Southern Pakistan is facing an unprecedented natural disaster as massive floods submerge farmland and entire villages

Punjab

Widespread flooding in Punjab, Pakistan has submerged entire villages and farmlands, impacting nearly 4 million people. Many residents have been forced to evacuate, saving only a few belongings and livestock as their homes and crops are lost to the rising waters.

Farmers in the region have suffered devastating financial losses, with vital crops such as rice, sugarcane, maize, and cotton destroyed. The disaster poses a serious threat to Pakistan's food security and economy, as many displaced families now rely on temporary shelters and aid. Authorities and local communities are providing some relief, but the scale of the crisis has overwhelmed local capacity, prompting calls for outside assistance.

Pakistan: Nearly 4 million people affected by Punjab flooding

This is how the outskirts of Multan city looks like. With each passing day, the floods continue to spread following vast stretches of land and submerging entire villages and farmlands. Just two days ago, there was no water here. Now the area is submerged, deep enough for this boat to carry out evacuations. On board are women and children and their livestock. Muhammad was lucky to find a place on the boat, as he offloads fodder that will feed his goats for a few days. Our farms and homes are underwater. We were only able to save our lives, a few belongings and some sheep. Now the biggest challenge for us is repaying the debt we took for seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Nearby, Malik Zafar watches helplessly as his rice crop vanishes before his eyes. These floods have inundated all our crops, surpassing anything we've ever seen before. Farmers like us who rely solely on agriculture have suffered devastating financial losses. It will take months before we can stand on our feet again. But for many poorer farmers, there's nothing left except a few heads of cattle. They seek refuge in a mango orchard through the courtesy of a local farmer. They receive food and basic tents from the government and help from the locals. Many are spending time under open skies waiting for assistance. We moved to this camp after losing our homes. Now we're in urgent need of tents to protect our children and to safeguard the few belongings we managed to save. The devastation has destroyed vital cash crops, posing a serious threat to Pakistan's food security. Many farmers here have lost their entire crop of sugarcane, rice, maize and cotton, leading to huge financial losses. They say they will not be able to cultivate their wheat in time, adding to their troubles. With no relief in sight, these farmers can do little but wait for the floodwaters to recede. It is a crisis of biblical proportions, far beyond the country's capacity. And without outside help, we'll put an extra burden on an already battered economy. This crisis is overwhelming, in scale, far beyond what the country can handle alone.

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