2013 PAKISTANAFGHANISTAN FLOODS

[1]

In August 2013, Pakistan and

eastern Afghanistan expe-rienced
heavy rain that led to flash
flooding. More than 180 died as a
result of the floods.

outages. Drainage and sewage

systems in the city were clogged,
causing the streets to fill with
water.

[3]

[1]

1 Background
Pakistan
and
eastern
Afghanistan are frequently hit
by flooding during the monsoon
season. Since 2010, the region
has suered devastating floods
that have left hundreds dead
[2]
each year. The worst flooding
in the past 80 years occurred in
2010, when flooding in Pakistan resulted in more than
1,700 deaths and widespread
[3]
damage.

2 Floods
Beginning 31 July 2013, Pakistan and
parts
of
eastern
Afghanistan
experienced unusually heavy rainfall
that
caused
widespread
flash
flooding. Flood waters began to
recede on 5 August, but more heavy
rain was ex-pected later in August
and September, the heart of mon[3]

soon season.
All but one area of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in
Pakistan was flood-free by 5 August,
as the waters receded almost as
quickly as they had risen.

3 Damage
casualties

[4]

and

3.1 Pakistan
In Pakistan 80 deaths were reported
as of 5 August; more than 30 other
[1]
people were injured.
The death toll

rose to 83 as of 13 August with more

[3][5]
than 94 injured.
Casualties
spanned the country, with the city of
Karachi in south Pakistan being the
hardest hit. In the north-west, 12
deaths were reported in the tribal
region, eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province, and three in the Kashmir
[6]
region.
Fast moving water washed
[2]
away many houses in the region. In
central Pakistan, 12 deaths were reported in Punjab province. In the
south, eight deaths were reported in
[6]
Sindh and ten in Baluchistan.
Across Pakistan, more than 66,000
people were aected by the rain and
[3]
resulting floods.
Many of the
deaths were the result of collapsed
houses or by electrocution from
downed power lines. In Karachi, poor
neighbourhoods experienced waistdeep flooding and widespread power

3.2 Afghanistan
Mountainous regions in eastern and
southeastern Afghanistan were the
main areas hit by floods. In the rural
Surobi District 61 people were killed,
and around 500 mudbrick homes
were washed away across more than
a dozen villages. In the provinces of
Khost
and
Nangarhar,
flooding
destroyed 50 houses and thousands
of acres of farm land. 24 deaths were
reported in the area. In the province
of Nuristan at least 60 homes were
destroyed across three districts, but
[1]

no casualties were reported.

On 10
August, at least 22 more people
[7]

killed in the flash flood near Kabul

As of 14 August death toll rises
above 90 in the country.

4 Reaction and
relief eforts
Nawaz
Sharif,
Pakistans
Prime
Minister,
sent
three
cab-inet
ministers to survey aected areas.
National
Disaster
Management

Authority chief Muhammad Saeed

Aleem blamed global climate change
[3]
for the floods. In east-ern Pakistan,
100 trucks carrying relief supplies
were dis-patched, and 30 medical
[4]
camps were established.
Of-ficials
in Karachi said it would take at least
two days to clean up after the floods
[3]
receded.
The army was de-ployed
to Karachi where army engineers
worked to pump out the blocked
[4]
drainage systems.

Ocials in Afghanistan said they

were unable to deliver aid to
some hard hit areas due to the
access roads being controlled by
[1]
the Taliban insurgents.
On 5 August, United Nations
spokesperson Martin Ne-sirky
said UN and its humanitarian
partners
are
ready
help
Afghanistan and Pakistan if
required.

[8]

REFERENCES
1.

Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Independent. Reuters. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

2.

Pakistan and Afghanistan monsoon floods kill dozens. BBC. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

3.

Pakistan floods 'leave 58 dead, 66,000 aected', says NDMA. The News International. AFP.
5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

4.

Behn, Sharon (5 August 2013). Dozens Killed in Pak-istan, Afghanistan Floods. Voice of
America. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

5.

Monsoon Situation Update (PDF). National Disaster Management Authority. Retrieved 13

August 2013.

6.

Pakistan floods death toll hits 53. Daily Express. 5 Au-gust 2013. Retrieved 5 August
2013.

7.

Flash floods batter Afghanistan, at least 22 dead. Times of India. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August
2013.

8.

Monsoon 2013: UN extends support for relief eorts in Pakistan. tribune.com.pk. 6 August
2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.