Army’s Flood Relief Operations Across Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

Past experience proves that during any natural calamity like earthquake or flood, besides people who serve the needy through humanitarian services by providing generous aid, Pakistan’s armed forces, particularly Pakistan Army cope with the drastic situation boldly. These forces have been the redeeming saviors of nation under all circumstances and always reached out to all citizens of the country.

In the last six year, under the supervision and command of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa who will retire on November 29, this year, Army’s innumerable services and sacrifices such as military operations against terrorists, counter-insurgency operations, restoration of law and order on many occasions—during catastrophic periods—floods, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic, locusts’ attacks etc. are commendable.

When more than 250 children died of malnutrition and diseases in 2019 in Thar region of Sindh, Army established a free medical camp in Tharparkar. Army’s doctors and paramedics provided essential medical treatment to over 1,800 patients.

It is of particular attention that the unprecedented deadly floods and extraordinary monsoon rains which began in June, this year have destroyed lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in various regions of Pakistan, leaving one-third of the country underwater.

Latest figures of the National Flood Response Coordination Committee (NFRCC) released on October 13, 2022 show that over 1, 76,153 acres of crops destroyed—over 2, 16,974 cattle died —over 4,66,366 homes affected—over 1,60,460 homes were partially affected while 1,17,356 were completely demolished amid the flooding across the country.

Earlier, media reported that owing to the floods, more than 2000 persons have died; more than 30 million of people have been affected, 2 million acres of crops destroyed, 5,563 kilometres of roads and 243 bridges have been damaged. Half a million people were in displacement camps and many others were without shelter. 

Officials say this year’s floods are comparable to 2010—when over 2,000 people died and nearly a fifth of the country was under water. But, comparatively, it is more drastic.

Foreign media called Pakistan’s flood as a result of climate change with a serious climate catastrophe.

The rain spell and floods have negative effects on the people in the flood-ravaged areas also from the pandemic diseases—as a number of persons have died.

Taking cognisance of large scale devastation, the Pakistan Government has established a flood relief fund, namely, Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund, 2022 for providing relief and rehabilitation to the flood-affected persons. Similarly, in live telethons, Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan collected approximately Rs.10 billion for the flood-victims.

However, the entire Pakistani nation, civil society and humanitarian organisations (NGOs) have stepped forward to assist in the rescue and relief efforts of the flood-ravaged regions, while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is also playing its role.

In fact, whenever the nation of Pakistan faces a major challenge, people look at armed, naval and air forces for support. It is quite true in case of the current flood circumstances, which have wreaked havoc in almost all provinces of the country. The Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force are all actively participating in flood rescue and relief operations.

These forces have established relief funds for the victims of the flooding areas. In this spirit, all the general officers of the army have also donated their one-month salary to help the victims. Apart from this, other officers are also giving financial donations on a voluntary basis. Even, the Pakistan Air Force Women’s Association (PAFWA) has collected cash donations amounting to more than Rs 14 million.

And besides monetary assistance, all three branches of the country’s defence are distributing rations on-ground. Besides other two forces, Army has established more than 200 relief collection points across the country. Donations by various segments of society have been dispatched to these flood relief camps.

Nevertheless, these three forces pounded and distributed packages—basic needs of life such as ration, cooked food packs, fresh drinking water, blankets, clothing items, tents etc. These armed forces have also set up medical camps which are providing medical treatment and medicine to the flood-affected patients.

Particularly, the Pakistan Army is engaged in a massive rescue and relief operations in the regions affected by torrential rains and flash floods. Army has established a Relief and Rescue Organisation under Headquarters Army Air Defence Command to manage these operations. Army’s teams rescued a number of people stranded in the flood-hit areas, including women and children along with their belongings and shifted them to safer places. An example of the relentless bravery shown by the Army is that of Lt-Gen. Sarfaraz Ali, Commander Engineers 12 Corps Brigadier Muhammad Khalid, Major Saeed Ahmed, Major Muhammad Talha Manan and Naik Mudassir Fayyaz who embraced martyrdom after their helicopter crashed during en route from Quetta to Karacha in relation to a rescue operation.

While, the fleet of helicopters of Army Aviation, the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force were deployed in flood-stricken areas. Their emergency response teams are also assisting civil administration in rescue and relief efforts of South Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh. Thus, these forces have also saved the life of thousands of individuals.

Notably, Director General (DG) of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)-the then Maj-Gen. Babar Iftikhar on September 1, 2022 stated that the nation was generously contributing to the relief efforts of the Army—the Army Flood Relief Fund as Rs.417 million were collected in the fund so far for the flood victims while Rs.44 million were collected during the past 24 hours to support the people affected by the floods.

He elaborated: “Since the beginning of the crisis caused by the recent monsoon rains, the armed forces were working day and night in the affected areas for the last 2 months”.

He added: “Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had made detailed visits to the flood-affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab and reviewed the ongoing relief operations on ground.”

Taking note of the dire effects of the deadly floods and extraordinary monsoon rains, UN agencies and many western countries, including China, Japan and Islamic countries like Turkey have sent several planes loaded with aid, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been one of the most generous contributor, and sent so far more than 45 flights carrying aid for flood victims. Numerous rich countries as well as the European Union (EU) have also announced financial support. For example, the EU provided €350,000, and the US provided $56.5 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the floods, and announced $ 10 million additional aid.

But, this financial assistance is not enough, as Islamabad requires $30bn to respond to the massive losses because of extraordinary floods and rains.

In this respect, during a two-day visit to Pakistan, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres appealed to the international community on September 9, 2022  for massive financial support—flood-hit impoverished Pakistan needs about $30bn to recover from the floods, which he, himself assessed by surveying these areas through helicopter.

It is noteworthy that during his repeated trip to the flood-affected areas of Sindh on September 10, this year, talking to the media, army chief Gen. Bajwa urged the people of the country to help the flood victims generously and stated that the world will help to some extent.

And in a statement, the ISPR said that Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on September 13, 2022 visited flood affected areas in interior Sindh…met troops busy in flood relief efforts providing medical and administrative care to affected people in Noshero Feroz. Gen Bajwa also interacted with the locals and assured them that Pakistan Army will continue to serve people to mitigate their suffering till they are rehabilitated. Later, the Army Chief was flown for aerial reconnaissance of flood hit areas of Sindh.”

Nonetheless, coping with the current sea-like flood waters, flood relief operations of Pakistan’s armed forces, especially those of Army are highly praiseworthy.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

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