BADIN DISTRICT, SINDH PROVINCE, Pakistan (September 20, 2011) — Like déjà vu, exceptionally heavy monsoon rains that caused an unprecedented disaster in Pakistan during 2010 have returned with a vengeance to hit the southernmost part of the country.
More than five million people have been affected by the latest flooding in Pakistan and according to the meteorological forecast, further rains are expected over the next few days. In addition to areas that were affected last year, new areas have also come under water. As 22 out of 23 districts of Sindh have been affected, recovery and rehabilitation activities being carried out by the humanitarian organizations in affected communities have taken a serious blow.
In 2010, the district of Badin was fortunate not to be affected by the floods. Hosting displaced populations from the neighboring districts, area residents considered themselves lucky to have escaped the devastation. This time around, however, Badin is one of the worst flood-affected districts. Uninterrupted rains for nearly a month, have affected nearly 68% of the estimated 1,420,000 people in the district.