(LinkAsia: September 28, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Over in Southeast Asia, Thais are looking nervously at the skies. The annual rainy season is causing a steep rise in many of Thailand's rivers. Last year brought disastrous floods in much of the country, including the capital city of Bangkok, leading to more than 880 deaths, misery for millions of people, and billions of dollars in lost production.
One of the areas hit hardest by the floods was the world heritage site of Ayutthaya. NHK has this report on the city's flood defenses.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 21, 2012

Reporter:
The ancient city of Ayutthaya is famous for its world heritage temples. Last year, the city was inundated by Thailand's worst floods in half a century. As the rains approach again, citizens are on high alert. Situated on the bank of Chao Phraya river, these historical temples are at risk of flooding.

(LinkAsia: August 10, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Heavy rains continued in Shanghai through much of the week as Haikui moved inland. Now, typhoon season is also hitting the Philippines hard. The main island of Luzon has felt at least two major storms in the past two weeks, and half the country's capital of Manila is underwater. We have this report from our Japanese broadcast partner NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: August 8, 2012

Kathleen Ocampo, NHK World:
The Philippines is facing the worst seasonal deluge to hit the capital since 2009. A large area of Manila and its suburbs are paralyzed, with buildings and roads underwater.

There may have been fewer rains, but the houses behind me are still submerged in floods.

Typhoon Saola swept into the Philippines late last month, bringing heavy rainfall. Monsoon rains continue to pound Manila in other parts of the country. Philippine weather officials say the capital had more than 30 millimeters of rain per hour since Monday.

The Marikina River in the northeastern part of the city overflowed, flooding homes and businesses. Disaster management officials say at least 64 people died in landslides or by falling into the swollen rivers. They say nearly 800,000 people have evacuated to schools and other facilities, but many are still stranded. The government mobilized the military, coast guard, and police for around-the-clock search-and-rescue missions.

Evacuee:
I hope the water goes away soon, so we can get our lives back to normal.

Evacuee:
The flood swept away my money and all my things. I have a small child. We won't be able to eat, even if we return home.

Reporter:
The rain has eased for now, but government officials are calling on citizens to stay on the alert for heavy rains. They say heavy rains are expected to continue throughout the day.

(LinkAsia: May 11, 2012)
Sydnie Kohara:
Now moving to Thailand, where last year's floods nearly wiped out the World Heritage site of Ayutthaya. The government has done very little to repair the damaged city, but NHK reports that local and international charities have stepped in to rebuild houses.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 8, 2012

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Insufficient government aid is causing flood victims like Chamlern Manojam to continue to live among the wreckage. Her house is unsanitary; most of her belongings are damaged and covered in grime. She has no source of income and is living on donations of food, water, and other necessities. Rust stains on the walls show that the home was submerged under two meters of water for months.

Chamlern Manojam, Flood Victim:
It's been a really big struggle. We lost everything. We couldn't save anything. We didn't know what to do.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Last year's floods destroyed at least 170,000 homes in Thailand. Many residents watched the deluge wash away all their belongings, leaving behind a trail of devastation. But there is hope for Chamlern. She is one of the hundreds of people who are getting a new home for free, thanks to the efforts of charitable groups. The goal is to rebuild over 900 homes in eight provinces affected by the floods. So far, 106 have been completed.

I'm here at the construction site where the homes are being built for the flood victims, and each home is built at least two meters above the ground as a flood preventative measure. The walls are made of a special material called Beva boards. They're known for being water resistant and easy to install. Unlike traditional homes in the area, these houses have indoor plumbing, so residents have access to bathrooms in case of emergencies.

Experts fear another major flood will hit Thailand this year. Heavier than usual rain is forecast from May to October. NGOs are working around the clock to prevent a repeat of a natural disaster.

Chamnarn Wangtal, CEO, Habitat for Humanity, Thailand:
The strategy we're using to prepare is to compile a fund that can be used for first response. We are already gearing up just in case. One example is we plan to provide tents as temporary shelters.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Chamlern feels grateful for her new house. Others who have yet to receive help continue to worry. The public is urging the government to implement preventative measures as soon as possible.

Sydnie Kohara:
The government is building dykes to protect Ayutthaya from future flooding. The residents support this move, but think that the government should do more to take care of people in the area who still lack that elevated housing that we just saw in the piece.

2010 could go down in history as the year of natural and environmental disasters. We’ve witnessed earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, wildfires and a drought in Russia, a devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and now one fifth of Pakistan is submerged under water due to floods leaving more than 20 million people without potable water, food, shelter and medicine.

 

The United Nations general secretary, Ban Ki-moon, called this latest disaster a “slow-motion tsunami,” and appealed for swift aid.

"Make no mistake, this is a global disaster," Ban said at the UN general assembly. "Pakistan is facing a slow-motion tsunami. Its destructive powers will accumulate and grow with time," he warned.

 

Relief agencies say the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Pakistan is greater than this year's earthquake in Haiti; however, relief for Pakistan may be a long time coming.

"Although governments have been coming forward with increasing generosity, the public response has not been the immediate outpouring of generosity that we've seen for Haiti and the tsunami five years ago," the U.N. Under Secretary John Holmes said.

According to a CBS news report, sixteen days after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, aid commitments totaled $1.4 billion. Sixteen days after Pakistan's floods began, promises added up to just $200 million.

Yet despite the heart-wrenching television images

broadcast across the globe showing massive destruction and enormous human suffering, the world has been slow to react to calls for aid. Why has Pakistan been forsaken?

The most common answer to the slow response is “donor fatigue.” Many believe that there have been too many disasters in one year, and donors have reached their limit in giving, especially since many still suffer from the effects of the financial crisis. Another factor has been a low death toll.  But Pakistan's tarnished image plays a major role, according to a few Pakistani Americans I’ve spoken to.

“Zardari’s government is corrupt,” said Ali Khan, a financial analyst from San Jose. “Many people do not believe that their contributions will reach the right people,” he added.

Another Pakistani American I’ve spoken to placed the blame for the slow response on the anti-Muslim sentiments sweeping the Western world.

Meanwhile, the United States has pledged an additional $60 million to the U.N. flood-relief effort in Pakistan, bringing its contribution to $150 million in a move designed to encourage other governments and private donors to boost their aid.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has pledged $124.29 million in aid for Pakistan’s flood relief campaign, surpassing the western economic giants - and Islamabad’s allies in the war against terror – according to Al Arabiya TV. The UAE has also been leading a massive relief campaign to transport food and medicine to flood-stricken remote areas in Pakistan. Oil-rich Kuwait however,  has been criticized for it’s meager $10 million contribution.

Arab media has given the crisis extensive coverage and has played a major role in creating awareness during the holy month of Ramadan, a month known for giving.

Weather forecasts indicate that there could be four more weeks of rain, which could exasperate the situation even further.

We at Link TV have a set up a page on our website to keep you updated with the news in Pakistan and provide you with a useful guide so that you too can contribute in some way in the saving and rebuilding of lives there.

 

Get the latest updates and find out what you can do to help

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