Flooding from heavy monsoon rains has inundated villages in eastern Pakistan, compelling residents to flee their homes by boat over fields turned into vast expanses of water. AFP journalists observed small motorboats chartered by volunteers ferrying residents to safety, although many remained stranded in Muridke district, Punjab province.
Struggle for Survival
Iqra Salman, a 32-year-old resident, lamented that no rescue team had reached them in four days. "We have no electricity, no clean water, and now we have completely run out of food supplies. We are surrounded by floodwater on all sides," she said.
Flood-related incidents, including drownings and house collapses, have claimed 109 lives in Pakistan since June 26, according to official disaster agency figures. Around a third of these deaths occurred in Punjab.
Rescue Efforts and Climate Vulnerability
Volunteer rescuers have initiated efforts to save people and recover belongings from approximately a dozen villages. Haris Dar, a volunteer rescuer, mentioned that four rescue boats were actively evacuating stranded individuals.
Even after being brought to safety, residents faced challenging conditions, sleeping in small tents in humid heat. Muhammad Ramzan, 45, recounted the rapid rise of water that led to his family's house collapsing, leaving them with nothing.
Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change, coupled with limited resources for adaptation, exacerbates the situation. While the seasonal monsoon is crucial for farmers, climate change is making it more erratic and deadly.
