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Monday, 6 September 2010Went further into southern Punjab Province today to see and hear stories about flood survivors. On the way we drove along a road that had been washed out by the floods. Water was still flowing over it about 4 inches deep. All around all you could see was water and I was told this used to be some of the best crop lands in all of Pakistan. You would never have guessed it. It looked like the water had always been there. I was stunned to here the river that burst its banks and flooded this area was almost 100 kms away, and all the land between here and the river was submerged. That's hard to comprehend, the water had travelled 100 kms. In its wake the water sparred no one, rich or poor. I met one family who said they were very poor and rented some land on which to farm. They had worked hard for years to build up cotton crops and acquired 17 cows. Unfortunately the family lost everything and has no money to rebuild. They say if they can't work the land they won't be able to pay rent and will probably be kicked off with nowhere to go. Then I met one of the few families in Punjab who actually owned their own land and had a saw mill where they processed wood to make furniture. The head of the household told me they had a good life, plenty of food, a nice home and no worries. But they too lost everything including their crops and mill equipment. Just like the other family they have no clue how they will rebuild and say it could be decades before they get back on their feet. Natural disasters don't differentiate between rich or poor, they devastate everyone. Some officials have told me the economy has been so badly effected they worry even micro-enterprise projects won't be able to help as no one has any money to purchase goods. So they may have to go back to the barter system while people try to get back on their feet and then reintroduce money at a later date. Can you imagine? Thanks Brian Hatchell CBM - Emergency Communications Coordinator |
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