Pakistan Flood: The government has declared devastating floods a “national emergency” after nearly 1,000 people died and more than 30 million are without shelter as monsoon rains continue to lash the South Asian nation.
At least 937 people have died since mid-June, including 343 children, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with large swaths of the southwestern province of Balochistan remaining submerged, bringing back the memory of the devastating 2010 floods.
According to the NDMA, Pakistan received 166.8 mm of rain in August, as opposed to the average of 48 mm – an increase of 241 per cent. Sindh and Balochistan – the worst-hit regions – witnessed a 784 per cent and 496 per cent increase in the monsoon deluge, respectively, the Dawn News reported.
Sherry Rehman, the minister for climate change, called the floods “unprecedented” and “the worst humanitarian disaster of this decade.”
“Pakistan is going through its eighth cycle of monsoon while normally the country has only three to four cycles of rain,” Rehman said. “The percentages of super flood torrents are shocking.”
She highlighted in particular the impact on the south of the country, adding that “maximum” relief efforts are underway.
Pakistan has urged the international community to help with relief efforts as it struggles to cope with the aftermath of torrential rains that have triggered massive floods since last month.
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