Pakistan Floods

[Coast]

Unusually vigorous monsoon rains are causing the worst flood damage in Pakistan’s history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pYTe2OD1Ac

Pakistan floods: survivors under threat from disease

Fears are growing that the Pakistan floods could cause a huge humanitarian crisis in the region as hundreds of thousands of survivors come under threat from water-borne diseases.

Cases of cholera and diarrhoea have been reported among those left homeless by the floods, which killed an estimated 1,100 people and have left thousands without access to shelter or clean water. While the Pakistan army is helping with the rescue effort the US has pledged £6.4m in aid. Some supplies were able to reach the worst-affected parts of the country when roads briefly reopened, allowing some people to flee the chaos.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he was "deeply saddened" by the rising death toll and promised more UN assistance to the suffering population. "The secretary-general is deeply saddened by the significant loss of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure in Pakistan, following the recent heavy monsoon rains that have caused the worst floods in the last 80 years, affecting more than one million people," a spokesman for Mr Ban said in a statement.

More than 1.5 million people have been affected by flash floods and landslides brought on by monsoon rain in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, officials said. Mr Ban also reiterated the full commitment of the United Nations to "meeting the humanitarian needs of the population affected."

In Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, one of the worst-hit provinces, an aerial survey showed dozens of villages had been simply washed away. "The level of devastation is so widespread, so large, it is quite possible that in many areas there are damages, there are deaths which may not have been reported," army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.

"Virtually no bridge has been left in Swat. All major and minor bridges have gone, destroyed completely," Maj-Gen Abbas said of the valley which has borne the brunt of the floods.

www.telegraph.co.uk

[Coast]

The worst floods in Pakistan since records began have now affected more than three million people and the death toll has topped 1,400, a UN spokesman has said.

Thousands of rescue workers have been deployed to northwest Pakistan amid fears of a cholera outbreak.

Medical teams were sent out as angry residents railed against the government for failing to provide enough emergency assistance.

It has been nearly a week since heavy monsoon rains triggered the flooding in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa province that has forced two million people to flee their homes.

news.sky.com

[Coast]

Thousands of people are fleeing Pakistan's most populous areas as devastating floods sweep towards the south. Floodwaters have already ravaged the northwest, leaving more than 3 million people to cope with destroyed houses and crops, and a lack of food and water

www1.voanews.com

[cartedj]

Well! This is a disappointment. I came on here expecting to read an in depth discussion on why Pakistan is recieving it's worst monsoon rains in it's history and not a bean.

I'm not a weather techie but would love to know what's causing the extra heavy monsoons this year. Am I in the wrong section.

Darren.

[Mondy]

I also thought this. Nobody interested, perhaps?

How much rain has fallen, approx?

[Coast]

Well! This is a disappointment. I came on here expecting to read an in depth discussion on why Pakistan is recieving it's worst monsoon rains in it's history and not a bean.

Well I must admit I'm surprised that a weather initiated disaster of such magnitude, hasn't caused at least some discussion.

Pakistan floods threaten key barrage in southern Sindh

Waters have exceeded the danger level at a key flood barrier in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh. The Sukkur Barrage overflow means Sindh faces as much devastation as that seen further north in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, say experts. Enraged survivors have been physically attacking government officials in flood-hit areas, amid widespread anger at the pace of the relief effort. At least 1,600 people have died in the region's worst deluge in 80 years. With more than 14 million people already affected, the monsoon rains show little sign of abating.

Flood waters have roared down from the north to the agricultural heartland of Punjab and on to southern Sindh along a trail more than 1,000km (600 miles) long.

In the early hours of Monday morning, the water flow coming down Sindh's Sukkur Barrage was recorded at up to 1.4m cusecs (cubic feet per second). It can only withstand 900,000 cusecs

www.bbc.co.uk/news

[smich]

I agree. Is there not any information on what has caused this rain?

Steve M

[Coast]

The United Nations has warned of a "second wave of death" in flood-stricken Pakistan as aid agencies struggled to raise money to help the 20 million people hit by the nation's worst-ever natural disaster.

Britain branded the international response to the catastrophe "lamentable" and charities said Pakistan was suffering from an "image deficit" partly because of perceived links to terrorism

www.smh.com.au

I have a feeling this human disaster is being swept under the Worlds carpet

The floods began in northwest Pakistan more than two weeks ago and have spread throughout the country.

Current estimates suggest as many as 20 million people and 160,000 square kilometres of land — about 20 per cent of the country — have been affected.

Aid agencies are working with government officials to assess the damage and deliver humanitarian assistance, but bad weather and damaged infrastructure are creating challenges for aid organizations.

Islamic Relief Canada said the reported death toll does not reflect the devastation that has been inflicted on people in the affected regions.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday that the flooding in Pakistan is the worst disaster he has ever seen. "This has been a heart-wrenching day for me," he said.

"I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past, I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this."

The UN has been struggling to obtain $460 million US to provide emergency aid. Only 20 per cent of the money has been pledged since the appeal was launched on Aug. 11.

www.cbc.ca

[The PIT]

www.smh.com.au

I have a feeling this human disaster is being swept under the Worlds carpet

www.cbc.ca

Just had 600 million released by the world bank ah I see 900 million. Floods like this probably have happened before but with a lower population poorer communication no one knew about it.

Edited August 17, 2010 by The PIT