A cold wave that will grip the entire Sindh province from Thursday (tomorrow) may put the lives of thousands of flood survivors at risk as they continue to live under the open sky without proper shelter, six months after the July-August super floods hit the country.

In the neighboring Balochistan province, where thousands more face a similar situation, a toddler died of severe weather on Tuesday.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) this week issued an alert, warning that a cold wave will sweep through the province of Sindh between January 12 and 17. Siberian winds are affecting the whole region.

Extreme cold kills toddler

Floods affected both Sindh and Balochistan, though the number of affectees is higher in Sindh province compared to thinly populated Balochistan. But in both provinces, thousands of survivors still wait for aid.

A three-year-old boy in Balochistan’s Lasbela district passed away due to the severe cold wave gripping the province. Social media posts claimed he was one of the flood survivors in the Lasbela’s Winder area.

However, Aaj News correspondent Deedar Ali from Balochistan’s Hub said the boy died after the family was forced to live in the open following a roof collapse.

The roof of their house collapsed in heavy rains two days ago, he said.

Winder was hit by flash floods in July 2022.

The death indicates how harsh weather may prove deadly for shelter-less people in the region.

At least 89,000 homeless in Sindh

The latest Sindh PDMA situation report says at least 89,157 flood victims in Sindh are still homeless — six months after floods put a third of Pakistan underwater and affected over 30 million people, with Sindh being the worst hit province facing formidable recovery challenges.

A UN OCHA report last month said that as many as 240,000 were homeless in Sindh alone.

The PDMA, in its latest situation report, has instructed deputy commissioners to take necessary measures in flood-affected areas including the provision of essential items to the flood victims. Flood survivors have been advised to stock up on food.

The deputy commissioners have also been told to ensure electricity supply at hospitals all the time. Tourists should take special care while traveling, the PDMA said.

Last month, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah claimed that 2.1 million housing units will be constructed for flood victims in the province.

It is unclear if government measures will be adequate in averting a tragedy this winter.

According to UNICEF, up to 4 million children in Pakistan are still living next to stagnant and contaminated floodwater. UNICEF and partners have started providing items such as warm clothing kits, jackets, blankets and quilts to flood victims all over Pakistan, it said in a release.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also launched campaigns to support flood survivors in winter. Alkhidmat, one of the biggest NGOs in Pakistan, is offering winter relief packs. Each winter pack contains a mattress, blanket and pillow.

A spokesperson told Aaj News that 1500 plus relief packs have been distributed in Sindh. The organization has also distributed 6,000 plus winter relief packs to the less fortunate in Karachi.

Floodwater was still stagnant in various areas of Sindh and Balochistan, including Khairpur, Sukkur, Badin, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Umarkot, Dadu, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushehro Feroz districts last month when the UN OCHA compiled its report.

Major temperatrues drop

The Met Office has forecasted a major drop in temperatures across Sindh.

Temperatures are likely to drop to a minimum of 5 to 7 °C in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, and Thatta, it said.

In Karachi, the weather is expected to remain cool and dry while fog may occur in the morning with strong winds, the Met added.

The minimum temperature in Interior Sindh districts Tharparkar, Larkana, Shahdadkot, Kashmore, and Jacobabad is likely to remain between 2 to 4 °C.

Temperatures in Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Sanghar are likely to drop to 3 to 5 °C.

Experts said a weak polar vortex causes Siberian winds to travel with full intensity to this region, resulting in a cold wave in the country.