Floods are still raging, devastating and destroying villages after villages in Sindh, people in millions being uprooted, rendered hungry and shelterless. The nation has risen to face situation. Apart from the government agencies, professional organisations, established NGOs other countless bodies and bodies have emerged and are putting in their best efforts to help fellow citizen in distress. It is laudable, no doubt.
What is missing, is co-ordination. The relief efforts are concentrated at some places while others are getting no attention and their sufferings increasing. It's because there is no plan, of course there couldn't be, because nobody, no agency no government be it federal or provincial paid heed to warnings of possible floods right from the beginning of the year.
Though the relief work at this scale is a gigantic issue, the extent of dimensions of the problems after floods ie rehabilitation, reconstruction and restoration of normal life in the affected areas and people is so vast that the fragmented efforts put in so far may prove a drop in the ocean.
To deal with the situation effectively competent and compatible organisation is the foremost requirement. It appears this issue has not come on the agenda of the rulers, because no hint in this direction has come so far. The government denies trust deficit on its part, but denial of facts serves no purpose. The other individuals and organisations bring on their own what they think is best in the given circumstances. Revival of economy cannot be achieved without the revival of normal human life.
The problems emerging after floods are going to multifaceted. In the rural areas the first and foremost issue is that of land and ownership. Floodwater has swept away all the records. Even to build a shelter for a family may pose a problem. Then there is the demarcation of agriculture land, orchards etc.
Floods leave behind some effects that change the soil property and potential. Some research would have to be carried out to determine the nature of crop suitable for cultivation. Flood has also swept away bunds and breached the canals at innumerable places. It would call for the reconstruction of the canal system. Then there is the loss of cattle heads, so vital not only for the rural economy but also for the people living in urban areas, town and cities. One may go on counting the problems and issues and more would be cropping up one after another.
To cut it short, what is needed is central co-ordination organisation to properly utilise the meagre available resources. Is the government willing to take on board all those combinations, political or others, who are engaged and intend to continue to participate in rehabilitation and reconstruction work? Some way has to be found to pool the resources, organise the work on scientific basis, divide the work and assign tasks and monitor it. There appears no other way.
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