LEDC flooding case study - Pakistan Flashcards
Location
Flooding occupied in NE and SW of Pakistan.
Almost linear patter down the country.
Severely affected locations such as Multan, Chilas and Mingora.
Most flooding took place along the River Indus.
Other rivers such as th River Jhelam and the River Chenab were affected.
Causes
Unusually heavy Monsoon rains: more than 200mm of precipitation was recorded in the provinces of Khyber, Punjap and Pakhtunkhwa from the 27th July to the 30th.
Deforestation: less interception and evapotranspiration, resulting in more rainfall reaching the ground. Earth became saturated, meaning more surface run off and soil erosion.
Primary economic impacts
1000s of electricity poles and communication towers uprooted
Total damage between £16 billion and £26 billion
Flooding of cropland caused a loss of $2.8 billion
Primary social impacts
Currents washed away roads and bridges in the north
Damage to roads and railways in the Sindh and Punjap provinces
Death toll of close to 2000
Primary environmental impacts
Dam in the NW that irrigated nearly 200,000 acres of farmland destroyed.
20% of country’s total cropland flooded
Millions of acres of pulse and rice crops washed away
Estimated 200,000 cattle died in the floods and 10 million are now at risk due to shortage of clean water and upkeep.
Farming community lost all of its resources.
Secondary economic impacts
Impact on country’s textile and sugar industries
Inflation exceeded 12% in the following months
Food shortage lead to high prices
Price of dairy products went up
Secondary social impacts
Large communities cut off from rest of country
Most vulnerable section of population hit hardest
Shortage of food
Secondary environmental impacts
No immediate shortage of food as Pakistan had a bumper crop th previous year
Eventual food shortage
Responses 1
Oxfam launched response to provide aid to more than 2.5 million people
Emergency response in Sindh which helped around 70000 people. It included the provision of clean water, sanitation facilities, distribution of hygene, kitchens and tool kits as well as animal fodder.
Responses 2
Ran hygiene centres to help prevent spread of disease
UK government committed £134 million and a £10 million bridge project was brought forward.
Provided: sage drinking water to 2.5 million people, tents and shelter to 1.3 million people, food packages for more than 1 million, wheat and vegetable seeds, fertiliser, animal food and veterinary services to more than 115,000 rural families.
