Pakistan floods cause unprecedented loss
18.7 million people affected. 20 percent of the country &mdash the size of Florida &mdash inundated. $43 billion (24 percent of Pakistan's GDP) in total damage. More than 2,000 people killed. These numbers only begin to give a sense of the suffering caused by flooding in Pakistan. As United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon said, "I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this."However, while flood waters surge south, foreign aid merely trickles into Pakistan. This lack of support engenders severe long-term consequences, such as the rise of the Taliban, the destruction of Pakistan's already fragile quasi-democratic government and the collapse of their fledgling economy.
Because of the relative lack of foreign aid &mdash the Taliban, and other militant Islamic organizations &mdash have begun filling the void. The Taliban is seizing this opportunity to further strengthen its presence in the region. In fact, it has set a goal of recruiting 50,000 members. The Taliban's aggressive humanitarian efforts have rendered enlistment far more attractive to Pakistanis.
As support for the Taliban grows, its attacks will become all the more deadly. Therefore, this week's bombings in Quetta (65 killed) and Lahore (at least 40 killed) may become commonplace. Without international aid, the Taliban will gain more recruits and continue to destabilize Pakistan.
Pakistan's domestic leadership has also been conspicuously absent during the catastrophe. President Asif Ali Zardari was gallivanting around Europe during much of the flooding. Furthermore, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, as opposed to Zardari's escapism, opted for histrionics. He ordered medical relief camps to be constructed, filled them with refugees, appeared briefly, took a few pictures and then quickly left. Later that day, the fake, made-for-TV medical camps were closed. Gilani's actions, coupled with Zardari's, cast a grim light on Pakistan's civilianleadership.
In stark contrast to Zardari and Gilani's ineptitude, General Ashfaq Panez Kayani and Pakistan's military immediately began providing substantive, meaningful relief to millions. The army set up rescue camps, airlifted supplies and rescued survivors. In the process, the army, whose reputation had reached a nadir with the dismissal of General Pervez Musharraf, regained credibility. As Ayaz Amir, an opposition member of Parliament, noted, "Kayani looks so tall that a military takeover will remain just a formality." Though Kayani may be a successful leader, his ascent to power will be the fourth time a military leader has ruled Pakistan, and Pakistan's fledgling democracy will be rendered a failure.
Finally, Pakistan's struggling economy is feeling the brunt of the catastrophe. The flooding decimated 14 percent of the country's cotton crop, a key raw material for the textile export sector. Flood waters also damaged many roads and bridges, leading to higher transportation costs. These two problems portend short-term economic hardships: job losses and rising inflation, possibly to 20 percent. In the long run, costs for rebuilding Pakistan will be astronomical. Pakistan's relative poverty, coupled with its $52.12 billion external debt, will make it difficult to raise funds domestically.
Moreover, Pakistan's B3 credit rating &mdash which applies to countries in economic crisis &mdash will render it virtually impossible to issue government bonds. Even if such bonds are sold, the interest rates will rise above the already-high 13 percent. (U.S. bonds are at 2.5 percent.) Thus, the interest payments alone will further bankrupt Pakistan. Without international aid, therefore, Pakistan faces Sisyphean short- and long-term economic consequences.
Pakistan has faced immense flooding, the scale of which humanity has never seen. However, more than the statistics and the quotes, there are real people suffering. There is the mother who saved her kids, only to be swept away herself. There is the bride-to-be who was also swept away after being left by her brothers. There are 18.7 million stories like this. And no statistic can capture the level of human suffering.
Yet domestic leadership and foreign aid have been relatively nonexistent. Such a poor response leads to three long-term problems: the ascent of the Taliban, the demise of Pakistan's elected government and the contraction of Pakistan's economy. Will the domestic leadership and international community idly watch as Pakistan teeters on the brink of disaster, or will they actively endeavor to help Pakistan in its darkest hours?
Neeraj Salhotra is a Sid Richardson College sophomore.
More from The Rice Thresher
Founder’s Court goes alt-rock as bôa kicks off U.S. tour at Rice
Founder’s Court morphed into a festival ground Friday night as British alt-rock band bôa launched the U.S. leg of their “Whiplash” tour. The group headlined the third annual Moody X-Fest before what organizers estimate was “a little bit over 2,000 students” — the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history.
Rice launches alternative funding program amid federal research cuts
Rice is launching the Bridge Funding Program for faculty whose federal funding for research projects has been reduced or removed. The program was announced via the Provost’s newsletter April 24.
This moment may be unprecedented — Rice falling short is not
In many ways, the current landscape of American higher education is unprecedented. Sweeping cuts to federal research funding, overt government efforts to control academic departments and censor campus protests and arbitrary arrests and visa revocations have rightly been criticized as ushering in the latest iteration of fascism.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.