been regrouping there.

Those killed in the missile strike were civilians with no known links to the insurgents. Villagers put their bodies on a road near a military camp and protested the killings and demanded information about who was responsible.

Most of the previous drone strikes in the area were carried out by the United States or the Pakistan army.

There was no immediate comment from the government or the military about the strike. The Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. It has been emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.