Flood leaves 10 dead, 12 injured in NW Pakistan

Ten people were killed and 12 others were injured in flood in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province ''NWFP'', according to local TV Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Geo TV channel quoted Muhammad Anis, District Coordination Officer of Peshawar, capital city of NWFP as saying that the flood had damaged 8,000 houses and affected 25,000 families in Peshawar.

Anis said the total loss would amount to 4 billion rupees (around 55.3 million U.S. dollars).

Thousands left homeless by floods in Pakistan

Muslim Aid is assessing the damage caused by the recent flash floods in Pakistan that have left approximately 32 people dead and destroyed over 1,000 homes, leaving 110 villages under water. The floods, triggered by four days of torrential rain have caused massive damage to homes, buildings and bridges in the suburbs of Peshawar and the adjoining Khyber Agency. South-westerly winds bring heavy rains throughout South Asia in the June to September monsoon season.

The floods have caused damage to infrastructure causing buildings to collapse and communications systems have gone down. Many people have taken refuge out in the open or on roof tops, trees and electricity poles. Food shortages and water contamination are of huge concern. Hand pumps are not operational due to mud and polluted water. The floods destroyed the majority of maize, tomato and sugarcane crops and have killed hundreds of livestock.

Muslim Aid Pakistan visited the flood affected areas and reported that mud houses have been washed away and people have been left with no shelter. Some of the dead were killed when their roofs collapsed. Many women and children were swept away with the floods as they could not reach higher rooftops to take refuge. Cases of diarrhea, throat infection, Scabies, viral infections and cholera have been reported along with some cases of snake bites.

Muslim Aid on the ground has begun distributing blankets, footwear and tents in Miskeenabad, Patvar and Teriya Pan. We have also been focusing on long term solutions to provide clean drinking water through water trekker purifciation systems and aqua tabs.

NWFP Information Minister has stated that the floods in Peshawar are ebbing away, however weather experts have forecast more rain in the region over the next 24 hours.

Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund inaugurated

PESHAWAR, Aug 13 (APP): The NWFP Government has opened a fund “Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund NWFP 2008 and both the domestic and international donors would donate in the fund.

The contributions from abroad will be received at all branches of nationalized commercial banks where such branches exist. In other foreign countries contributions will be received at Pakistan Missions and remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan.

It is worth mentioning that the recent flood and heavy rains had played havoc with most of the villages in the suburbs of Peshawar and other areas of NWFP. The floods caused huge damages to the lives and property of the people of the province.

The provincial government has appealed the donors, philanthropists and NGOs to generously deposit their donations in the said fund and wholeheartedly help the flood affectees in this hour of trial.

Pakistan: Floods Information Bulletin No. 03

Glide No. FF-2008-000123-PAK

This bulletin is being issued for information only.

One week after monsoon rains throughout Pakistan created floods situation in different parts of the country, flood water in most of the affected communities has receded. The Pakistan meteorological department has predicted scattered thunderstorms and rain in upper Punjab, including Islamabad, upper North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Kashmir, and at isolated places in southern Punjab and southeast Sindh during the next 24 hours.

Relief operations and provision of basic health services by the government and national and international NGOs in the affected areas are currently underway. Top priority at present is the provision of safe drinking water and regular monitoring of water quality, as well as strengthening of Disease Early Warning System in flood affected areas in Peshawar district (NWFP) and implementation of the same in Rajanpur district (Punjab province) to prevent potential outbreak of communicable diseases. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society's (PRCS') national and provincial disaster response teams have completed their assessment and have distributed food and non-food items to affected communities. The PRCS/International Federation health teams have also provided basic health care and treatment to affected people. The PRCS' 2008 floods contingency plan, which was activated, and the formation of an Emergency Operations Committee by the national society, which met regularly following the floods, enabled the joint team of the PRCS, International Federation and partner national societies working in the country to meet the immediate needs of the affected population.

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society, with the support of the International Federation, determined that external assistance was not required, and therefore did not seek funding or other assistance from donors for its flood relief operation.

The Situation

Floods have subsided in the most affected areas of Pakistan. The Pakistan meteorological department has predicted scattered thunderstorms and rainfall in upper Punjab, including Islamabad, upper North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Kashmir, and at isolated places of southern Punjab and southeast Sindh during the next 24 hours. Several families who were rendered homeless by the floods continue to stay on roads and other safer places. Safe water supply remains a problem. Relief operations by the government and NGOs are currently underway, providing families with food and non-food relief items, clean and safe drinking water as well as basic health services.

Punjab

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS)/International Federation national disaster response team, which visited affected areas has reported that the floodwater has started receding in the three worst hit union councils in Rajanpur district (Haji Pur, Bakar Pur and Fateh Pur), as well as in the Eozman area hit by hill torrents and in 2 DG Khan district. The PRCS/International Federation team struggled though floodwater, mud and piles of debris to reach affected communities and distributed 200 packs of non-food items/family kits and 1,000 bags of flour (20 kilograms of flour per bag) to affected families in the areas visited. The non-food items consisted of tents, tarpaulin sheets, stoves, hurricane lamps and jerry cans. According to the team, some of the affected families have gone back to their damaged houses while the rest, whose houses were washed away, have opted to stay on roads or on the banks of irrigation channels.