The start of the monsoon season in Pakistan has brought some of the worst flooding seen in the country for eighty years. Entire villages have been washed away. There have been an estimated 1,600 deaths so far, and more than 2 million people have been displaced or otherwise affected. The DigitalGlobe image shows Nowshera, one of the worst-hit districts.
The immediate water damage is causing havoc, the floods have inundated crop-producing areas, dealing a crippling blow to the agricultural-based economy and threatening a food crisis. The Pakistani government now struggles to rescue and provide aid to millions - while still fighting with militant Islamist forces in many of the hardest-hit regions.
A challenge when rescuing inhabitants is the poor cadastre situation. People tend to stick to their grounds in fear of loosing their rights, and property, when they return as it may be claimed by others.
Oxfam is aiming to reach around 650,000 people with clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies. The aid organisation is appealing for USD6 million to help people get through the immediate days and weeks and to boost recovery over the long-term.
Fazl Maula Zahid, a regional manager at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Swat, said 100,000 acres of soil along the Swat River had been washed out. He said it would take up to 10 years to restore the fertility of this critical area that feeds 50,000 people.
sallam to all brother and sisters please help the flooder peoples hey need our help the government is fail and they had no rites to handel them please kick out zardri team from the politicizesharis ali khan - 19/09/2010 - 21:29
updating about flods in Pakistan should be uploaded to keep the world informed about the diasater.M.B Kalhoro - 12/09/2010 - 13:40
salam to all flood efected people:
As we alredy known that our muslim trab afect from flood situtation this our muslim duty help of this people,now the eid range.zakir ullah - 31/08/2010 - 19:59
me ne abhi 15 mint pehle asman pere 1 aag ka gola mashriq ki janib boht door tak jate hue dekha hai.murtaza khan - 28/08/2010 - 22:19
In a TEDx WWF session held in Geneva, Switzerland, Stuart Orr talked about water which is a solvable crisis. Stuart Orr is freshwater programme director for WWF International.