An update report on the situation after the recent flash floods in Chitral, Pakistan.

Syed Harir from

Justice Aid & Development Foundation (JAD) makes clear that the floods were not caused by GLOF

(Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) as some government sources claim and provides a detailed breakup

and summary of the damages and a set of recommendations for action to take by different actors.

This is an update on the impacts and the causes of the recent floods in Chitral, Pakistan, as well as a detailed breakup

and summary of the damages and a set of recommendations for action to take by different actors. The flashfloods

have killed 35 people includsing women, children and elderly. More than 50 people sustained injuries and economic

losses have been high (+10,000 livestock, crops, infrastructure)

Government experts are putting most of the blame on what, in climate change lingo, is described as “Glacial Lake

Outburst Floods” or GLOFs. GLOFs are floods caused by valley glaciers melting because of warmer temperatures in

the summer months, and forming lakes – hidden or visible – which then break out of the moraine and ice that dams

them. The water gushes below into the valleys at great speeds, destroying everything in its path. The authorities and

some organizations are misreporting about the recent events, quoting it as the outcome of GLOF, are either not aware

about the geophysical condition and geology of Chitral or they have no understood the causes of GLOF. For the

record, this was a case of erratic torrential rains with thunderstorms that caused the flash floods.

Syed Harir provides a a set of recommendations for action to take:

 An integrated and comprehensive disaster damage and needs assessment is required.

 Chitral should immediately declare disaster hit district by Provincial Govt and provide immediate relief,

rehabilitation and start reconstruction work as soon as possible.

 If it is beyond the capacity and capability of Provincial government, a formal request to federal government to be

made for emergency response.

 Provincial and federal govts should call a donor conference and invite them to support Chitral. NDMA, PDMA

and DMUs should establish a network of all humanitarian organizations to mobilize relief to the affected people.
 JAD Foundation has the experience of heavy snow relief operation of Bourghul some 250 km in the extreme

north of Chitral at Wakhan Corridor of 2005. The best practice will supplement saving significant cost on

transportation and ensure transparency in relief distribution.

 District Government should establish Incident Command System (ICS) in Chitral and define role and

responsibilities of the stakeholders for relief and recovery.

 District Disaster Management Unit Chitral should do resource mapping of all stakeholders and pool the resources

to avoid duplication of resources.

 Flood mapping should immediately be undertaken by concerned department/authority to declare the flood

affected location as “high risk zone” and no construction should be allowed in the existing location to avoid future

destruction.
 Pakistan Meteorological department should at least realize the miseries of the mountain people and consider

their demand to establish weather monitoring and forecasting mechanism in Chitral to inform people on time,

about the torrential rains and GLOF threats.

You can also contact for more information to Syed Harir Shah, President of the JAD Foundation.