Will the floods happen again?

Some scientists are proposing a theory of 1000 year cycles for the river Indus of high flow and low flow. The Mohenjoh Daro Civilization existed at a time of Indus High flow when the currently flooded banks of the river Indus were incorporated in the river all year round. It is possible that this may be the beginning of a 1000 year cycle of Indus high flow. Are we prepared for this contingency? We have not even started to deal in an organized way with the fallout of this year’s floods. The displaced population has been stranded in ill organized camps and many returning to their homes are exposed to standing floodwater and largely rebuilding on their own.

How do we prevent this level of devastation in future?

1. Take immediate measures to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution in Pakistan.
2. Prepare drainage and storage facilities for possible heavy monsoon rains. Every village, town and city close to the Indus needs floodwater spillways that lead away from populated areas, with storage in low lying valleys or in man-made reservoirs.
3. Human settlements and cultivation must be located away from possible flood affected areas. Permanent settlements should not be allowed on riverbeds and in the flood plains. Any temporary settlements should be designed to be disposable and possibly on stilts.
4. Plantation of a mile wide stretch of a Peepal forest on both banks of the Indus river. While a slow growing tree, Peepal used to flourish in this region during ancient times and protected the areas distant from the river from the force of the floods. Other fast growing local trees will need to be planted between the Peepals as well.
5. The breaches created in the Indus to save barrages and dams should be designed as permanent standing alternative spillways for the diversion of water during floods. These spillways should lead away from settled and cultivated land and end in reservoirs or remote valleys.
6. If excess water is released into populated and cultivated land rather than being diverted toward the desert or uncultivated land there should be advance warning with clear communication and time to facilitate an evacuation.
7. Planned evacuation is important. Resources of local ear-marked authorities can be used. Fuel, food and hygiene must be provided as well as health checkup for all evacuees on arrival at the camps. The camps need to be in solid buildings that are mosquito proof and have functioning toilets and a steady water supply. The most easily available structures are government offices, schools and mosques.
8. Corruption. Weed it out. It only works if its from top to bottom.
9. The public must be educated about their rights and there is need to establish the fact that no one is above the rule of law.
10. We must recognize and punish criminal negligence of duty by respective authorities. It is important that concerned functionaries have an emergency contingency plan, general guidelines for decision making in times of crisis and clear instructions to act in the public interest when action is needed.
11. We need a clearly charted plan of action.

• Lines of communication: Government departments, armed forces, media, NGOs, affected population.
• Determine the department of the government which will coordinate and facilitate all efforts at the centre.
• Determine the people to be evacuated and identify camp locations. Designate responsibility for maintenance of the camps and provisions for the evacuated population. Possible division of responsibility along the lines of: hygiene, nutrition, health, transport, temporary employment, funding, mosquito coils, utensils, boiled drinking water, etc.
• All evacuees and organizers should have instructions to take with them utensils to boil water, mosquito netting or sheets that can be used to keep out mosquitoes if made into a tent, and bars of soap. These are life saving items.
• Establish lines of communication between all groups so that people are not left stranded.
• Designate spillways and breaches to be formed should the need arise. This should be made public well in advance of the actual event. Any conflict of interest has to be prevented.
• Strict review of water inflow and outflow across all barrages, dams, reservoirs and lakes.

12. Encourage on the spot decision making on moral and ethical grounds through the media and by giving clear instructions to all concerned officials to do so.
13. Establish lines of communication between affected population and aid workers. Use the newspapers, flyers, television and radio. Use the loudspeakers of mosques. The phone numbers of all responsible people should be available in each camp and also through the print and electronic media.
14. Public Health Education:

• Hand washing with soap.
• Drinking water must be filtered, then boiled for 20 minutes with a lid on after the bubbles start to form and cooled before use.
• Keep away from mosquitoes. They can be a deadly vector of Malaria and Dengue. Use mosquito netting, mosquito coils and burn cow dung.
• For emergency toilet, dig a deep ditch, cover with wooden plank or other flat surface with a hole in the middle. Place a tent over it and use as toilet. Keep sand and water nearby in the tent to clean with. Wash hands with soap afterwards.
• How to avoid:
  • Respiratory tract infections: Do not stand too close to coughing people. Wash hands with soap and water before meals. Use of cigarette, paan, gutka, chaliya, tobacco, is extremely harmful.
  • Diarrhea: Wash hands with soap and water, boil drinking water for 20 minutes with a lid on after the bubbles start to form. Cool and then use. Do not eat food more than a day old. Prevent flies from sitting on food. Eat bananas and home made yogurt if available.
  • Malaria: Avoid mosquitoes. Eat Mitthas (local citrus fruit that has bitterness) if available. Ask a doctor to prescribe prophylactic antimalarial medication.
• How to treat:
  • Simple wounds: Keep clean and dry. Use soap and water to clean, then apply antiseptic. Keep covered with clean dry bandage. Prevent flies from sitting on the wound. If the wound is on a limb, elevate limb to keep swelling down. If it is a large wound the edges can be pulled together with a single stitch. Change bandage if it gets dirty. If the surrounding area is red and painful and if the patient is running a fever, then s(he) needs urgent medical attention.
  • Respiratory tract infections: Steam inhalation. Wash hands with soap and water. Do not wipe nose with the same dirty cloth repeatedly. It is better to spit or blow out onto the ground and then cover with dirt. If fever is accompanying cough then alert the organizers to call for a doctor.
  • Diarrhea: Keep the body well hydrated with fluids available. Make oral rehydration fluid with one glass boiled and cooled water, one tea spoon sugar and 2 pinches of salt. Give the patient banana, soft rice based foods or yogurt. If fever, persistant vomiting or pain continues then call for a doctor.
  • Malaria: Medication for fever and virus need to be given. It is important keep the body hydrated. Sweet things to eat and drink will help heal faster.

About the Writer:
Ms.Veerta Ali Ujan is a doctor by profession. She volunteers her time for spreading health awareness in poor communities and also writes on social issues for various publications.