A picture of a distraught little girl was extensively circulated online after severe floods submerged nearly a third of Pakistan. However, the child in the photo is actually a refugee from Rakhine state in Myanmar in 2017.
“Dreadful devastation has been caused by flooding in Pakistan. Lost, uprooted, and distraught, “captioned an Instagram image by Pakistani actress Neelam Muneer Khan on August 25.
“The Pakistani people are experiencing agony and grief, but our politicians are busy battling amongst themselves for control.” In what way can they possibly explain themselves to the One True God, Allah? “
The biggest floods in Pakistan’s history have caused untold suffering for millions of people.
Months of record monsoon rains have killed 1,300 people and washed away houses, businesses, highways, and bridges throughout nearly a third of the country, an area the size of the United Kingdom.
Social media users, especially those on Facebook and Twitter, use the girl’s photo in prayers for the disaster’s victims.
One of Pakistan’s legislators, Shagufta Malik, tweeted the image along with a flood update.
The photo was taken on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh long before the devastating floods that ravaged Pakistan in recent years.
