UN: 1 million more displaced by Pakistan floods

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By ASHRAF KHAN (AP) – 35 minutes ago -

KARACHI, Pakistan — Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis were fleeing a southern district Friday after the bloated Indus River crushed a levee and flooded new areas, officials said. The U.N. said as many as 1 million people have been displaced in the south since midweek.

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In the southern city of Thatta, around 175,000 people — around 70 percent of the city's population — are believed to have fled their homes overnight, said Manzoor Sheikh, a senior government official. Authorities were trying to repair the broken levee and arranging transport for people trying to leave.

U.N. spokesman Maurizio Giuliano said according to reports received by the world body, around 1 million people have been displaced in Thatta and Qambar-Shadadkot districts since Wednesday. It is difficult to verify figures given by the authorities because many areas are hard to reach because of the floods, and people may have left their homes well before evacuation orders.

U.N. aid agencies along with a host of other relief groups have been rushing people and supplies to affected regions as the floods have inundated Pakistan over the past month. The situation in Sindh "is getting from bad to worse," Giuliano said. "We are delivering (aid) faster and faster, but the floods seemed determined to outrun our response."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jX_KetVCMo64AOZxSMudPWArFrJgD9HRODI00

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In these photos taken on Aug. 26, 2010 aerial views show heavy flooding in Thatta, near Hyderabad, Pakistan.
(AP Photo/Pervez Masih)


Check my Journal for the latest/recent news, photos and videos of the flooding (because I've been reporting it and adding all the articles, the archive contains recent news): http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama

[Drops_not_Dope]

1. Turborama

I care.

Thank you.

[OhioChick]

2. Me, too.

A big thank you to Turborama for keeping us informed. :thumbsup:

[Turborama]

3. Thank you for sharing your concern, Drops_not_Dope

It's reassuring to know there are others out there who care, too. :hi:

[OhioChick]

4. U.S. Fund for UNICEF: Alyssa Milano on Pakistan flooding

U.S. Fund for UNICEF: Alyssa Milano on Pakistan flooding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjIhTici7JM

[sabrina 1]

5. ''the floods seem determined to outrun our response"

I can only imagine the desperation of the aid workers. They are true heroes.

Again, Turborama, thank you for doing the work of keeping us updated on this story. I truly think it is the most important story not being covered by the U.S. media today. I'm just glad other countries' media is doing so.

[Turborama]

6. Pakistan flood crisis extreme, U.N. says - "An already colossal disaster is getting worse"

By Alex Rodriguez - Published: Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 11:16 p.m. MDT

SUKKUR, Pakistan — Floodwaters that have reached the Indus River delta displaced at least 1 million southern Pakistan residents in recent days, U.N. officials said Friday,a significant escalation of what is already the country's worst natural disaster in its history.

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"An already colossal disaster is getting worse, and requiring an even more colossal response," said U.N. spokesman Maurizio Giuliano. "The magnitude of this crisis is reaching levels that are even beyond our initial fears."

Officials with the world body say the speed with which the crisis is spreading is outpacing the international community's efforts to reach legions of flood victims who lack access to food, clean drinking water, shelter and health care. U.N. workers are providing drinking water to 2.5 million people but have yet to reach the estimated 3.5 million others still in need.

Relief workers are especially concerned about the risk to children, many of whom were already in poor health before the floods. U.N. officials estimate that at least 70,000 children under the age of 5 and living in flood-affected areas suffered from acute malnutrition before the crisis. Up to 20 percent of children in flooded regions are suffering from diarrhea-related disorders and at high risk of dehydration and malnutrition.

Full article: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700060926/Pakistan-flood-crisis-extreme-UN-says.html