Peshawar/Lahore:
Although rescue efforts help the disaster hit the victims safely the rubble of their homes, they are insufficient to save millions of floods throughout the country to drown in their own psychological agitation.
Sahar, nine years old, who was seen sitting in a camp located in Mohlanwal, near the Ravi de Lahore river, was busy with school books and toys. State in the middle of nowhere with his parents and his brothers, Sahar remembered the life he left behind. “My favorite doll game has gone, and my books have also been ruined. How will I continue my studies?” Sahar shouted, whose eyes reflected the pain of a child whose entire world had suddenly destroyed.
Sahar’s father, Mohammad Kashif, who was a barber by profession, revealed that he had built a small house after years of hard work and a life of profits, all of which were dragged in a matter of moments. “The loss of material possessions can be compensated, but I am extremely concerned about my children. They wake up scared every night, stunned by the view of water. As a father, I have no words to comfort them. I am in such a state of helplessness that I can only clean their tears,” he shared an inconsOLable Kashif.
“For any child, his home is his safe place in an unpredictable world. When this safe place no longer exists, the child begins to feel insecure. Toys and books are not only objects, but of emotional support. When all this has gone, the child becomes alone and scared. If they are not immediately advised, these children can continue to suffer from depression and drinks as they grow,” noted, noted.
Iftikhar Mubarak, head of the search for justice, revealed that he had visited several areas affected by floods. “We provide toys and other elements of interest to affected children so that they could recover from trauma in a timely manner. But this is only temporary support since a permanent solution would involve psychological rehabilitation sponsored by the state,” said Mubarak.
For displaced families, recreation can calm part of their pain, however, for hundreds of families in KP crying the loss of their loved ones, trauma comes much deeper. On August 15, more than 200 people died in a cloudburst incident in Buner. One of those relatives was that of Yahya, 15, from the village of Bishnoi, who lost eight family members. After the tragedy, Yahya entered a state of deep psychological shock due to which he was admitted to Lady Reading hospital.
According to Dr. Israr Khan, a member of the Pakistan psychiatric society and assistant professor in the Lady Reading Hospital Department in Buner, a team has been establishing psychiatric camps in Buner every Tuesday and Wednesday for helping victims suffering from anxiety and depression.
“Yahya, the child admitted in the room is in a state of shock, while three elders of Bishnoi have also lost their memory due to this tragedy. After any traumatic incident, people often develop the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSP), which lasts six to nine months. Those who have had flood Dr. Khan.
“Although three weeks have passed since the destruction due to the cloud, mental stress, depression and post -traumatic stress prevail among the victims. Although my family did not suffer victims, 40 families from the SIJ community were also affected by the tragic floods in Buner,” confirmed Vinesh Singh, a resident of the Sawari village in Buner.
Since August 15, 415 people have been killed and 135 wounds in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while 2,562 houses have been damaged. According to experts, PTSD, depression and anxiety are becoming more common among populations affected by floods, glaciers, rains and severe heat waves, while “Eco-Anxiety” is rapidly increasing among children and adolescents. Experts urge the introduction of “climate sensitive mental health services” in Pakistan to provide timely treatment and community support.
The Punjab Help Commissioner Nabeel Javed revealed that more than 2.5 million people were evacuated and hundreds of help camps and doctors. “In the directives of Prime Minister Punjab, the financial losses of the victims are being compensated and the psychologists are providing services in temporary shelters,” Javed said.
