Rubina Mallah’s Life‑Saving Barge Mission in Flood‑Ravaged Sehwan
Rubina Mallah, 27, went on a treacherous three‑hour boat trek across raging flood waters just to reach the nearest hospital in time for her baby’s birth. The village she’s from is now a patch of wet ground on the edge of the massive Manchar Lake. Her son, Mohammad Tayyab, now lives in a converted school tent on the outskirts of Sehwan.
When the Lake Turns Into a Watering Hole
- Floods swept through September, soaking the flatlands of Sindh and submerging almost a third of Pakistan.
- More than 33 million people were left using temporary shelters – from makeshift camps to repurposed school buildings.
- Ruby’s home was cut off by the swollen lake and its overflowing tributaries.
It Took a Boat, a Boat, and a Boat
“So my husband, Mushtaq, brought a boat, and we set off for three hours,” she told Reuters. “It was a night full of fear; the waters rose from the lake like a bad dream.”
Mushtaq remembers, “We stayed on the roof, hoping for a better day. But the labor started around 10 pm. That night was chaotic; the next morning, I hauled a boat out of the pond, and we made it to the hospital.”
The Hospital that Became a Lifeline
The Abdullah Shah Institute in Sehwan is about 15 km from their house – normally a quick drive, but now a lake‑crossing marathon.
- Doctors were ready to welcome the newborn.
- Medical supplies were scarce due to the floods; yet the staff worked without a second thought.
When Humanity Splits from the Riverbank
Rubina’s experience isn’t unique. Thousands face the same nightmare: rising waters flood homes, scare families into caves, and push them into support shelters.
“Every time the rains hit, we have to start over from scratch,” Mushtaq adds, reflecting on the cyclical disaster that leaves the Mallahs, and countless others, in a state of ongoing uncertainty.
Moving Forward
While the lake closes off roads, the community’s resilience keeps it afloat – quite literally. The new school tent stands as a vivid reminder that, even amid tears, life carries on.
‘Psychological trauma’
Flood‑Flooded Birthing: A Hospital’s Day‑to‑Day Saga
Nayla Qureshi, the gutsy gynaecologist at the local hospital, spilled the beans on how the outpatient wing has turned into a revolving door of expectant mothers: roughly 150 visits a day from mothers in the flood‑hit areas.
- Since Tuesday, six babies have been born in the very place where the flood waters have surged, with one more emergency C‑section in the books.
- Most of the doctors hail from other districts; they’ve been staying overnight because the emergency is real.
- Pregnancy isn’t the only drama—women are also bringing heavy emotional baggage with them, coping with full‑bodied loss.
“They’re not just looking for a cheap delivery room,” Qureshi said, “they also need a shoulder to cry on and counselling while they’re exhausted and scared.”
Director’s Playbook
Moinuddin Siddiqui, the hospital’s director, announced that medical crews are roaming the campgrounds, handing out vital pharma to those in need.
- Full‑term mothers: “We’re telling them NOT to deliver at the camps. Always choose a proper facility.”
- There’s a grim reality: “The floods boost the odds of infant and maternal mortality,” Siddiqui noted.
A Real‑Life Story: Dilshad Allahwarayo
32‑year‑old Dilshad arrived at the hospital in the aftermath of a boat ride. She recounted the scene, “When the waters rose, I was already in labor pains—let’s just say the climate turned into a literal waterfall.”
Despite the chaotic backdrop, the hospital workers are pulling their weight, turning the emergency into a warm, supportive environment for all the mothers and babies that have crossed the threshold.
‘Unimaginable damage’
Floods Turn Births Into a Race Against the Clock in Pakistan
138,000 Pregnant Women: a Humanitarian Headache
When the monsoon storm hit, the UNFPA acting representative for Pakistan, Dr. Bakhtior Kadirov, sounded the alarm: 138,000 pregnant women are stranded in flood‑affected zones and urgently need help. Worse, 40,000 of them are due to give birth in September. That’s like throwing a thousand baby showers into a bathtub that’s already overflowing.
Rapid Response: Mobile Teams, Temporary Hospitals, and a Countdown
Time is ticking. The UNFPA has joined forces with the WHO and UNICEF to sprout mobile medical units and set up temporary field hospitals inside camps. Picture a 24‑hour “baby‑camps” where doctors are on the frontline, deciding who gets a c‑section and who gets a quick check‑up to avoid post‑partum bleeding that could turn a joyous delivery into a tragic episode.
Why the Numbers Matter
- National maternal‑death rate: 186 per 100,000 births (before the floods)
- Sindh Province (the heart of the Mallahs): 224 deaths per 100,000 births
- Balochistan (another hard‑hit province): 298 deaths per 100,000 births
Even without the flooding, these figures showcase a grim reality: women were already at risk. Wet roofs and swollen rivers now add a slapstick element to the nightmare, as damaged hospitals amplify the danger.
Dr. Kadirov’s Take
“Before the flood, the maternal mortality rate was high,” he says, his voice tinged with frustration. “The damage to health facilities and infrastructure is unimaginable, putting the lives of pregnant women at great risk.” A sobering note that reminds us that numbers are not just statistics—they are life and death stories unfolding in real time.
Bottom Line: A Call to Action
If we want a healthier future for the children who will soon be born, we need to get medical care to these mothers quickly—before their babies turn into ever‑growing, tiny miracles. The UNFPA, along with WHO and UNICEF, is racing against the clock to deploy resources, save lives, and maybe even dodge a few water‑logged headaches along the way.
