Abstract:
In summer 2010, unusually intense monsoon rains in Pakistan triggered slow-moving floods that inundated a fifth of the country and displaced millions of people. This case describes how Pakistan's government responded to this disaster and highlights the performance of the country's nascent emergency management agency, the National Disaster Management Authority. It also explores the integration of international assistance, with a particular focus on aid from the international humanitarian community and the U.S. military.
Learning Objective:
The case aims to teach students about disaster response in a complex environment involving a host of domestic and geopolitical issues. In particular, it exposes students to the challenges of relying on a nascent, under-resourced disaster management agency and of coordinating with the international humanitarian community. At the same time, it prompts students to consider the opportunities that can arise when two well-resourced institutions -- the U.S. and Pakistani military -- coordinate closely.