Relief Efforts Intensify in Buner’s Flood-Hit Areas

Flood relief has become the central focus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as provincial leaders and health officials rush to assist victims of devastating floods in Chagharzai tehsil, Buner. The government has announced aid packages, deployed medical teams, and expedited infrastructure restoration to ease the suffering of affected families.

Minister Visits Chagharzai’s Worst-Hit Areas

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Syed Fakhar Jehan, along with PTI Chairman and MNA Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, visited Chagharzai tehsil in District Buner. The delegation toured Village Councils Gumbad, Batara, Ganshal, and other flood-ravaged areas to assess the scale of destruction.

During the visit, the minister met community elders and grieving families. He expressed condolences to those who lost loved ones and assured the victims that the provincial government stood firmly beside them. He said rehabilitation efforts would continue until all displaced families regained stability.

Government’s Compensation Package

Syed Fakhar Jehan announced a comprehensive relief package. Families of martyrs will receive Rs2 million, while injured victims will be compensated with Rs500,000. Reconstruction of houses completely destroyed by the floods will also be covered.

The minister instructed the district administration to expedite relief operations. Essential commodities are to be delivered without disruption, and urgent road and infrastructure repairs have been prioritized. He also confirmed that electricity restoration in Chagharzai will be completed soon. Heavy machinery has already been deployed to clear blocked roads and remove debris.

Chief Minister’s Directives

The minister highlighted that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had personally visited Buner to oversee relief activities. The Chief Minister directed officials to utilize all available resources and leave no stone unturned in assisting victims.

Syed Fakhar Jehan reiterated his personal commitment as a public representative. He declared that he would serve the affected families with humility and ensure their voices reached the provincial leadership.

Read: Karachi Rain Submerges Streets, Sparks Power Outages

Health Department’s Emergency Response

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has intensified medical assistance across flood-hit districts. Acting on the directives of Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali, medical teams were dispatched to the most affected areas.

Doctors from Khyber Teaching Hospital and Bacha Khan Medical Complex established field camps to treat victims. Trucks carrying medicines and medical equipment were sent from Hayat Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital to reinforce local relief efforts.

International Support Strengthens Response

The Health Department coordinated with global partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Medical Corps. Emergency medical consignments, including antibiotics, vaccines, IV solutions, ORS, and sanitation kits, were delivered to Buner and Shangla.

The International Medical Corps also donated medicines worth over Rs2 million, which were handed to the provincial Health Department in the presence of Advisor Ihtesham Ali and Secretary Health Shahidullah.

Widespread Medical Relief Operations

According to departmental reports, 289 medical camps have been set up in flood-affected areas. These camps have already treated thousands of patients. In Gadoon, Swabi, where a cloudburst worsened conditions, the District Health Officer was tasked to manage emergency medical operations.

Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali confirmed that disease surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS) has been activated in all flood-hit districts. Medical alerts were issued to prevent epidemics.

Rising Health Concerns

The floods have triggered a surge in health issues. In the past 24 hours, 442 new cases of infectious diseases were reported, raising the total to 822. Diarrhoea, skin infections, and eye ailments remain the most common. Rising cases of hypertension, diabetes, and mental health issues have also been observed.

So far, 32 medical camps have treated over 1,820 patients, while 7,447 individuals received medical assistance. Reports recorded 334 deaths and 329 injuries caused by floods, including 45 deaths and 33 injuries in the past day. Thankfully, no fatalities from infectious diseases have been reported yet.

Damage to Health Facilities

Despite these efforts, infrastructure challenges remain severe. Forty-two health facilities suffered partial damage, while four were completely destroyed, complicating healthcare delivery in remote regions.

Advisor Ihtesham Ali is personally supervising operations from the control room. He assured that the government is committed to ensuring uninterrupted medical relief and continued disease monitoring.

Standing with the People

The floods have left a trail of destruction across Buner, but government officials, health authorities, and international partners are working together to ease the pain of affected families. With coordinated relief operations, compensation packages, and expanded medical care, the province seeks to restore hope to communities devastated by disaster.