Pakistan floods: ‘I lost everything’

BBC News:

As 22-year-old Muhammad Aslam combs through the ruins of his home, he finds rubble where there were once walls, and piles of straw he’s used as a thatch roof for his mud home.

His village Sadori – in the Pakistani province of Balochistan – was devastated by flash floods that began in June and have since killed more than 500 people. Close to 50,000 houses have been either been damaged or flattened so far, displacing thousands of people.

Mr Aslam and a few others have returned to their village see if they can rebuild their life here. But it’s a grim sight that greets them. Nothing can be saved – even their farm land has been turned into a muddy swamp.

“I lost everything,” he says.

The monsoons first hit Pakistan in the middle of June. The country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said they brought 133% more rainfall than the annual average, which has not happened in years.

The downpour triggered floods which wreaked havoc across provinces, swallowing up entire villages, roads and bridges. For days, people were trapped, landlocked with little help, local media reported.

In Sadori, the clouds are still grey and heavy. Anxiety hangs thick in the air.

Mr Aslam tells us he is worried about more rains in the coming weeks and has moved his family to a temporary shelter on higher ground.