12 Million Affected by Pakistan's Historic Floods
VOA News
06 August 2010
Pakistani officials say 12 million people have been affected by floodwaters that have ravaged the northwest and now are sweeping southward, forcing thousands more to flee their homes. The latest estimation is sharply higher than the 4.5 million people officially said to be affected by the worst flooding in more than 80 years.
National Disaster Management Authority chairman Nadim Ahmed said Friday the latest figure applied to the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and central Punjab provinces.
The water is now flowing into the southern province of Sindh, where authorities have so far evacuated more than 500,000 people. United Nations officials say 11 districts are at risk of flooding, as heavy monsoon rains continue.
The nearly two-week disaster has killed more than 1,500 people. Floodwaters have washed away homes, roads, and bridges, cutting off entire communities
U.N. officials say relief and rescue efforts have been hampered by poor weather conditions, with helicopters in the northwestern Swat Valley grounded on Friday.
Many Pakistanis are criticizing what they say is a slow government response, as well as President Asif Ali Zardari's decision to travel to Europe during the floods.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has visited many flood-affected areas and the country's disaster management authority says initial relief and rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather conditions.
The flooding has destroyed crops and farmland in Punjab province and other areas, heightening fears of a food shortage.
The World Food Program said Friday it was preparing to provide food assistance to some 2.5 million flood victims for three months, after delivering rations to more than 200,000 in the worst hit areas.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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