Some two weeks after the high of the floods, damages on the field remain impressive. Bridges have been flooded away, a large number of buildings have been torn out alongside the river Swat. In many instances, only the foundations are still visible. The water level remains high and the river is still well over the limit, far beyond its normal course. But “despite the rains which keep on falling, daily life has resumed; one can see small businesses in the ruins of the destroyed buildings and people are back on local markets”, reports Jodelle, one member of the ACTED emergency team which arrived in Pakistan two weeks ago.

Food security as the major short-term challenge

The main concern remains access to food and to potable water. “Food stocks and crops have been largely flooded in the most affected areas. In many villages of Upper and Lower Dir, local people have nothing left to eat, as food stocks (corn, flour, rice, etc.) have been destroyed”, underlines Jodelle. Access to local market is still difficult and the delivery of food items is slowed down in many instances: rivers cannot be crossed, roads are impassable and trucks have the utmost difficulty to reach some isolated areas. According to our field assessment in Upper Dir, some 327 kilometers of roads have been damaged by the floods.

The food security is not the only related issue for the flood-affected populations who cannot feed themselves properly. It is indeed the whole of the Pakistani economy which is weakened. With 45% of the country’s labour force employed in agriculture, losses in this sector will likely have a spill-over effect on the entire country, with possible food shortages and the global increase of food prices throughout the country.

Water as the main priority

Access to drinkable water is critical with the destruction of most of the water sources and the extensive damages sustained by many water supply schemes. Springs have been spoiled by rubble, wells have been over flooded, many water pumps and water conveyance destroyed. Access to potable water is a real source of concern for the people in the flooded areas. 74% of the water sources in the assessed areas of Lower Dir have been for example destroyed, thus reducing water resources for the affected communities.

With water sources in many areas completely devastated, vulnerable men, women and children are being forced to drink contaminated floodwater and risk life-threatening diseases. The incidence of acute watery diarrhoea has escalated with frightening speed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, the Punjab and Baluchistan, and if not contained swiftly, could lead to outbreaks of disease and acute malnutrition.

ACTED's continuous mobilization

ACTED staff remains fully devoted to the emergency operations in the Province of Swat and Dir, where our teams have been working for over a year, supporting local communities. For the past two weeks, ACTED has been concentrating on water deliveries.

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