Pakistan’s deadly Flood Crisis

Prepared by Saba Aslam Education & Welfare Trust

Working the welfare of the destitute and orphans for the last 45 years

with relief programs in a large number of countries.

PAKISTAN IN CRISIS.-

Nearly all parts of Pakistan have been affected by the worst floods in decades – About 12 million people have now been affected by Pakistan's worst floods in 80 years, disaster officials have said, raising previous estimates by three times.- The gradually increasing level of rain- water rising began in the month of July as the annual ‘monsoon’ rainy season began at its strongest.

The new figures come as Pakistan braces for yet more rains in areas already badly hit by torrential monsoon downpours that have caused devastation, washing away villages and destroying swathes of agricultural land.

People in the flood’s wake of so many hit areas, were already desperately poor and what little possessions they had have been washed away. The extent of this crisis is daily worsening. The more villages that are reached by surveillance helicopters the grimmer the picture becomes...

* In the districts of Shangla and Swat, at least 400 people have been killed and many bridges have washed away

* In Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda, at least 700 people have drowned

* The Neelam Valley, in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, has been cut off by landslides.

* In Sindh province, half a million people have been evacuated in anticipation of the arrival of the torrent of floodwater.

Military and rescue workers have been using helicopters to deliver essential supplies to areas that have had transport and communication links cut off. Nevertheless many areas where the crisis is emerging have yet not received rescue and survival aid relief.

Virtually no bridge has been left intact in Swat. All major and minor bridges have gone, destroyed completely.

The American embassy in Islamabad said it would be providing 12 temporary bridges to replace some of those knocked out by the flooding. "The floods are coming further south. Nobody knows whether the floodwaters will reach Karachi, but severe flood warnings have been issued."

The poor weather forecasts have grounded helicopters flying rescue missions to affected areas.

US military personnel were forced to abandon flights to stranded communities in the upper reaches of the hard-hit Swat Valley, as storm began to dump more rain on the stricken region, where many thousands are living in tents or crammed into public buildings.

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A man evacuates his children in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtoon Province.

Thousands remain trapped and the situation is worsening.

Relief agencies have also warned that there is a risk of disease in the flood-affected areas. The spread of waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, asthma, skin allergies and perhaps cholera in some areas have been recorded to have started.

Flood waters in north-west Pakistan rose so quickly and were so strong that people were swept off their feet as they scrambled to higher ground.

INDIVIDUAL TRAGEDIES.-

The BBC's M. Ilyas Khan spoke to some of the bereaved as they struggle to cope in the aftermath:

1. Deedar Gul did not expect the flood to rise so suddenly. "When the water came, we moved our women and children to high ground. Three of my daughters stayed behind to help the men pack up whatever belongings we could carry with us," he said in a calm voice, describing events in Sardaryab village, Charsadda district of north-western Pakistan. "Within minutes, the current got too strong and the waters rose head high."

Taken by surprise, he was only able to save his youngest daughter. The other two girls, aged 16 and 17, were swept away. "Their bodies were found three days later, dumped on the bank by receding waters about 6km down the river."

2. In neighbouring Nowshera district, Mohammad Omar, a resident of an Afghan refugee village, suffered a similar tragedy.

"We could see the water rising across the entire area between my village and the river. At first we thought it was rain water, but it continued to rise," he says.

Everybody rushed to the nearby railway track which is on high ground. But Mr Omar was slightly late.

"Three of our women were swept off their feet. We saved two of them, but the third, my brother's wife, was lost. We found her body two days later."

STATISTICS.-

§ More than 1600 people have died by 07 August 2010

§ 500,000 stranded in Dera Ghazi Khan division

§ Mitthan Kot dam was also broken down due to flash floods late Tuesday night. Over five lakh people migrated from cities of Jampur, Kot Addu, Kot Mitthan, Sinawan, Rujhan, Umar Kot and a number of other towns as flash floods in River Indus entered the region. Traffic on two important inter-provincial highways Dera-Quetta, Karachi-Peshawar Indus Highway remained suspended and supply of petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas from Parco mid-country refinery Qasba Gujrat, Dhodak oilfield and transportation of fruits, vegetables could not be made.

§ JHANG: The district administration has rescued more than 500 families living along Chenab and Jhelum rivers.

§ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: According to the government of the Province - nearly 800 people have been killed in the rains and floods that hit the region last week. It says more than 70,000 people have lost their homes. Aid agencies say at least two million people have been affected in the province. Some are left with damaged houses, others have lost cattle and nearly all have lost their crops and food stocks.

§ Kot Addu and nearby Layyah, water levels were so high only treetops were visible.

§ MULTAN: Massive flooding in Pakistan has threatened electricity generation plants, forcing units to shut down in a country suffering from a crippling energy crisis, officials said Friday.

“Flood water reached to the boundary wall of the 1,200-megawatt Kot Addu Power Company plant late Thursday.”

Sohail Tipu, a senior government official in the central province of Punjab, said the town of Kot Addu was cut off because of flooding and that the government was making “maximum efforts” to rescue people.

“Now only three units out of 12 are working and producing only 300 megawatts of electricity. Three grid stations in Dera Ismail Khan, Swat and Shangla were shut down by the floods. Two private power plants producing 350 megawatts each also closed as floodwater entered the courtyard of one plant”, he said.

The tragedy is that Pakistan only produces about 80 per cent of the electricity the country needs, leading to massive power outages and sparking summer protests against the government.

URGENT NEED.-

The affected areas of the country of Pakistan, which are multiplying by the day, as the rain is non- abating till now, are in desperate need of your financial aid for survival and recovery. The Holy month of Ramadan has started by the twelfth of this month, while a huge percentage of citizens of Pakistan are becoming homeless and displaced by the day, without shelter, food, blankets, medicine, etc. Oh please, the compassionate community come forward and ease their misery with some amount of donation, which will help provide guaranteed and transparent urgently needed help.

Saba Trust Helping Flood victims

(1) Since day 1 with Dry food including flour, rice, misaley, clothes, tents, hygiene kits, Dry fruit packages and fresh water are being distributed in Noshehra, Charsadda, Mardan, Mansehra flood affected areas.

(2) Cooked meals are being served for aftar where required in the same areas.

(3) Chairman personally went to these places to serve really needy that have lost everything

The situation is much worse that every body thinks it is right now. During our visit we have found villages completely destroyed. Water almost to the top of the homes, the few that remains. Billions of dollars worth of crop, fruit, sugar cane, cotton, rice just to name a few.

HOW TO DONATE.-

Flood victims really need your help.  Situation is so horrific, it’s beyond belief.

          Please open your hearts and encourage your friends.

Fifty U.S. dollars can feed a family of four persons for one week!!!

Ø In USA please mail your check to:

International Education & Welfare Society (IEWS)

15568 Brookhurst st. Suite 359, Westminster CA-92683

Ø For Donation on line go to:

www.sabatrust.com and click donate now.

Ø E-mails:

saghiraslam@sabatrust.org

malik@sabatrust.org