Impacts of Floods on National Security

In Blog, Climate Security, Economic Security, Human Security, National Security
October 27, 2022
Bilal Satti
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Pakistan has faced natural calamities one after the other since the start of the 21st century. The earthquake in 2005, followed by the floods of 2010 and 2014, were all high-degree natural disasters Pakistan faced. The devastating floods of 2022 have caused havoc and threatened Pakistan’s national security. National security does not only include Pakistan’s

Pakistan has faced natural calamities one after the other since the start of the 21^st century. The earthquake in 2005, followed by the floods of 2010 and 2014, were all high-degree natural disasters Pakistan faced. The devastating floods of 2022 have caused havoc and threatened Pakistan’s national security. National security does not only include Pakistan’s borders but also encompasses other aspects, such as climate, economic, food, and human security. How did the 2022 Floods challenge the national security of Pakistan?

One of the most important components of any country is its climate security. According to the Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Climate security represents the physical, economic, or societal impacts associated with climate change that substantially alter political stability, human security, or national security infrastructure. The growing climate crisis creates geopolitical and socioeconomic stressors like displacement, economic stagnation, impacts on infrastructure, and social unrest. According to the Global Risk Index Report 2021 by German Watch, Pakistan is the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change.

The severe climate change causes the earth’s temperatures to rise. This phenomenon is referred to as global warming. These rising temperatures cause the melting of glaciers. There are nearly 54,000 glaciers in the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu-Kush Mountain ranges collectively, according to International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Out of these 54,000 glaciers, more than 7000 exist in Pakistan. So, when these glaciers melt, rivers get flooded and cause a natural disaster. The recent floods of 2022 submerged one-third of Pakistan in water. Also, due to climate change, the river water is reduced, and water management is adversely affected. So, the climate security of Pakistan is at elevated risk and threatens its national security.

Another notable element related to a country’s national security is its economic security. There always occur property losses in Pakistan due to natural calamities, and the government must rebuild the infrastructure, which is a huge economic burden. The earthquake that struck AJK and eastern NWFP on the morning of October 8, 2005, left widespread destruction, killing at least 80,000 people, severely injuring another 38,000, and leaving more than 3 million people without shelter, according to a report by Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). It caused massive economic loss too. The total cost associated with the earthquake was estimated at $5.2 billion, according to a report by Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

The floods of 2010 that hit the KPK, Sindh, lower Punjab, and Balochistan regions also caused massive economic losses. According to the Finance division of the Government of Pakistan, the total reconstruction cost of the 2010 floods was Rs. 578 billion, and the estimated cost of the recovery effort of the 2014 floods was $439.7 million. So, it is evident that the economy is severely affected every time a natural calamity hits Pakistan. Any damage to the economic security weakens the national security of Pakistan. Obviously, the 2022 Super Floods will also affect the economy badly, and threaten national security.

Floods have also threatened the food security of Pakistan. According to USAID, food security means having, at all times, both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. Due to recent floods, many people have lost their crops and livestock and are facing food insecurity. The loss of rice production of 1,892,172 metric tons, the loss of cotton production of 3,106,709 bales, and the loss of sugarcane production of 10,486,793 occurred in Sindh alone, according to a report by the ICIMOD on the assessment of crop losses in Sindh using satellite data.

Another crucial factor that occurs due to a natural calamity and threatens national security is human insecurity. Natural disasters cause human insecurity in diverse ways. The worst floods recorded in Pakistan before the super floods of 2022 were the ones that occurred in 2010. They raised many new human security challenges for Pakistan. Waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea coupled with respiratory infections, caused havoc among the affectees. Moreover, drinking water was also declared unfit for use. Women are massively affected when floods occur as their menstrual hygiene is always compromised. People mostly do not focus on this matter because other issues like food and water insecurities are considered of prime importance.

The national security of a country depends on climate security, economic security, food security, and human security. If either of them is challenged, then national security is threatened. A developing country like Pakistan cannot afford its national security to be compromised. Pakistan is facing almost all concerns regarding national security due to the 2022 floods. To cope with these challenges, proper mechanisms should be made. Pakistan should either make mechanisms for climate change adaptation or spread awareness regarding climate change and its detrimental consequences. Alongside this, proper steps must be taken to preserve human security, including factors affecting food and water security.