Helping the Devastated

Pak Army and Air Force continue to help flood affectees on the frontlines

Floods across Pakistan have ravaged towns, leaving thousands displaced, hungry and without basic amenities across the country. While the calamity is one of the most devasting the world has ever seen, the nation has risen to the task to help those devasted by floods, with the country’s armed forces being at the forefront of these initiatives. Since the start of the floods, which began in Balochistan, and eventually engulfed the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, the Army and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have been there to help. The Pak Army and PAF have carried out countless rescue missions and supplied aid to affectees, with efforts still ongoing. Relief efforts have included, sending soldiers as rescue teams, disbursement of ration items and drainage of water in submerged areas.

Most recently, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited areas in Dadu district in interior Sindh. During his visit to Dadu, an area facing immense flooding, the Army Chief spent time with flood affectees who have been housed in relief and medical camps. Following his tour, General Bajwa issued directives for the provision of 5,000 additional tents to the region and its surrounding areas. The Chief also interacted with troops stationed in Dadu. Later, the COAS was flown for aerial reconnaissance of flood-affected areas of Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Meher and  Manchar Lake.

Moreover, Shelters, food, medical care, education, and other basic facilities are being provided to the flood victims, by the Pakistan Army in Balochistan. Similarly, 11 relief camps are functioning province’s flood-affected areas where cooked food and ration are being distributed to the victims to 38 families in Bolan, 110 people in Dera Bugti, and in-patients in Sibi. Apart from this, on a single day on September 13, 1,865 people received ration packets in the affected areas of the province. Items disbursed include flour, pulses, rice, sugar, cooking oil, water, milk, and juice. A total of 83 free medical camps have been set up by the Balochistan Frontier Corps and Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), where 27,964 patients have been provided free healthcare services.

Separately, the PAF is carrying out efforts for the welfare and rehabilitation of flood affectees. The PAF has sought to empower state institutions by vigorously undertaking relief operations and assisting the civil administration in rescue and relief efforts in areas of Balochistan, Sindh, KP and South Punjab. The Air Force has also set up various Field Medical Camps where doctors and paramedical staff have been tirelessly providing treatment and medicines round the clock. During relief operations, Emergency Response Teams of the PAF have distributed prepared food, rations and other essential items. In a single day 15,719 cooked food packs, 507 water bottles and 3,415 ration packs were distributed amongst families in Uthal, Lakhra, Matyari, Shahdadkot, Sohbatpur, Qila Abdullah, Fazilpur, Jhal Magsi, Hajipur, Basti Sher Muhammad and Basti Jageer Gabool.