Pakistan: villages swept away in severe flooding

Photo: REUTERS/Adrees Latif / courtesy of www.alertnet.org

More than 1,500 people have been killed by landslides and floods caused by the most intense monsoon rains in the past 30 years, in the regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, the Missionary News Service reports.

Some 312 mm. of rain have fallen in 36 hours, according to the Pakistani meteorological service, have had a disastrous effect as entire villages have been swept away by the rising waters, while others have been submerged in mud. Overall, as many as 1.5 million people could suffer consequences that have not yet been quantified in the damages caused to the infrastructure and economy.

The bad weather also makes it difficult to carry out rescue missions. Many of those driven from their homes have found shelter in schools and other public buildings; images taken from helicopters show thousands of people walking along flooded roads. In the Swat Valley, the first cases of cholera have already been noted. The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has expressed his condolences to the population, promising humanitarian aid - many countries have also done this - for the area.

Christian Aid has released £50,000 to help Act Alliance partners respond to the crisis.

ACT Alliance staff are currently visiting the affected areas to identify the most urgent needs to that they can begin distribution of food, water, tents, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets and emergency medical care. To make a donation visit: www.christianaid.org.uk/give/