Deadly Floods Batter Pakistan, Survivors Seek Shelter & Food
- 14 years ago
In northwest Pakistan survivors of deadly floods are seeking shelter and food on Monday after a week of heavy rain killed more than 1,000 people.
A westerly weather system moving in from Iran and Afghanistan combined with heavy monsoon rains caused the worst floods on record in Pakistan in the past week.
Pakistani troops rescued over 19,000 people from marooned areas, but officials say some might still be trapped and awaiting help in remote areas including Kohistan, Nowshera, Dir and in the Swat valley.
[Badshah Khan, Local Resident]: (male, urdu)
"The floods came and washed away our homes. They (the government) released water from dams and the homes were washed away. Around 20,000 houses, mosques and schools all were destroyed."
Rescuers battled to distribute relief to tens of thousands of trapped people.
[Ehtesham-ul-Haq, Local Resident]: (male, urdu)
"The problem is that when they throw food from the plane, people wrestle with each other, some get the food and others don't, some are even injured."
Aid agencies said more than 500,000 people have been affected.
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad says it’s providing aid, including two water filtration units and more than 50,000 meals, for affected areas.
The embassy also announced $10 million in immediate humanitarian aid.
The meteorological department has forecast more rain in the coming days.
Officials say huge surges are expected in the southern province of Sindh between Tuesday and Thursday, and are expected to cause widespread damage to property and farmland near riverbanks and in low-lying areas.
A westerly weather system moving in from Iran and Afghanistan combined with heavy monsoon rains caused the worst floods on record in Pakistan in the past week.
Pakistani troops rescued over 19,000 people from marooned areas, but officials say some might still be trapped and awaiting help in remote areas including Kohistan, Nowshera, Dir and in the Swat valley.
[Badshah Khan, Local Resident]: (male, urdu)
"The floods came and washed away our homes. They (the government) released water from dams and the homes were washed away. Around 20,000 houses, mosques and schools all were destroyed."
Rescuers battled to distribute relief to tens of thousands of trapped people.
[Ehtesham-ul-Haq, Local Resident]: (male, urdu)
"The problem is that when they throw food from the plane, people wrestle with each other, some get the food and others don't, some are even injured."
Aid agencies said more than 500,000 people have been affected.
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad says it’s providing aid, including two water filtration units and more than 50,000 meals, for affected areas.
The embassy also announced $10 million in immediate humanitarian aid.
The meteorological department has forecast more rain in the coming days.
Officials say huge surges are expected in the southern province of Sindh between Tuesday and Thursday, and are expected to cause widespread damage to property and farmland near riverbanks and in low-lying areas.