News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Relief activities gear up in flood-hit Sindh
* Rains continue to lash interior Sindh g Army deploys 1,000 troops
* Flood victims hold demonstration, call for help
* Official says 2,000 cases of malaria confirmed
ISLAMABAD/Washington: The government, army and UN donor agencies have geared up relief activities in worst flood-affected areas of Sindh.
The toll from torrential rains in Pakistan is mounting, with 230 people killed, more than 300,000 others displaced and 1.1 million homes destroyed or damaged as flooding has inundated 4.5 million acres, the United Nations reported on Wednesday.
At least 5.5 million people have so far been affected, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in its latest update. Pakistan Army has deployed over 1,000 troops, 70 boats, 50 water pumps for relief and rescues operation in flood-hit areas of Sindh.
In army’s rescue operations, over 30,000 flood victims have been evacuated to safer places in Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Mirpurkhas, Mithi, Umarkot, Sanghar and Tando Allah Yar.
Army Medical Corps have established medical camps along with dispatching medical teams to Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Mirpurkhas, Mithi and Naushero Feroze and treated over 25,000 patients.
The government has so far provided over Rs 2 billion to flood victims. Over 43,000 tents have also been dispatched.
Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) has distributed 28,600 relief packs among flood-affected people in the worst-hit districts of Sindh.
Meanwhile, intermittent rains continue in Badin, Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Umarkot. Badin-Tando Road is inundated and about four feet of water is standing in Mirpurkhas city and some key buildings are inundated.
Recent rains have further increased difficulties of people who have already been facing sufferings because of last year’s floods.
Low-lying areas in Hyderabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah have also been inundated because of the recent rains.
Victims of Pakistan’s flood are at growing risk of potentially fatal diseases, aid groups warned. The director general of the Sindh Health Department, Hafeez Memon, said there were 2,000 confirmed cases of malaria and the number was likely to rise. This year, floods have destroyed or damaged 1.2 million houses and flooded 4.5 million acres since late last month, officials and Western aid groups say.
More than 300,000 people were made homeless. Frustrations with the government are running high. On Wednesday, 80 men blocked the main road to Hyderabad, the biggest city near the flooded areas. They were demanding help from the authorities. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk