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108-483: Since the 1940s, the delta has received less water as a result of large-scale irrigation works capturing large amounts of the Indus water before it reaches the delta. The result has been catastrophic for both the environment and the local population. As a result, the 2010 Pakistan floods were considered "good news" for the ecosystem and population of the river delta as they brought much needed fresh water. The population of

216-540: A Pakistan Navy reconnaissance plane, the Breguet Atlantique , which was carrying 16 naval officers on board, for an alleged airspace violation of Indian airspace. The episode took place just a month after the Kargil War , creating a tense atmosphere between India and Pakistan. After the incident, Pakistan Marine units were deployed in the region, with sizable SAMs active in the region. In 1999,

324-669: A malaria outbreak. The International Red Cross reported that unexploded ordnance, such as mines and artillery shells , had been flushed downstream by the floods from areas in Kashmir and Waziristan and scattered in low-lying areas, posing a future risk to returning inhabitants. The United Nations estimated that 800,000 people were cut off by floods in Pakistan and were only reachable by air. It also stated that at least 40 more helicopters are needed to ferry lifesaving aid to increasingly desperate people. Many of those cut off are in

432-677: A 24-hour period in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab . A record-breaking 274 millimetres (10.8 in) rain fell in Peshawar during 24 hours; the previous record was 187 millimetres (7.4 in) of rain in April 2009. On 28 July, the same heavy rains contributed to the crash of Airblue Flight 202 in the Margalla Hills . On 30 July 500,000 or more people had been displaced from their homes. On 30 July, Manuel Bessler, head of

540-668: A Mangrove Conservation Committee, with membership of all the relevant stakeholders has been formed to ensure the sustainable conservation of the Indus Delta Mangroves The end estimated coastline of the Indus delta with the Arabian Sea (the maximum length in the direction of the coast) is approximated at 210 km (130 mi), 220 km, and 240 km (150 mi). Because the Indus river has switched its location at various points in history, it has an "active" delta region, and total delta region (all area that

648-462: A joint map of the area based on a joint survey. Steps to resolve the dispute included allocation, delimitation, demarcation, and administration. Since neither side has conceded ground, India has proposed that the maritime boundary could be demarcated first, as per the provisions of Technical Aspects of Law of Sea (TALOS). However, Pakistan has refused the proposal because it feels that the dispute should be resolved first. Pakistan has also proposed that

756-442: A power shortfall of 3.135 gigawatts. Infectious diseases (e.g. gastroenteritis , diarrhoea , and skin diseases ) due to lack of clean drinking water and sanitation pose a serious new risk to flood victims. On 14 August, the first documented case of cholera emerged in the town of Mingora , striking fear into millions of stranded flood victims, who were already suffering from gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. Pakistan also faced

864-585: A similar fate. 2010 Pakistan floods The floods in Pakistan began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Sindh , Punjab and, Balochistan regions of Pakistan, which affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was affected by floods, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province facing the brunt of

972-549: A total of $ 2,653,281,105 had been raised in humanitarian support, the largest amount by the US (25.8%), followed by private individuals and organisations (13.4%) and Japan (11.3%). With need for substantial support to repair infrastructure, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that the Pakistani government enlarge its tax base by asking the wealthy citizens of Pakistan to contribute more for their country; by that time both

1080-506: Is also found growing in the delta. The natural flow of water and fertile sediments from Indus river into the delta has been impeded due to the construction of dams along the river. The reduction of freshwater due to the dams also increases salinity, making the waters of the delta unsuitable for the freshwater species. In case of the Indus dolphin, the damming of the river has isolated the delta dolphin population from those dolphins upstream. The 2010 Pakistan floods were considered "good news" for

1188-491: Is estimated at $ 1 billion. Aid donors estimate that 5,000 schools were destroyed. Following the 2010 floods, the Punjab government subsequently constructed 22 'disaster-resilient' model villages, comprising 1885 single-storey homes, together with schools and health centres. The Climate & Development Knowledge Network was engaged to advise on how to make the new infrastructure resilient to extreme weather events occurring in

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1296-538: Is manned by the Indian Coast Guard , and the larger open sea beyond is patrolled by the Indian Navy . The dispute lies in the interpretation of the maritime boundary line between Pakistan and India. Before independence, the area was part of British India . After independence in 1947, Sindh became a part of Pakistan while Gujarat remained a part of India. In 1968, an international tribunal resolved

1404-417: Is that Sir Creek has changed its course considerably over the years. If the boundary line is demarcated according to the thalweg principle applied to the current channel, Pakistan and India would both lose small amounts of wetland territory that were historically part of their provinces. Though the creek has little military value, it offers immense economic gain. Much of the region is rich in oil and gas below

1512-684: The Bombay Presidency of British India , including the Sindh Division and the territory of Rao Maharaj. The Sindh Division was separated from the Bombay Presidency only on 1 April 1936 when it became the Sindh Province . The government of the Bombay Presidency conducted a survey in 1911 and awarded a dispute resolution verdict in 1914 containing two contradictory paragraphs. Paragraph 9 of the verdict states that

1620-595: The GDP growth rate of 4% prior to the floods would turn to −2% to −5% followed by several additional years of below-trend growth. As a result, Pakistan was unlikely to meet the International Monetary Fund 's target budget deficit cap of 5.1% of GDP, and the existing $ 55 billion of external debt was set to grow. Crop losses were expected to impact textile manufacturing, Pakistan's largest export sector. The loss of over 10 million head of livestock along with

1728-463: The Jat villagers). Others have migrated due to lack of potable drinking water. The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum estimates that 14,400 people from the delta coast, majority of them fishermen, are amongst those that have left. Kharochan , until the 1970s was a bustling city in the delta. Its port was used to export locally grown silk, rice and wood. However, rising salinity destroyed the local agriculture and

1836-654: The Keti Bunder South Wildlife Sanctuary . Sir Creek lies just to the west of the Great Rann of Kutch area of India. On the Indian side, Sir Creek is one of the six main creeks in this area, the others being Vian Wari Creek (Vianbari and Viyanbari), Pir Sanai , Pabevari , Padala (16 km (9.9 mi) southeast from Sir Creek), and easternmost Kori (34 km (21 mi) southeast from Sir Creek). All of these creeks are within

1944-682: The LBOD canal between 1987 and 1997 to collect agricultural saline water and industrial effluents generated in the area around the main Indus river. The LBOD canal discharges the saline and contaminated water into the Sir Creek for disposal to the sea without contaminating the freshwater available in the Indus River . However, the LBOD construction is in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (Article IV), causing material damage (i.e. inundating

2052-506: The Pakistani Taliban insurgents (TTP) in the northwest to help in the relief effort, giving Taliban fighters a reprieve to regroup. Helping flood victims gave the US an opportunity to improve its image. Pakistani Taliban also engaged in relief efforts, making inroads where the government was absent or seen as corrupt. As the flood dislodged many property markers, it was feared that governmental delay and corruption would give

2160-601: The Sujawal District of Sindh province of Pakistan, is another potential point of infiltration by boat. Chinese activities in the area are of concern, too, since China Bund just north of Bondho Dhoro was built with finances from China. The Indian military Border Security Force (BSF) patrols Sir Creek up to midstream using floating border posts, amphibious vehicles, and foot travel by the Creek Crocodile Commandos. The coastal area of Sir Creek

2268-812: The World Food Programme announced that about 70% of Pakistan's population, mostly in rural areas, did not have adequate access to proper nutrition. Already resurgent in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, agricultural devastation brought on by the floods left Pakistan more susceptible to an increase in poppy cultivation, given the crop's resiliency and relatively few inputs. Floods damaged an estimated 2,433 miles (3,916 km) of highway and 3,508 miles (5,646 km) of railway and repairs are expected to cost at least US$ 158 million and $ 131 million, respectively. Public building damage

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2376-599: The border between India and Pakistan . The creek flows into the Arabian Sea and separates Gujarat state in India from Sindh province in Pakistan . The long-standing India-Pakistan Sir Creek border dispute stems from the demarcation "from the mouth of Sir Creek to the top of Sir Creek, and from the top of Sir Creek eastward to a point on the line designated on the Western Terminus". From this point onward,

2484-582: The jet stream , a phenomenon that reportedly also caused unprecedented heat waves and wildfires in Russia as well as the 2007 United Kingdom floods . In response to previous Indus River floods in 1973 and 1976, Pakistan created the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) in 1977. The FFC operates under Pakistan's Ministry of Water and Power . It is charged with executing flood control projects and protecting lives and property of Pakistanis from

2592-423: The 14 million affected] are children and 3 million women of child-bearing age. This is a higher figure than in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami ." An analysis by AP's correspondent, Nahal Toosi , suggested that the low death toll, the protracted timeline, the lack of celebrity involvement, the impression of government incompetence and donor fatigue were contributing factors. British Prime Minister David Cameron

2700-421: The 1925 map, it maintains that the doctrine is not applicable in this case as it most commonly applies to non-tidal rivers, and Sir Creek is a tidal estuary. India rejects the Pakistani stance by maintaining that the creek is navigable at high tide , the thalweg principle is used for international boundaries in tidal waters, and fishing trawlers use Sir Creek to go out to sea. Another point of concern for Pakistan

2808-549: The 1940s, dams, barrages and irrigation works have been constructed on the river Indus. (In fact the World Bank has characterized the works as the "world's largest" and the Indus Basin Irrigation System as the "largest contiguous irrigation system developed over the past 140 years" anywhere in the world.) This has served to reduce the flow of water and by 1994, the annual flow of water into the delta

2916-554: The 1980s and could be found along the entire 240 km coastline, in 40% of the tidal zone , and in 10% of the delta fan . Memon reports that the area of mangrove forests was 263,000 hectares in 1977 and 158,500 ha (392,000 acres) in 1990. Both agree that they were sixth-largest mangrove forests in the world. Previously there had been eight species of mangroves, although only four now remain: Aegiceras corniculatum , Avicennia marina , Ceriops tagal , and Rhizophora mucronata . Among these Avicennia marina constitutes 99% of

3024-516: The Arabian Sea. Karachi , Pakistan's largest city, releases sewage and discharge from industrial units into the Arabian sea, most of which is untreated. Both Port of Karachi and Port Qasim handle significant shipping traffic, resulting in oil discharge, some of which reaches the delta. All of this pollution lowers the river water quality, causes eutrophication , reducing the amount of habitat . Indus delta has shrunk by 92% since 1833. In light of

3132-531: The Baagri and Waghari nomadic tribes were served beef by the authorities in violation of their religious beliefs, which forbade beef consumption. The situation was resolved after officials from The Minority Affairs Ministry intervened. Haroon alleged that wealthy feudal warlords and landowners in Pakistan had diverted funds and resources away from the poor and into their own private relief efforts. There were also allegations that local authorities colluded with

3240-520: The Bandha Dhora and Harami Dhoro channels of the creek. Each one was screened to ascertain if they were ordinary fishers or terrorists because the Pakistani terrorists of the 2008 Mumbai attacks had entered India after launching their boat from this general area of Pakistan. On 9 September 2019, after abandoned boats were found by the Indian Army in Sir Creek, India issued an alert regarding

3348-412: The Indian side enters Pakistan in the north, where is it called Harami Dhoro (bastard's stream); turns east and re-enters India, where it is called Harami Nala (bastard's drain); then splits into two streams, one of which re-enters Pakistan, which poses a strategic challenge for India for guarding against infiltration from Pakistan. The Bondho Dhoro channel, which enters India further north of Harami Nala in

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3456-573: The Indus River burst its banks near Sukkur on 8 August, submerging the village of Mor Khan Jatoi. Law and order disappeared, mainly in Sindh. Looters took advantage of the floods by ransacking abandoned homes using boats. In early August, the heaviest flooding moved southward along the Indus River from severely affected northern regions toward western Punjab , where at least 1,400,000 acres (570,000 ha) of cropland were destroyed, and toward

3564-596: The Indus delta. In 1973, 64,405 hectares (159,150 acres, 11%) were transferred to Port Qasim . The Sindh Board of Revenue continues to manage 272,485 hectares (673,330 acres, 44%) of the area. In December 2010, realizing the importance of mangrove conservation, the Government of Sindh declared all the mangrove forests in the Indus Delta as "Protected Forests", under the Forest Act of 1927. Apart from this action,

3672-476: The Indus river (as mentioned above), has resulted in the formation of sand beaches . The Indus river started to form some 50 million years ago. 25 million years ago, the Indus Plain was lifted. Mangrove forests are one of the most abundant ecological communities of the delta, but they have declined over the years. According to Haq et al. , they covered an area of 600,000 hectares (1,500,000 acres) until

3780-579: The Indus river delta. It was damaged by a tsunami generated by an earthquake off the Makran Coast in 325 BC. According to Tarikh-i-Hind (also known as the Chach Nama ) by 6th century AD there existed a port called Debal in what is now the western part of the Indus delta. Debal also seemed to be the base of pirates from the tribe of Nagamara . These pirates' raids against the Umayyads , and

3888-530: The Marines reportedly fired an errant missile on an Indian Air Force MiG-21FL , which narrowly missed. Additional marine battalions and sniper recon units have been deployed in the Sir Creek region. From June 2019, several newspapers reported that Pakistan had rapidly built up forces at Sir Creek, and India swiftly responded likewise. After the 1999 Atlantique incident, Pakistan deployed its 31st Creek Battalion , headquartered at Sujawal and responsible for

3996-471: The Pacific has estimated the potential of generating 100KW of electricity by harnessing the power of tidal currents along 170 km (110 mi) of the delta's coastline. Pakistani fishermen in the delta have increasingly faced detention for accidentally straying over into Indian waters while fishing. Fishermen have been forced to fish near the border as a result of destruction of ecosystems elsewhere in

4104-848: The Sir Creek. Pakistan is planning to buy 60 more naval ships, including hovercraft and offshore petrol boats . Pakistan has also set up two new marine posts west of Pir Samadhi Creek in the area of Bandha Dhora and Harami Dhoro. Pakistan also has its 21st Air Defense unit and three marine units at Gwadar Port as well as the Jinnah Naval Base at Ormara . Pakistan has also boosted its air defense with an enhanced radar network, air defense missiles, radar operated guns , four Lockheed P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, and two ATR aircraft stationed at Pakistan Air Force 's PAF Base Masroor in Karachi and PNS Mehran naval airbase. In 2018, India's BSF caught 14 boats in

4212-562: The Taliban on 25 August in the Swat Valley . The floods' aftermath was thought likely contribute to public perception of inefficiency and to political unrest . These political effects of the floods were compared with that of the 1970 Bhola cyclone . The scepticism within the country extended to outside donors. Less than 20% of the pledged aid was scheduled to go through the government, according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, with

4320-466: The Taliban the opportunity to settle these disputes swiftly. In August a Taliban spokesperson asked the Pakistani government to reject Western help from "Christians and Jews" and claimed that the Taliban could raise $ 20 million to replace that aid. According to a US official, the TTP issued a threat saying that it would launch attacks against foreigners participating in flood relief operations. In response,

4428-690: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , stated that 36 districts were involved, and 950,000 people were affected, although within a day, reports increased that number to as high as a million, and by mid-August they increased the number to nearly 20 million affected. By mid-August, according to the governmental Federal Flood Commission (FFC), the floods had caused the deaths of at least 1,540 people, while 2,088 people had received injuries, 557,226 houses had been destroyed, and over 6 million people had been displaced. One month later,

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4536-474: The US and the EU each had contributed about US$ 450 million, €395 million for the relief effort. The governments of at least 75 nations donated hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and supplies to Pakistan following the flooding. Charitable funds were also established to provide relief for those affected by the flooding, and other nations sent in search and rescue teams to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Aid

4644-502: The US embassy in Pakistan had provided seven helicopters. The United Nations launched its relief efforts and appealed for US$ 460 million (€420 million) to provide immediate help, including food, shelter and clean water. On 14 August, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Pakistan to oversee and discuss the relief efforts. A Pakistani army spokesman said that troops had been deployed in all affected areas and had rescued thousands of people. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani visited

4752-471: The United Nations had warned of a potential "second wave of death" that would result from post-flood disease and food shortages, stating that 3.5 million children were at risk of death if they did not get assistance, including due to cholera. UN spokesperson Maurizio Giuliano stated that "an already colossal disaster [was] getting worse and requiring an even more colossal response", referring to

4860-517: The United Nations said it was reviewing security arrangements for its workers. The World Health Organization stated that work in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was already suffering because of security concerns. A self-proclaimed Taliban spokesperson based in Orakzai told The Express Tribune : "We have not issued any such threat; and we don't have any plans to attack relief workers." Nevertheless, three American Christians were reported killed by

4968-511: The active part of the delta was estimated at 900,000 in 2003. Most of the population depends on agriculture and fishing. Mangrove forests provide fuel wood . Many former settlements in the delta have been abandoned as result of lack of water in the Indus and the encroaching Arabian Sea. According to some accounts, the Macedonian fleet (of Alexander the Great ) anchored itself for some time in

5076-505: The area from Haji Moro Jat Creek in the north to Korangi Creek Cantonment in Karachi in the south. In 2019, Pakistan also deployed the 32nd Creek Battalion, headquartered at Gharo , with the view to increase the troop strength to three brigades by deploying more infantry and amphibious battalions. Pakistan has procured 6 coastal defense boats for coastal surveillance, and 4 of 18 newly acquired marine assault crafts will be deployed in

5184-409: The border between Kutch and Sindh lies to the east of Sir Creek, whereas paragraph 10 of the verdict further qualifies that "since Sir Creek is navigable most of the year, according to international law and the thalweg principle , a boundary can only be fixed in the middle of the navigable channel, which meant that it has been divided between Sindh and Kutch, and thereby India and Pakistan." The text of

5292-572: The boundary follows the center of the principal navigable channel of the waterway (which is presumably the deepest part). If there are multiple navigable channels in a river, the one principally used for downstream travel (likely having the strongest current) is used. When the thalweg principle is applied, the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) supports India's position, which "would result in

5400-536: The boundary is unambiguously fixed as defined by the Tribunal Award of 1968. Sir Creek was originally known as Ban Ganga. It was renamed Sir Creek after a representative of the British Raj . This marshy area is home to Russell's vipers and scorpions , which makes the lives of border soldiers difficult. During the monsoon season between June and September, the creek floods its banks and envelops

5508-479: The boundary starts and ends in the sea. Wind flow, waves, and turbulence that move the boat in the sea add to this unawareness. UN law advocates a minimum penalty for this offense and release of boats, but the governments of India and Pakistan catch these fishers and keep them in prisons for a long time. Their release happens through the land boundary of India and Pakistan ( Wagha border ), so these fishers return to their home country without their boats. Pakistan built

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5616-644: The creek area exposed during the low tide) to India. Thus Pakistan has an economic interest in keeping the dispute alive and not settled as per international conventions. If India is physically holding (partially or fully) the water area of the creek, India can settle the LBOD dispute as per the arbitration procedure available in the Indus Waters Treaty. This disputed region is known for the Atlantique Incident that occurred on August 10, 1999. Indian Air Force MiG-21FL fighters shot down

5724-448: The current delta stretches from the Arabian Sea to just south of Thatta (~100 km or 62 mi). There are currently 17 major creeks(Including Sir Creek , Bhitiaro Creek and Kori Creek) and numerous minor creeks. The delta receives almost all of its water from the Indus river, which has an annual flow of approximately 180 billion cubic metres (240 billion cubic yards), and is accompanied by 400 million tonnes of silt. Since

5832-416: The damage and casualties (above 90% of all the deaths occurred in the province). Nationwide, there were 1,985 deaths. According to Pakistani government data, the floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had initially asked for US$ 460 million (€420 million) for emergency relief, noting that

5940-651: The delta came under the control of the increasingly autonomous province centered at Mansura . The eastern part of the delta was even more independent and controlled by the Sumra tribe until 1053 AD, when the region was brought under the control of the Khalji Delhi Sultanate by Alauddin Khalji . The tribe had several capitals, but none are populated today. In 1333 AD, the Samma Dynasty ruled all of

6048-527: The delta is subjected to the highest wave action of any river delta in the world. (The amount of wave energy the Indus delta receives in a single day is greater than that received by the Mississippi River Delta in a year.) Throughout history the delta has survived this wave action because of the large discharge of fresh water to counter the erosional impact of waves. This large amount of wave energy, coupled with lack of silt flowing in from

6156-584: The delta region range from 21 to 30 °C (70 to 86 °F) in July, and 10–21 °C (50–70 °F) in January. During the summer, the delta experiences intense monsoonal winds from the southwest, causing parts of the delta to be covered by sea-water. When this water retreats, it leaves behind salts in the delta's soil. During the winter the winds in the delta come from the northeast. The summer monsoonal winds also contribute to high wave energy levels. In fact,

6264-507: The delta, and established their capital first at Samu-i (on the south bank of Keenjhar Lake ) and later at Thatta . It was during this dynasty that the "golden age of native rule" (1461-1509 AD) happened in the delta and Sindh, under the rule of Jam Nizamuddin II . From 1591 to 1592, the Mughal empire waged a campaign to bring lower Sindh under imperial rule, resulting in the delta coming under

6372-399: The delta. Because the boundaries between India and Pakistan are poorly demarcated in some areas (e.g. Sir Creek ), fishermen often don't know when they've crossed the border. NGOs say that under Indian laws, fisherman can face, at most, three months in prison and a $ 12 fine. However, most are jailed for a year, and their boats are sold at an auction. Indian fishermen crossing into Pakistan face

6480-817: The delta. In spite of this displacement and other destruction caused in the rest of Pakistan, however, many people in the delta considered the floods as "good news". Villagers reported abundance of fresh water for drinking and agriculture. Fishermen reported increase in catches. The economy of the delta consists of agriculture and fishing. As of 2005, more than 140,000 hectares of land were used for agriculture, mostly used to cultivate rice , followed by sugarcane and wheat . Barley , gram , oil seeds , maize , millet , cotton , and jowar are other important crops. Fruits such as coconut , mango , fig , pomegranate , apple , peach , melon , banana , guava and papaya are also reportedly grown. The delta also used to have large pastures for livestock grazing. As of 2003, fishing

6588-449: The districts of Thatta and Badin of the Sindh province. Pakistan's fifth largest city, Hyderabad , lies about 130 miles north of the mouths of the Indus. Towns are found throughout the delta, but there are no large cities on the delta south of Hyderabad. Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, lies west of the delta on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The 2010 floods displaced nearly 1 million people in southern Sindh, including those living in

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6696-543: The eastern flank of the creek. Pakistan lays claim to the entire creek as per paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Sindh Government Resolution of 1914 signed between the Government of Sindh Division and Rao Maharaj of Kutch . India disagrees with Pakistan's claims because in 1908, when the dispute arose between the Sindh Division and Rao Maharaj, the whole area was under the legal jurisdiction of

6804-528: The ecosystem of the river delta as they brought an excess of much needed fresh water. The Sindh government announced that 8,000 hectares of mangrove forests had been planted, and more plantation was considered (however, the delta has lost 170,000 hectares of mangroves over the past 50 years). The delta faces pollution both from sea and the Indus river. Chemical run-off into the river threatens many species. Most of this chemical run-off consists of agriculture pesticide and fertilizer . The delta faces pollution from

6912-483: The flood was the worst disaster he had ever seen. Only 20% of the relief funds requested had been received on 15 August 2010. The U.N. had been concerned that aid was not arriving fast enough, and the World Health Organization reported that ten million people were forced to drink unsafe water. The Pakistani economy was harmed by extensive damage to infrastructure and crops. Damage to structures

7020-453: The future. The idea was that the villages should provide 'triple wins' of limiting greenhouse gas emissions, promoting development and building resilience to climatic events. Now inhabited, the model villages incorporate biogas plants, solar energy systems, livestock sheds, covered sewerage, brick-paved streets, parks, play areas, markets and community centres. It was reported that the flood would divert Pakistani military forces from fighting

7128-575: The impact of floods. Since its inception the FFC has received Rs 87.8 billion (about US$ 900 million). FFC documents show that numerous projects were initiated, funded and completed, but reports indicate that little work has actually been done due to ineffective leadership and corruption. Monsoon rains were forecast to continue into early August and were described as the worst in this area in the last 80 years. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that over 200 millimetres (7.9 in) of rain fell over

7236-413: The inadvertent crossing over of fishers of both nations into each other's territories. In contrast to economic reasons described by India and Pakistan, fishers of both countries get trapped in conflict and their economic rights of earning are affected. The governments of India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishers of the other nation for crossing the boundary; however, a conventional fisher may not know where

7344-465: The international community for responding slowly, despite the ferocity and magnitude of the disaster. On 9 August, only $ 45 million in aid had been committed, which is far less than usual for this scale of disaster. In an analysis of the response to the disaster, The Guardian said that there was a dire need of relief. It quoted the UN's humanitarian affairs coordination office, saying that "[s]ix million [of

7452-421: The larger Great Rann of Kutch border claims of India and Pakistan, which also covered Sir Creek. In this resolution, India received 90% of its request and Pakistan received 10%. Elements of dispute remain in Sir Creek with conflicting claims from both sides. From 1997 to 2012, there have been twelve rounds of talks between the two nations, without a breakthrough. In 2008, in the fourth round, both sides agreed to

7560-527: The loss of other crops would reduce agricultural production by more than 15%. Toyota and Unilever Pakistan said that the floods would sap growth, necessitating production cuts as people coped with the destruction. Parvez Ghias, the chief executive of Pakistan's largest automotor manufacturer Toyota , described the economy's state as "fragile". Nationwide car sales were predicted to fall as much as 25%, forcing automakers to reduce production in October–2010 from

7668-406: The loss of over 500,000 tonnes of stocked wheat, 300,000 acres (1,200 km ) of animal fodder and the stored grain losses. Agricultural crops such as cotton, rice, and sugarcane and to some extent mangoes were badly affected in Punjab, according to a Harvest Tradings-Pakistan spokesman. He called for the international community to fully participate in the rehabilitation process, as well as for

7776-436: The low-lying salty mudflats around it. During the winter season, the area is home to flamingoes and other migratory birds . The 24th parallel north passes through Sir Creek. Sir Creek is mainly fed by Nareri Lake , whose outlet joins the creek on its right bank. LBOD , a canal, also discharges water effluents into Sir Creek. On the Pakistani side are several other creeks to the west of Sir Creek, most of which are part of

7884-515: The mangrove forests for their livelihood, and 60% depended on the forests for fuels. At least 75% of the population in the active delta depend on the fishing industry . The population suffers from the lack of health facilities and medical staff. Only about a third of the population has access to clean drinking water. Ethnic groups of lower Sindh can be found in the delta region: Mallaah , Mohano , Soomro , Samma and Jat . All of these groups speak Sindhi and follow Islam . The delta falls within

7992-542: The mangrove population. As of 2007, the mangroves of the Indus delta are the largest desert climate mangrove forests in the world. However the Indus Delta saw an increase in number of mangroves after preservation and plantation initiatives. Mangrove forests of Indus delta now cover an area of around 600, 000 hectares. The mangroves are under control of three different organizations, namely: - Sindh Forest Department (280, 470 Ha) - Port Qasim Authority (64, 400 Ha) - Sindh Board of Revenue (255, 130 Ha) Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

8100-407: The mountainous northwest, where roads and bridges have been swept away. By order of President Asif Ali Zardari , there were no official celebrations of Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day on 14 August, due to the calamity. Floods submerged 17 million acres (69,000 km ) of Pakistan's most fertile crop land, killed 200,000 livestock and washed away massive amounts of grain. A major concern

8208-492: The north parts of the country. The same department recorded above-average rainfall in the months of July and August 2010 and monitored the flood wave progression. Discharge levels were comparable to those of the floods of 1988, 1995, and 1997. The monsoon rainfall of 2010 over the whole country was the highest since 1994 and the second highest during last 50 years. A research by Utah State University analyzed conditional instability, moisture flux, and circulation features and

8316-470: The plant is not enough to meet the needs of the entire village, Pakistan's Ministry of Science and other NGOs have shown interest in replicating it to alleviate water shortages in the delta. Research and Development Foundation , a Pakistani NGO, has also started implementing solar desalination in six villages in Thatta with funding from Oxfam . The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and

8424-428: The population) of the historic Sindh town of Thatta fled advancing flood waters on 27 August. By mid-September the floods generally had begun to recede, although in some areas, such as Sindh, new floods were reported; the majority of the displaced persons had not been able to return home. Heavy rainfalls of more than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) were recorded during the four-day wet spell from 27 to 30 July 2010 in

8532-574: The port was lost to the encroaching Arabian sea by 2006. In 2009, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) constructed a large water reservoir, of capacity 12,000 litres (2,600 imp gal; 3,200 US gal), in Tippin village (at Keti Bandar ) and a few plastic storage tanks (with a capacity of 4,000 litres). It also set up 200-watt solar panels to supply electricity to a school. Finally it installed two 500-watt wind turbines. Electricity

8640-417: The prior level of 200 cars per day. Milk supplies fell by 15%, which caused the retail price of milk to increase by Pk Rs 4 (5 US cents) per litre. By the end of July 2010, Pakistan had appealed to international donors for help in responding to the disaster, having provided twenty-one helicopters and 150 boats to assist affected people, according to its National Disaster Management Authority. At that time

8748-550: The province and directed the Pakistan Navy to help evacuate the flood victims. By early August, more than 352,291 people have been rescued. By the end of August, the Relief Web Financial Tracking service indicated that worldwide donations for humanitarian assistance had come to $ 687 million, with a further $ 324 million promised in uncommitted pledges. Since the early stages of the emergency,

8856-727: The province of Multan and ruled by Mirza Ghazi Beg . In 1739, the region, along with many others, was ceded to Nadir Shah . The Kalhora ruled the region until 1783. The power then transferred to the Talpurs until the British East India Company conquered them in 1839. In 1947, the Indus delta, along with rest of Sindh became a part of Pakistan. Since 1957, the Sindh Forest and Wildlife Department has been tasked with protecting and managing 280,580 hectares (693,300 acres, estimated 45%) of mangrove-forested area of

8964-491: The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department . * Indicates new record. The power infrastructure of Pakistan also took a severe blow from the floods, which damaged about 10,000 transmission lines and transformers, feeders and power houses in different flood-hit areas. Flood water inundated Jinnah Hydro power . The damage caused

9072-573: The refusal to redress the issue by the ruling prince , precipitated the Muslim conquest around 710 AD (by Muhammad bin Qasim ). Debal remained a port, and the last recorded mention of it was in 1223 AD. By the time Ibn Batuta reached the Indus delta, Debal had been abandoned due to increased shoaling preventing the then-port from accessing the sea. When the Abbasid caliphate began to disintegrate,

9180-401: The relief operations as "a marathon at sprint pace" and acknowledging shortcomings in the response insofar as the needs were outpacing available resources also due to endless rains. He indicated that the floods had a worse impact than several other recent natural disasters combined, and that they were the worst natural disaster in United Nations history. According to UNOCHA , by 2011,

9288-752: The remainder flowing through non-governmental organisations. The government's response was complicated by insurgencies (in Balochistan and Waziristan), growing urban sectarian discord, increasing suicide bombings against core institutions and relations with India. On 7 September 2010, the International Labour Organization reported that the floods had cost more than 5.3 million jobs, stating that "productive and labour intensive job creation programmes are urgently needed to lift millions of people out of poverty that has been aggravated by flood damage" . Forecasts estimated that

9396-444: The resolution suggests that the resolution was based on the thalweg principle. India supports its stance by citing the thalweg doctrine in international law . The thalweg legal principle states that if the border between two political entities is stated to be a waterway without further description (e.g. a median line, right bank, eastern shore, low tide line, etc.), the boundary follows the thalweg of that watercourse; in particular,

9504-411: The results support a persistent increase in conditional instability during the July premonsoon phase, accompanied by increased frequency of heavy rainfall events. The increased convective activity during the premonsoon phase agrees with the projected increase in the intensity of heavy rainfall events over northern Pakistan. Large-scale circulation analysis reveals an upper-level cyclonic anomaly over and to

9612-492: The revival of agricultural crops in order to get better GDP growth in the future. In affected Multan Division in South Punjab , some people were seen to be engaging in price-gouging in this disaster, raising prices up to Rs 130/kg. Some called for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to write off all agricultural loans in the affected areas in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa especially for small farmers. On 24 September,

9720-509: The sea bed, and control over the creek would have a huge bearing on the energy potential of each nation. Also, defining the boundaries would help in the determination of the maritime boundaries, which are drawn as an extension of onshore reference points. Maritime boundaries also help in determining the limits of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and continental shelves. EEZs extend to 200 nautical miles (370 km) and can be subjected to commercial exploitation. The demarcation would also prevent

9828-599: The shifting of the land/sea terminus point several kilometres to the detriment of Pakistan, leading in turn to a loss of several thousand square kilometres of its Exclusive Economic Zone under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea ." India further argues for its position that the boundary lies mid-channel, as depicted in another map drawn in 1925 and implemented by the installation of mid-channel pillars back in 1924. Though Pakistan does not dispute

9936-596: The southern province of Sindh. The affected crops included cotton, sugarcane , rice, pulses , tobacco and animal fodder . Floodwaters and rain destroyed 700,000 acres (3,000 km ) of cotton, 200,000 acres (800 km ) acres each of rice and cane, 500,000 tonnes of wheat and 300,000 acres (1,000 km ) of animal fodder. According to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, the floods destroyed 2 million bales of cotton, which increased futures prices. 170,000 citizens (or 70% of

10044-510: The tally had risen to 1,781 deaths, 2,966 people with injuries, and more than 1.89 million homes destroyed. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial minister of information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain , said "the infrastructure of this province was already destroyed by terrorism. Whatever was left was finished off by these floods." He also called the floods "the worst calamity in our history." Four million Pakistanis were left with food shortages. The Karakoram Highway , which connects Pakistan with China,

10152-405: The threats, Indus Delta was designated a Ramsar site on November 5, 2002. The WWF is working on conservation methods to alleviate the Indus delta's shortage of freshwater . The population of the delta was estimated at 900,000 in 2003 (the total population of Indus River Delta-Arabian Sea mangroves was 1.2 million). Within the river delta, about 140,000 people (16% of the population) depended on

10260-405: The two sides go in for international arbitration, which India has refused. India maintains that under the bilateral Simla Agreement , all bilateral disputes should be resolved without the intervention of third parties. The resolution by the 1968 tribunal demarcated the boundaries between the two nations, and Pakistan claims that the creek was included as part of Sindh, thus setting the boundary as

10368-543: The undisputed territory of India, except the westernmost creek, Sir Creek, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan. These evershifting creeks exit Indian territory, enter Pakistan, re-enter India, and vice versa, creating a hard-to-patrol, marshy wetland border with no physical barrier or fencing. Two channels, the Harami Nala and Bondho Dhoro, are of specific concern to India for preventing infiltration and illegal activities. Vian Wari Creek (Vianbari and Viyanbari) on

10476-484: The warlords to divert funds. The floods accentuated Pakistan's sharp class divisions. The wealthy, with better access to transportation and other facilities, suffered far less than the poor . Sir Creek Sir Creek ( / s ər ˈ k r i k / sər KREEK ), originally Ban Ganga , is a 96 km (60 mi) tidal estuary in the uninhabited marshlands of the Indus River Delta on

10584-466: The west of Pakistan –a feature empirically associated with weak monsoon. The analysis also suggests that the anomalous circulation in 2010 is not sporadic but rather is part of a long-term trend that defies the typical linkage of strong monsoons with an anomalous anticyclone in the upper troposphere. An article in the New Scientist attributed the cause of the exceptional rainfall to "freezing" of

10692-421: Was 43 × 10 ^  m (1.5 × 10 ^  cu ft), and annual amount of silt discharged was estimated to be 100 million tonnes (98 million long tons). Since 1994, the water flow has decreased as Punjab has been allocated a higher share of the water. The climate of the delta is described as arid. It receives only 250–500 mm (9.8–19.7 in) of rain in a normal year. Average temperatures for

10800-930: Was accused by Pakistan of hampering international aid efforts after he claimed that Pakistan was responsible for promoting terrorism. It was reported that members of Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community, who were caught up in floods in Muzaffargarh , were not rescued from their homes because rescuers felt that Muslims must be given priority. Members of the Sikh community, who arrived at gurdwaras in Lahore, also complained of government apathy. They said members of their community were abandoned in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and had to arrange for rescues by themselves. Protests broke out in Lyari relief camp after Hindu victims of

10908-535: Was also criticised for going ahead with visits to meet leaders in Britain and France at a time when his nation was facing catastrophe. In Sindh, the ruling Pakistan People's Party ministers were accused of using their influence to redirect floodwaters from their crops while risking densely populated areas leading Pakistani UN ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon to call for an inquiry. The United Nations criticised

11016-498: Was also sent in by train and on trucks, and dozens of privately held companies made considerable monetary donations. The Pakistani government was blamed for sluggish and disorganised response to the floods. The perceived disorganised and insufficient response led to riots, with looting of aid convoys by hunger-stricken people. The lack of a unified government response allowed Islamist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-e-Islami to supply aid with minimal resistance. Zardari

11124-484: Was an important source of revenue. Catches of mangrove dependent fish were valued at $ 20 million annually, shrimp at $ 70 million and mud crabs at $ 3 million. As a result of resource degradation , a large exodus of people has taken place from the Indus delta. Altaf Memom estimates that 90,000 have been displaced and about 120 villages have been depopulated . One reason give is the shortage of local bushes and plants that are used for preparing various materials (especially by

11232-569: Was closed after a bridge was destroyed. The ongoing devastating floods in Pakistan will have a severe impact on an already vulnerable population, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In addition to all the other damage the floods caused, floodwater destroyed much of the health care infrastructure in the worst-affected areas, leaving inhabitants especially vulnerable to water-borne disease . In Sindh,

11340-576: Was estimated to exceed US$ 4 billion (€2.5 billion), and wheat crop damages were estimated to be over US$ 500 million (€425 million). Total economic impact may have been as much as US$ 43 billion (€35 billion). The floods were driven by rain. The rainfall anomaly map published by NASA showed unusually intense monsoon rains attributed to La Niña . On 21 June, the Pakistan Meteorological Department cautioned that urban and flash flooding could occur from July to September in

11448-406: Was once a part of the delta). The total area is estimated at 29,524 km (11,399 sq mi), 30,000 km (12,000 sq mi) and 41,440 km (16,000 sq mi). The active area is estimated at 4,762 km (1,839 sq mi), and 6,000 km (2,300 sq mi). The length of the total delta along the axis of Indus is estimated at 240 km (150 mi), whereas

11556-471: Was previously unavailable due to high cost of establishing power lines in the difficult-to-access area. In 2010, Sindh Radiant Organization (in partnership with WWF) installed a solar-powered desalination plant developed by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in the village of Jat Mohammad . The plant is capable of providing 40 gallons of drinking water every day. While

11664-414: Was that farmers would be unable to meet the fall deadline for planting new seeds in 2010, which implied a loss of food production in 2011, and potential long term food shortages. The agricultural damage reached more than 2.9 billion dollars, and included over 700,000 acres (2,800 km ) of lost cotton crops, 200,000 acres (810 km ) of sugar cane and 200,000 acres (810 km ) of rice, in addition to

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