Victims face psychological turmoil

PESHAWAR/LAHORE:

Although rescue efforts help disaster struck victims safely escape the debris of their homes, they are insufficient to save millions of flood-affectees across the nation from drowning in their own psychological turmoil.

Nine-year-old Sahar, who was spotted sitting in a camp set up at Mohlanwal near Lahore’s Ravi River, was once busy with school books and toys. Stranded in the middle of nowhere with her parents and siblngs, Sahar recalled the life she left behind. “My favorite doll set is gone, and my books have also been ruined. How will I continue my studies?” cried Sahar, whose eyes reflected the grief of a child whose entire world had suddenly been shattered.

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 lifetime of earnings, all of which were washed away in a matter of moments. “The loss of material possessions can be compensated but I am extremely worried for my children. They wake up scared every night, stunned by the sight of the water. As a father, I have no words to console them. I am in such a state of helplessness that I can only wipe away their tears,” shared an inconsolable Kashif.

“For any child, their home is their safe place in an unpredictable world. When this safe place is no more, the child starts to feel insecure. Toys and books are not just objects, but emotional supports. When all this is gone, the child becomes lonely and afraid. If they are not counseled immediately, these children can continue to suffer from depression and trauma as they grow up,” noted Fatima Tahir, a clinical psychologist.

Iftikhar Mubarak, Head of Search for Justice, revealed that he had visited several flood-affected areas. “We provided toys and other items of interest to the affected children so that they could recover from the trauma in a timely manner. But this is only a temporary support since a permanent solution would involve state-sponsored psychological rehabilitation,” said Mubarak.

For displaced families, recreation can assuage some of their grief, however, for hundreds of families in K-P grieving the loss of their loved ones, the trauma hits much deeper. On August 15th, more than 200 people were killed in a cloudburst incident in Buner. One such family was that of 15-year-old Yahya, from Bishnoi village, who lost eight members of his family. After the tragedy, Yahya entered a state of deep psychological shock due to which he was admitted at the Lady Reading Hospital.

According to Dr Israr Khan, Member of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society and Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the Lady Reading Hospital in Buner, a team has been setting up psychiatric camps in Buner every Tuesday and Wednesday for assisting the victims suffering from anxiety and depression.

“Yahya, the child admitted to the ward 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 (PTSD), which lasts for six to nine months. Those who have survived the floods are caged in anxious thoughts, which do not let them forget the incident,” said Dr Khan.

“Although it has been three weeks since the destruction due to the cloudburst, mental stress, depression and post-traumatic stress is prevalent among the victims. Although my family did not suffer any casualties, 40 families of the Sikh community were also affected by the tragic floods in Buner,” confirmed Vinesh Singh, a resident of the Sawari village in Buner.

Since August 15th, 415 people have been killed and 135 injured 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, glacier melts, 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.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed revealed that more than 2.5 million people were evacuated and hundreds of relief and medical camps were set up. “On the directives of the Chief Minister Punjab, the financial losses of the victims are being compensated and teams of psychologists are providing services in temporary shelters,” said Javed.