Pakistan Facing Financial Collapse

Pakistan's troubles are growing by the day, it seems, as some analysts are now suggesting that the country is almost on the brink of total economic collapse, and meanwhile UN officials are warning of severe malnutrition among children who are still receiving little aid. The flood crisis is adding a huge burden to a country that already had its share of problems, financial and otherwise Pakistan was already in serious financial trouble even before the floods which have left millions homeless and 1/5 of the country underwater, its government was over $50 billion in debt earlier this year, and the cost of rebuilding will be staggering. Thousand upon thousands of homes, schools and hospitals have been swept away and in the affected regions, most of the roads have been destroyed as well. The loss of this summer's wheat crop and the potential loss of the fall wheat planting will lead to food shortages in a country already struggling to feed itself. Fears of unrest in the populace are beginning to mount and the country is dealing with a security problem regarding extremist violence which is likely to only worsen.

United Nations officials are renewing pleas for aid as announcements were made that the potential for malnutrition among children is growing into a serious threat. The UN said that the overall health situation among flood victims is relatively stable and under control for now, but UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado warned that "the emergency is far from over: large numbers of women and children have not been reached with the assistance they urgently need" and that young children are particularly vulnerable. The World Food Programme has said that it has only received a small fraction of the food aid needed and that much more help from donors will be necessary to stave off the looming hunger crisis.

It seems clear that the survival of the victims, and indeed the stability of the entire nation, is dependent on the rest of the world's participation in the recovery efforts. It is our duty to help Pakistan meet the challenge or the human, economic and political costs will be even greater in the long run. For the people who call Pakistan home, it seems that all they can do is pray that the international calls for help will be heeded. The country's very survival may hang in the balance.