Flood Threatens Pakistan Again: Warnings of a Devastating Monsoon Rain Wave

Amid a merciless rainy season, Pakistani authorities have warned of a new wave _the eleventh_ of heavy monsoon rains, threatening to inundate more land and exacerbate the situation for millions affected in the east of the country, especially in the province of Punjab, which is already facing a growing humanitarian disaster.

The Punjab Regional Disaster Management Authority issued an early warning, indicating the possibility of flooding in rivers, streams, and floodplains, due to forecasts of heavy rainfall in the upper watersheds of the rivers, during the period from Tuesday to Friday next week (from 16 to 19 September).

According to the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, the floods have claimed the lives of 972 people so far, with water levels continuing to rise due to heavy rains and the release of full dams, especially those coming from the Indian side.

In field developments, rescue teams supported by army units rushed on Wednesday to evacuate thousands of residents from villages submerged near the city of Jalalpur Pirwala in the east of the country.

The region has witnessed frantic efforts to reinforce the dams, as water levels reached the official danger level.

Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed confirmed that approximately 142,000 people in the area have been affected by the floods, noting that most of the displaced had to seek refuge in the homes of relatives or sleep outdoors on the flood barriers, while some resorted to temporary relief camps after their homes were washed away.

Images and videos showed rescue boats retrieving stranded individuals from rooftops and trees, in a tragic scene, while several residents complained of discrimination in access to rescue means, asserting that those with money hired private boats and escaped, while the poor were left waiting for long hours in the rain.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 1.6 million people are now at risk of overwhelming floods, with the possibility of needing large-scale evacuations or rescue operations, especially as the recent wave of flooding reaches the Sindh province in the south of the country.

Since August 23, waters have submerged more than 4,000 villages in the Punjab province alone, affecting more than 4.2 million people and displacing around 2.1 million individuals, in addition to the deaths of 68 people due to heavy rains described as "unusual" in their intensity.

In a notable development, the International Monetary Fund announced its intention to review spending plans in Pakistan, following the enormous economic damage caused by the floods, opening the door to a potential economic crisis that could hit a country already suffering from inflationary pressures and chronic fiscal deficits.

In conclusion, the disaster authority urged citizens to exercise caution and cooperate with emergency teams, confirming that the emergency number 1129 is available around the clock to report any dangerous situations or stranded individuals.