"One-Third of the Country Submerged"… Pakistan Floods, Damage Estimated at 13 Trillion Won

1,136 Deaths, 33 Million Displaced
Floods Caused by Climate Change
International Organizations Mobilize Emergency Funds for Support

On the 24th (local time), residents in Sukkur, Sindh Province, southern Pakistan, where monsoon heavy rains poured, are passing through flooded streets by boat. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] More than 1,000 people have died and the damage has exceeded 13 trillion won due to floods caused by the worst monsoon rainy season in Pakistan.

According to foreign media including AFP on the 31st (local time), Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority announced on the 29th that 75 people died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the start of the monsoon season in June to 1,136.

Pakistan has suffered from floods caused by unprecedented heavy rains, washing away roads and infrastructure in many places. In the local northern mountainous villages, communication has been cut off in hundreds of villages, leading to expectations that the death toll will be higher. The southeastern Sindh province, which received nine times the usual rainfall, and the southwestern Balochistan province, which received more than five times the usual rainfall, suffered the most damage. Additionally, as villages were submerged and crops were damaged, food prices have skyrocketed.

Sheri Rehman, Pakistan's Minister of Climate Change, stated, "One-third of the country is submerged in water, creating an unimaginable scale of crisis."

Asan Iqbal, Pakistan's Minister of Planning and Development, explained, "More than 33 million people have been affected by this heavy rain, which corresponds to about 15% of the national population." He added, "The damage caused by the floods is estimated to exceed 10 billion dollars (about 13.5 trillion won), and it may take more than five years to rebuild the affected Pakistan."

The monsoon rainy season begins every year in June in southeastern South Asia, including Pakistan, and continues until September. The monsoon is a type of seasonal wind caused by temperature and pressure differences between the continent and the ocean. It is known that 80% of Pakistan's annual rainfall is concentrated during the monsoon season.

On the 29th (local time), Sobat Purshi in Zafarabad, Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan, is submerged due to flooding. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Analyses suggest that the main cause of this flood disaster is climate change. In particular, Pakistan's heatwave, which soared to around 50 degrees Celsius last May, is considered a trigger for this flood. AP News explained, "The warmer the air becomes, the more moisture it absorbs, resulting in rain, and this time it was heavy rain."

Minister Iqbal pointed out, "Pakistan is a victim of climate change caused by the irresponsible development of developed countries." He added, "Our total greenhouse gas emissions are among the lowest in the world, and the international community has a responsibility to help us build infrastructure to respond to climate change."

International organizations such as the United Nations are mobilizing emergency funds to provide support. According to AP News on the 30th (local time), the UN announced that it will provide emergency aid of 160 million dollars (about 215 billion won) to help Pakistan. Various forms of aid will be provided to about 33 million displaced Pakistanis.

The international community is also extending relief efforts. Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and others have dispatched aircraft carrying relief supplies. China, which has already provided tents and blankets, has decided to provide an additional 300,000 dollars and 25,000 tents. South Korea announced that it will provide 300,000 dollars (about 400 million won) in aid.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.