Katrina Victims and Flood Affectees in Pakistan.

Five years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the Unite States. Katrina killed more than 1,800 people and it was considered as the deadliest and costliest extreme weather event in US history. Stormy waters wiped away levees and floodwaters entered onto the streets of New Orleans. In some places, the water was six meters deep, resulting a serious damage to the thousands of buildings. Hundreds of the flood victims were waiting for the rescue at the roofs of the buildings. The tragic event made hundreds of poor people homeless in the largest economy of the world.

Five years later in 2010, reconstruction has yet to be completed. Indeed, some of the plots have been redeveloped but many more are left unattended which are taken over by weeds and grasses. In Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, worst affected area, there is complete absence of drug stores, supermarkets and community centers. The district lack necessary infrastructure and has only one school for the children.

Five years later, the worst flooding hit the lengths of Pakistan, from North to South, and killed more than 1600 people while affecting the lives of 20 million people. It washed away many villages and towns along with roads and bridges. It submerged millions of acres of cropland and took the lives of thousands of animals.

Contrary to the United States, political leadership of Pakistan is neither committed enough nor possesses sufficient resources to rehabilitate flood affectees and to rebuild the infrastructure. Widespread corruption among politicians and officials alike does not allow to be optimist about fair and just distribution of very limited resources. One can see only glimpse of hope that all flood affectees will be rehabilitated after five years; in 2015.