The affected people at relief camps under the open sky are waiting for immediate assistance. National, international institutions and the world community should give immediate attention towards these affected people. As a whole 23 districts have been affected by the recent rains and floods including 31,960 villages. More than 6 million people have been affected but only 300,000 have been shifted yet to relief camps. More than 80,000 livestock have been washed away; vital crops like chilli, dates, banana, sugarcane and cotton on 2.8 million acres have been destroyed. Around 300 people have lost their lives while millions are at risk of deadly diseases. Like always we knocked the last door at first by calling international community for aid. Every state faces natural catastrophe but what makes them different from us? Definitely its the lesson, which they learn from calamities. Japan is a country which undergoes maximum earthquakes in this world. Japan faces at least hundreds of earthquakes each month but they manage it skilfully. As far as floods are concerned, there are various countries in the world that faced the havoc of flood and they found out ways to endure in the long term. The Paris flood of 21 January 1910 stands amongst the most devastating floods in the history of France. In 1910, a long spell of rains started in Paris, and this resulted in flood in River Seine, Paris. It shattered the whole Paris. High rainfall flooded the French capital when water pushed upwards from overflowing sewers and subway tunnels, and seeped into basements through fully saturated soil. The waters did not overflow the river's banks within the city, but flooded Paris through tunnels, sewers, and drains. In neighbouring towns both east and west of the capital, the river flooded the surrounding terrain directly. The destruction was incalculable. The Seine again rose to threatening levels in 1924, 1955, 1982 and 19992000, but these floods couldnt come out of river banks, thanks to timely action by the French government and engineers. The government of France made different lakes inside city, which provided alternative ways to flood water. Now let us take a look at what we have done. After decades we have still not built Kalabgh Dam, which is the main reservoir that can protect us from the floods. Every year floods sweep away villages, animals, bridges and crops. Every year people mourn over the death toll. Every year crop-losses affect textile manufacturing, Pakistan's largest export sector. Every year we call international community for aid in order to cope with flood loses. From the last two years dengue viruses has been taking its toll on the population. What a country we are. For nine months we die due to drought and run for water and for the rest three months we die due to floods and run from water. People suffered for months last year because of floods and the sad thing is that they are suffering again. Will be build Kalabagh Dam or continue to suffer? It is a decision that people of Pakistan have to make. MAIMUNA ASHRAF, Islamabad, September 24.