Monday, June 1, 2009

Swat: Military Operation to Increase Militancy

By Abdullah Muntazir

No one knows what will be the final outcome of the ongoing military operation in Malakand division of
Pakistan’s frontier province; however, one of the immediate consequences of the operation is that the
number of internally displaced people (IDPs) has gone into the millions. The other outcome is that the
Taliban, who were increasingly losing their credibility prior to the operation against them, have now
received a chance to prove that they are victims of ‘America’s allies’, and they will most certainly exploit
the collateral damage caused by military operation in their favor. Ever since 2004 when military
operations first began in tribal areas, we can clearly see that after every military operation the Taliban
only became stronger than before. I fear the results will be the same this time too, and the Pakistani
military will only earn the outrage and hatred of the displaced people. In fact, the people of Swat have
already begun to speak out against the military operation. They have now begun saying that we have
become homeless not because of the activities the Taliban, but in fact, because of the military operation
there. The military operation has not only made us homeless, but our beloved ones have fallen prey to
the much-abused term ‘collateral damage’.

I am not a critic of the goals and objective of the government in Swat. It is the right and prerogative of
the government to establish its writ and use all available resources for this purpose, but the way the
government wants to achieve these goals is not suitable at all, rather, I would say the government’s
strategy of using the military at this point in time has been counterproductive. Wise people learn from
the mistakes of others. The Pakistani military is neither more powerful than the U.S. Army, nor does it
possess the state of the art war technology which the U.S. forces have.

Despite having the largest and strongest army in the world and spending more than one trillion dollars
in two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States has failed to root out militancy in both countries,
and the worsening situation in Afghanistan has compelled the U.S. to hold talks with the Taliban. In
these clandestine negotiations, the U.S. has offered the Taliban a big share in the Afghan government,
but the Taliban are standing firmly on their own conditions. A game of percentage is underway. Inside
reports show that the U.S. is ready to give the Taliban more than 70 percent share in the Afghan
government. In return, the Taliban will induct U.S. nominated people on key posts. However, the U.S. is
holding these talks as Plan B. Plan A, like before, is to use military might this summer too.

The formula of the military ‘surge’ like Iraq will be a last try in the ‘try try again’ military exercises.
Arrival of more American troops is a part of this ‘surge’ strategy. If the ‘surge’ strategy does not bring
the required results like Iraq, then Plan B will taken up. Saudi Arabia is acting as a broker in these talks
and while the Pakistani security establishment not only has full knowledge of these dialogues, but it is
playing its own role in the plan. It is amazing how while being an eyewitness of America’s military failure
in Afghanistan our security establishment still decided to begin a military operation in the style that it
has. Such action is only expected to increase militancy manifolds. Forcing the whole population of an
area to migrate and then destroying every remaining structure in that area has neither brought the
desired outcome in Bajaur Agency in the past, nor will it do so now in Swat; except for yielding some
half-hearted expressions of U.S. satisfaction, if at all.

Moreover, an inadequate arrangement for the displaced people is adding fuel to the fire. It only sends
out the message that the government has no concern for the affected people. This style of military
operation against militancy is unprecedented. Perhaps no one in recent history has used such an
annoying technique, which affects the whole population of the area so severely. The basic rule in
fighting against militancy is to win hearts and minds of the civilian population. If the government thinks
that by proving the Taliban wrong and holding them responsible for the military operation will win the
hearts and minds of the public, then it must revise its approach. TV talk shows cannot alleviate the
suffering of those who have been evicted from their homes, and anyway, the displaced people do not
have the luxury of watching TV programs about themselves in their refugee camps.

As an example, India has been fighting Kashmiri freedom fighters since 1990 but it never used its air
force against them. Use of gunship helicopters is also rare. This is because India does not want to buy
the enmity of the whole Kashmiri population. It is the Kashmiri nation who does not want to live with
India otherwise India has tried its best to win hearts and minds of Kashmiri nation. It was essential for
our military to win hearts and minds of the people. This is the key to success in any war against
ideologically driven militancy. Whether they are right or wrong, ideologically motivated people never
submit to military might. Such military operations only generate more militancy.

Ironically, one wonders why our security establishment does not try to get inside knowledge as to how
these people motivate their followers and what are the arguments they present before a young boy who
becomes willing to sacrifice his life in the hope of attaining paradise. The Taliban were rapidly losing
public support in Swat valley, but military operation has become a godsend for the weakening Maulana
Fazlullah, the leader of the Taliban in Swat. The militants will definitely exploit human rights violations
and collateral damage caused by ongoing operation, and as a result will be able to attract even more
youth of the area, and thus militancy will never end in the area.

I personally believe the only solution of the problem is for the security forces to avoid committing
bigger mistakes than those of Maulana Fazlullah and Tehreek Taliban Swat. Furthermore, the
Government of NWFP should go ahead with the implementation of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR)
and prove to the people of the area that it was always sincere. Before implementation of NAR though, a
military operation, or use of any kind of force for that matter, will not work at all. If you have any doubts
regarding my analysis then just wait until this phase of operation is concludes and the ground reality for
speak for itself.

The writer is an expert on militancy and regional security issues.

Posted by Honest Opinion at 4:36 AM

Load Shedding in Pakistan
Electricity is in short supply in Pakistan, and as a result electric load shedding, break downs,
power outages, fluctuations, blackouts etc are a common feature in the country. Whether it is
summer or winter, load shedding is there. Some times it is scheduled, while or other occasions it
is totally unscheduled. The letter is the worst because it causes untold problems and hardships to
the electricity dependent community. It can be confidently said that the electric supply has never
been reliable at any time in Pakistan.

There are many factors behind electric load shedding in Pakistan. These factors include shortage
in river waters, over population, new connections, electric supply to villages, low generation of
electricity, fewer dams, power theft, line losses etc. Then load shedding is the result of
corruption, inefficiency, mismanagement and defective planning in WAPDA besides incomplete
projects like Kala Bagh Dam, misuse of available resources, no generation from atomic and solar
energy, lack of consensus and the apathy of the government contribute to load shedding.

Load shedding is a great curse. It brings untold misery to people belonging to all walks of life
weather they are students, patients, businessman, industrialists, farmers, laborers, mechanics,
house wives etc. It brings all economic, Agricultural and industrial progress to a standstill. The
fluctuation plays havoc with the electric equipments like refrigerators, VCRs, Televisions, and
Computers etc. The foreign investors shun investing money in different fields due to load
shedding starts a long episode of helplessness and frustration.

Pakistan can not make progress in any field in the presence of load shedding. Therefore
government should take all possible measures to end load shedding from the country. First of all
it should remove corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement from WAPDA. New mega dams
should be constructed with out further delay. The present available resources should be
developed immediately. Power should be generated from solar and nuclear energy. Power theft
should be should be stopped forthwith. On the other hand people should make wise and proper
use of electricity. They should turn to using energy saving device. No doubt such steps can help
a great deal in ending load shedding from the country.

Electricity load-shedding in Pakistan

Written By: Tahir Jamil on March 2, 2010
Electricity load shedding in Pakistan has increased manifold. Minister of water and power Raja Pervaiz
Ashraf assured that electricity load shedding would be done according to time schedule. He assured that
electricity load shedding will finish by the end of the year 2009 but instead it is doubled what it was in
the past year 2009. It is big failure of the government of Pakistan. No country can make progress
without electricity. Recent government measures of holiday on Saturday and other saving methods have
reduced load shedding but not significantly. Here I want to reveal one big waste of electricity by
WAPDA, LESCO and other cities electricity board employees. One low grade LESCO employee told me
that he is getting 2,100 units free electricity per month. He told that senior officers are getting 7,000
units and more free electricity per month. So, these employees are getting free electricity equal to their
salaries. All this free electricity is being wasted on numerous air conditioners or selling to other rich
people. Holiday on Saturday is loss for backward Pakistani nation since already government office
procedures are dead slow.
Protests are taking place around the country. People of advanced countries cannot imagine to live in
such circumstances for a single day. I have never seen such a intense electricity load-shedding during my
whole life. Minister of water and power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf failed to fulfill his promises. Electricity load-
shedding is one of the biggest issue in Pakistan including poverty and unemployment. Government
should take drastic measure to finish this electricity load-shedding. Pakistani nation is unhappy that
government and opposition is busy in other legislative issues instead of resolving these primary issues. I
challenge that I can resolve electricity load-shedding issue in one year if I become minister or high
official of ministry of power.
On February 06, 2010 there was eight hours of continuous load shedding. Such shutdown takes place
one day every week on the pretext of maintenance. Local LESCO employees told that this shut down
takes place from local Grid station. SDO and XEN never attend their mobiles. There numbers are
provided on electricity bills as a joke. Similarly other responsible authorities concerned with load-
shedding are not attending their phones. I talked to PS of LESCO chief executive and suggested him to
suspend such staff who are not fulfilling their duties.
There is another very unjust aspect of electricity load shedding. There is no or less electricity load
shedding in officer’s colonies or in rich posh areas. Always equal treatment is suggested by all national
and international organizations. There must be equal time of electricity load shedding for every part of
Lahore. Further electricity load shedding is being used as a weapon in order to obstruct people from
work. This type of electricity load shedding happens any time without any time table. Political parties
have joined hand for forming coalition government but people are facing inexpressible difficulties. Now
political parties should work together for the resolution of important issues like electricity load-shedding
and people’s poverty.

Load Shedding In Pakistan

Electricity load shedding in Pakistan has increased manifold. Minister of water and power Raja Pervaiz
Ashraf assured that electricity load shedding would be done according to time schedule. He assured that
electricity load shedding will finish by the end of the year 2009 but instead it is doubled what it was in
the past year 2009. It is big failure of the government of Pakistan. No country can make progress
without electricity. Recent government measures of holiday on Saturday and other saving methods have
reduced load shedding but not significantly. Here I want to reveal one big waste of electricity by
WAPDA, LESCO and other cities electricity board employees. One low grade LESCO employee told me
that he is getting 2,100 units free electricity per month. He told that senior officers are getting 7,000
units and more free electricity per month. So, these employees are getting free electricity equal to their
salaries. All this free electricity is being wasted on numerous air conditioners or selling to other rich
people. Holiday on Saturday is loss for backward Pakistani nation since already government office
procedures are dead slow.
Protests are taking place around the country. People of advanced countries cannot imagine to live in
such circumstances for a single day. I have never seen such a intense electricity load-shedding during my
whole life. Minister of water and power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf failed to fulfill his promises. Electricity load-
shedding is one of the biggest issue in Pakistan including poverty and unemployment. Government
should take drastic measure to finish this electricity load-shedding. Pakistani nation is unhappy that
government and opposition is busy in other legislative issues instead of resolving these primary issues. I
challenge that I can resolve electricity load-shedding issue in one year if I become minister or high
official of ministry of power.
On February 06, 2010 there was eight hours of continuous load shedding. Such shutdown takes...

Simple Way to Reduce Load-Shedding

By Salman Mugsi • May 12th, 2008 •

Long power cuts have sucked the life out of Pakistanis. In the scorching heat, it’s getting
harder to breath and still the frightening hot and brutal months of June, July and August
are yet to come and Pakistanis are already trembling in the dark.

All that talk about going solar is very promising, but we have to be realistic as Pakistani
government hasn’t shown any interest in the alternate energy options and they are busy in
the power games and fighting the US war on terror or getting some more billions to carry
on with their luxuries. They are arranging for some rent-a-megawatt things which would
temporarily solve a minor part of crisis, and that’s it.

Government could take some simple steps to alleviate the miseries of the nation. It could
order by force that all the markets must be closed at 6 pm in the evening. All the small and
medium sized markets. It should order that all the offices, industries and factories must
also be closed at 4 pm with two holidays a week, and in the morning, one working hour
could be added to make up for any lost working hours.

Government could cut down the electricity consumption in the offices of Prime Minister,
chief ministers and the ministers of center and provinces and also at the homes and offices
of top bureaucrats. I don’t have the muscle to say anything to say in regard of cutting
power at the President House and other “special” places.

These possible steps, which only need political will and courage, could ease load-shedding
to a considerable amount.

Food Crisis in Pakistan

By Dr. Hassan Isfahani • Apr 21st, 2008

The calls for “Atta” from all quarters of the society are rising to a chorus. Due to the food
shortage in Pakistan, the new government of Pakistan Democratic Alliance is all set to become a
glutton for punishment and humiliation in very near future. Though it would be unfair to blame
them for the looming food crisis in the country, but an empty stomach doesn’t understand logic
or argument.
One may ridicule United States in many regards, but when it comes to statistics the auxiliary
offshoots of this world body often prove right. United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has
predicted that Pakistan is in the grave danger of becoming an acutely food insecure country in
the very near future and according to other sources it is expected that food riots would break in
the streets.

WFP country director Wolfgang Berbinger has told media that currently 60 million food insecure
people are present in the country, the increase of 35 per cent in wheat prices and more for some
other food items, did not match the increase in wage rate that was 18 per cent as compared to last
year. According to the WFP stats, 38 per cent of Pakistanis are food insecure, and that basically
means that they are not able to afford poverty line intake of 2,350 kcal per day. WFP also reveal
that approximately 12.5 of wheat is wasted on way from field to the consumer whereas vegetable
loss is 30 per cent.

The food insecurity is in every district of Pakistan. In the most populated province of Pakistan, in
Punjab, out of 34 district only 9 are almost food secure. In NWFP, out of 16 districts, only five
are food secure. In Sindh, out of 15 districts, only 9 are food secure. In Balochistan, out of 25
districts only 4 are food secure.

These statistics are alarming and demand immediate attention from the high-ups. The restoration
of judiciary and the matter of war on terror are extremely important, but prolonged hunger can
turn any nation into angry animals frantically searching for food to appease their natural instinct.

So it is the need of hour that government should start working on war footings about extending
the crop maximization plans to balance food price inflation and improvement in storage and
harvesting-thrashing to control wastage of food. Government needs to understand that easy and
cheap food availability, access and deliverance to everyone at everyplace is the key to their
survival.

oad Shedding For Utilities

By: Edward Herniak
Home | Business

The electricity that people use is generally produced and supplied by companies. Load shedding
results when people are demanding more electricity than a company has to give. To resolve the
situation, that company may have to deny certain users electricity at certain times. This prevents
blackouts from occurring which causes instability in a country and is not good for the economy.

Many people take electricity for granted. This is often because people think electricity is
unlimited. In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, this is not true.
Providing electricity involves converting some type of resource into energy that can be used to
produce the needed electricity. For example, coal or hydropower may be used. Companies
involved in this process usually have a limited capacity, meaning they can only produce so
much. There are also instances when the resources used to produce the electrical power are
limited or unavailable.

Load shedding occurs when consumers demand levels of supply that exceed their providers
capacities. When these types of threats are looming, people are often warned to conserve
electricity and limit their consumption. This strategy often proves ineffective, so the providers
must resort to more drastic measures. However, there are solutions available that will do load
shedding by interfacing with small demand controllers in thousands of locations. When a
demand peak is coming, the utility can quickly respond by invoking the demand controllers to
shed unnecessary loads. For example, it can turn of an air conditioner, or a pump or a portion of
the lighting load. If the utility does demand control for small equipment over thousands of
locations, it can reduce the overall energy usage substantially.

However, sometimes the government does not want to spend money on these type of systems
and a blackout occurs. A blackout is usually an uncontrolled power outage. If excessive demands
are left unresolved, this will be the result. Blackouts, however, can be problematic. Since
consumers have no indication of when a blackout will occur, they can be unduly inconvenienced.
For providers, blackouts can result in damaged networks.

Load shedding is a controlled alternative response to excessive demand. To ease the burden on
themselves and their consumers, providers may begin to ration electricity. Instead of allowing a
blackout to occur, which could cause many people to be without power for an unknown amount
of time, providers may shut down the flow themselves.

This is usually part of a plan. The providers decide how to best distribute the electricity so the
burden of the shortage can be spread across their networks. Load shedding often involves
schedules that determine which areas will be denied power and at what times it will happen.

Load shedding is referred to as rolling blackouts for this reason. First, the flow of electricity is
cut in one area for a predetermined amount of time. Then, supplies are reconnected in that area
and disconnected elsewhere. In many cases people in the affected areas, especially the businesses
such as supermarkets that are dependent on power, are notified in advance.

Positivities of Load Shedding in Pakistan

Oct 7th, 2010 by MusawarA

This article will let you understand the positivity of electricity Load shedding in Pakistan.

Life is not a bed of roses. Every day brings out a new challenge to our life. Now a days we
Pakistan facing the svere load shedding of electricity from 8 hours to 18 hours in cities and
villages in different parts of Pakistan. Every one thinks that we are compelled to face such
situations. There can be many reasons to it, techinical or non-technical, but in this article we will
see the other side of the picture.

Everything in the world is not useless. It has its pros and cons. It depends on us that how we take
it into ours. Load shedding has affected the business and life in Pakistan, but that has some
positive impact on our society as well. some of the points are listed bellow. Please try to
encourage them in your surroundings.

 It saves money which we have to pay in the form of electricity bills.

 It saves us from the strenous microwave or ultra voilet rays which emits from different
appliances.
 It takes our life into safe mode.
 It cut down the generation gap and bring social activity among young and old people.
 It helps people to discuss matters with each other.
 It helps people to brainstorm different ideas to work on.
 It helps people to plan for your tomoroow's work.
 It gives us time to talk and play with our children.
 It gives us chance to tell and explain the old gadgets to the children which they read in
thier text books but are unable to understand.
 It helps people to have physical activity.
 It normalize your body temperature due to swetting an activity.
 It helps heart patients to avoid watching heart burning news channels.
 It helps people to think for alternate earning ways.
 It helps us to avoid watching conflict arising political issues.
 It helps us to maintaine our health by not watching television for the longer time.
 It helps the people to observe nature in day light or in night, especially stars and moon
sky.

Please comment if you come out with any other positive point. This will help us to improve the
society of Pakistan

Deliberate power shortfall in Pakistan

By Abdullah Muntazir

Pakistan is facing electricity crisis these days. In the name of ‘load management’ Pakistan
Electric Power Company deprives Pakistani public from electricity for 8 to 12 hours daily. No
one knows what the exact reason behind electricity shortfall is as PEPCO is not sharing the
cause, it only tells us the effect. When I tried to dig out the truth I came to know that electricity
shortfall claims are false and there are huge contradictions between PEPCO’s claims and its own
facts and figures. These contradictions led me to the conclusion that in fact there is no
justification of ‘load shedding’. If for the sake of argument one believes in PEPCO’s claim of
shortfall then too, load shedding should not exceed from four hours a day.

To prove PEPCO’s claims as wrong I used its own facts and figures obtained from its
website.

PEPCO says that the total installed capacity of power generation in Pakistan is 17206 MW. As
its usually not possible to get output according to installed capacity so lets assume that power is
generated 2000 MW less than the installed capacity. It means there 15200 MW of electricity
should be produced every day. Now let’s check the demand in the country. As per PEPCO;s own
claims demand of electricity during last ten days of May, 2009 was 15250 MW. No calculator is
needed to know that only 50 MW fells short in this case. But PEPCO claims a shortfall of 2500
MW. How is it possible? Can anybody ask Mr. Pervaiz Ashraf, the minister for water and power
in federal cabinet? 2500 MW shortfall means power is produced 4500 MW less than installed
capacity. This huge gap can not be justified by any means. Either it’s a failure of ministry of
water and power to get power generation plants operated at optimum level or there is a
deliberation in creating such a huge gap between installed capacity and actual production for
some hidden reasons.

Now lets assume for a while that the claim of 2500 MW shortfall is true. What should
happen then? 2500 MW is only 16 percent of demand which is 15250 MW. How much load
shedding is justified in managing 16 percent deficit? For me there is no reason to exceed load
shedding from 4 hours. It is enough to cover the shortfall with 4 hours of load shedding without
any discrimination between cities and villages. Can Mr. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf tell the nation why
he is causing this mess?

Interestingly PEPCO’s fall claims can be counter checked with its previous year’s claims.
Previous year claimed shortfall was almost double to this years ‘claimed’ shortfall but the
duration of load shedding is same as it was in previous year. Isn’t it a humongous contradiction
between PEPCO’s claims? Can anyone ask PEPCO and ministry of water and power to elaborate
that why same time of load shedding is used to manage half of the previous year’s shortfall?

Now you may think why PEPCO and Ministry of Water and Power is deliberately
creating load shedding while there is no need and justification to do so. For me there are two
reasons. First is related to commission from new Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
Contracts with new IPPs are underway these days. According to Raja Pervaiz Ashraf capacity of
power generation will be increased up to 3000 MW by December this year. To increase power
generation Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and his ministry is inducting more IPPs. He and his ministry
needs justification for new contracts and it can be justified only by creating a deliberate power
shortfall in the country. And do you think these IPPs will get contracts without any commission?
If one can earn some ‘pennies’ through awarding new contracts to IPPs then why should not he
earn some more ‘pennies’ from existing IPPs? This is economics’ basic rule that shortage in
supply increases price. Public needs electricity and Ministry of Water and Power through
PEPCO wants to push the public to the point where it say ‘we need electricity at any cost’. Mr.
Raja successfully pushed the nation to this point. Now electricity prices are supposed to be
increased by 17 percent in the budget. IPPs will definitely get benefit by this unjustified increase
in tariff and it will be appropriate for them to pay ‘thanks’ to Mr. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and his
colleagues.

One comment: PEPCO claimed on 1st June 1, 2009 that it has ended load shedding
temporarily. Can anyone ask Raja and its PEPCO how it was possible to get 2500 MW
electricity within one day? Was it in Raja’s pocket and he threw it to the nation for few days?
These are the days when electricity demand is at its peak. At the same time hydel power
generation is also at its peak and it will remain same until September. What will be the
justification if Raja starts load shedding again?

2010 Pakistan floods

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article may require copy editing for grammar, style,
cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (August 2010)

2010 Pakistan floods

A NASA satellite image showing the Indus River at the time of floods

Duration: 26 July 2010-Present

Damages: $43 billion[1] (estimated)

Fatalities: 2,000[2]

Areas affected: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan

The 2010 Pakistan floods began in July 2010 following heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan. Present estimates indicate that over two thousand
people[2] have died and over a million homes have been destroyed since the flooding began.[3] The
United Nations estimates that more than 21 million[4] people are injured or homeless as a result of the
flooding, exceeding the combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the
2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[5] At one point, approximately one-fifth of
Pakistan's total land area was underwater due to the flooding.[6][7][8]

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked for an initial $460 million for emergency relief, noting that
the flood was the worst disaster he had ever seen. 50% of the relief funds requested have been received
as of 15 August 2010.[9] The U.N. is concerned that aid is not arriving fast enough, while the World
Health Organization reported that ten million people were forced to drink unsafe water.[10] The
Pakistani economy has been harmed by extensive damage to infrastructure and crops.[11] Structural
damages are estimated to exceed 4 billion USD, and wheat crop damages are estimated to be over 500
million USD.[12] Officials estimate the total economic impact to be as much as 43 billion USD.[13]
[14]Contents [hide]

1 Causes

2 Flooding and impact

2.1 Floods

2.2 Heavy rainfalls recorded during the wet spell of July 2010

2.3 Aftermath

3 Potential long term effects

3.1 Food

3.2 Infrastructure

3.3 Taliban insurgency

3.4 Political effects

3.5 Economic effects

4 Relief efforts

4.1 Response by national governments

4.2 Response by non-governmental organizations

4.2.1 DEC and member charities

4.2.2 Other charities

4.2.3 Other organisations

4.3 Response by individuals

4.4 Response by Islamic militant organizations

4.5 Response by corporations

5 Criticism of response

5.1 Neglect of minorities

5.2 Inequality

6 See also

7 References
8 External links

[edit]

Causes

US Army helicopter flies over a flood-affected area.

Current flooding is blamed on unprecedented monsoon rain.[15] The rainfall anomaly map published by
NASA shows unusually intense monsoon rains attributed to La Niña.[16] On 21 June, the Pakistan
Meteorological Department cautioned that urban and flash flooding could occur from July to September
in the north parts of the country.[17] The same department recorded above-average rainfall in the
months of July and August 2010,[18] and monitored the flood wave progression.[19] Some of the
discharge levels recorded are comparable to those seen during the floods of 1988, 1995, and 1997.[20]

An article in the New Scientist[21] attributed the cause of the exceptional rainfall to "freezing" of the jet
stream, a phenomenon that reportedly also caused an unprecedented heat wave and wildfires in Russia
as well as the 2007 United Kingdom floods.[22]

[edit]

Flooding and impact

[edit]

Floods

Satellite images of the upper Indus River valley comparing water-levels on 1 August 2009 (top) and 31
July 2010 (bottom)

Monsoon rains were forecast to continue into early August and were described as the worst in this area
in the last 80 years.[23] The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that over 200 mm (7.88 inches) of
rain fell over a 24-hour period over a number of places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and more
was expected.[24] A record-breaking 274 mm (10.7 inches) rain fell in Peshawar during 24 hours,[25]
previously 187 mm (7.36 inches) of rain was recorded in April 2009.[26] So far 500,000 or more people
have been displaced from their homes.[23] On 30 July, Manuel Bessler, head of the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated that 36 districts were involved, and 950,000 people were
affected,[27] although within a day, reports increased that number to as high as a million,[28] and by
mid-August to nearly 20 million affected.[29] The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial minister of
information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said "the infrastructure of this province was already destroyed by
terrorism. Whatever was left was finished off by these floods."[30] He also called the floods "the worst
calamity in our history."[31] Four million Pakistanis were left with food shortages.[32]

Officials have warned that the death toll could rise, as many towns and villages are not accessible, and
communications have been disrupted. In some areas, the water level was 5.5 m (18 ft) high and
residents were seen on roof-tops waiting for aid to arrive.[31] At least 1,588 people have been injured,
222,600 houses and 4,600 villages have been damaged or destroyed.[33] The Karakoram Highway,
which connects Pakistan with China, was closed after a bridge was destroyed.[34] The ongoing
devastating floods in Pakistan will have a severe impact on an already vulnerable population, says the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In addition to all the other damages the floods have
caused, floodwater have destroyed much of the health care infrastructure in the worst-affected areas,
leaving inhabitants especially vulnerable to water-borne disease.[35] In Sindh, the Indus River burst its
banks near Sukkur on 8 August, submerging the village of Mor Khan Jatoi.[32] There is also an absence
of law and order, mainly in Sindh. Looters have been taking advantage of the floods by ransacking
abandoned homes using boats.[36]

Affected areas as of August 26, 2010

In early August, the heaviest flooding moved southward along the Indus River from severely-affected
northern regions toward western Punjab, where at least 1,400,000 acres (570,000 ha) of cropland was
destroyed,[32] and the southern province of Sindh.[37] The crops affected were cotton, sugarcane, rice,
pulses, tobacco and animal fodder. Floodwaters and rain destroyed 700,000 acres (3,000 km2) of cotton,
200,000 acres (800 km2) acres each of rice and cane, 500,000 tonnes of wheat and 300,000 acres (1,000
km2) of animal fodder.[38][39] According to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, the floods
destroyed 2 million bales of cotton, which led to an increase in futures of the commodity in international
market.[40][41] 170,000 citizens (or 70% of the population) of the historic Sindh town of Thatta fled
advancing flood waters on 27 August 2010.[42]

Pakistani authorities predicted that additional rainfall was expected to trigger two further waves of
flooding in mid-August, inundating more land and swallowing more villages. One of these new flood
surges was sweeping down from mountainous areas in the north as of August 11, and was expected to
hit highly populated areas in the coming days, while the second wave was being formed in the
mountains.[43]

[edit]

Heavy rainfalls recorded during the wet spell of July 2010

Heavy rainfalls of more than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) recorded during the four day wet spell of July 27 to
July 30, 2010 in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab based on data from the Pakistan
Meteorological Department.[25]

City Rainfall (mm) Rainfall (in) Province Notes

Risalpur *415 16.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Islamabad 394 15.5 Islamabad Capital Territory [25]

Murree 373 14.6 Punjab [25]

Cherat *372 14.6 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Garhi Dopatta 346 13.6 Azad Kashmir [25]

Saidu Sharif *338 13.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Peshawar *333 13.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Kamra 308 12.1 Punjab [25]

Rawalakot 297 11.7 Azad Kashmir [25]

Muzaffarabad 292 11.5 Azad Kashmir [25]

Lahore 288 11.3 Punjab [25]

Mianwali *271 10.6 Punjab [25]

Jhelum 269 10.6 Punjab [25]

Lower Dir 263 10.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Kohat *262 10.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Balakot 256 10.0 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Sialkot 255 10.0 Punjab [25]

Pattan 242 9.5 Azad Kashmir [25]

DIR 231 9.10 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Gujranwala 222 8.7 Punjab [25]

Dera Ismail Khan 220 8.6 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [25]

Rawalpindi 219 8.6 Punjab [25]

* Indicates new record.

[edit]

Aftermath

The power infrastructure of Pakistan also took a severe blow from the floods, which damaged 10,000
transmission lines and transformers, feeders and power houses in different flood-hit areas. Flood water
inundated Jinnah Hydro power and 150 power houses in Gilgit. The damage caused a power shortfall of
3.135 gigawatt.[44]

Aid agencies have warned that outbreaks of diseases, such as: gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and skin
diseases due to lack of clean drinking water and sanitation can pose a serious new risk to flood victims.
[45][46] On 14 August, the first documented case of cholera emerged in the town of Mingora, striking
fear into millions of stranded flood victims, who are already suffering from gastroenteritis and diarrhea.
[47][48][49] It has been reported by the International Red Cross that a large number of unexploded
ordinance, such as mines and artillery shells, have been flushed down stream by the floods from areas in
Kashmir and Waziristan and scattered in low lying areas, posing a future risk to returning inhabitants.
[50] The United Nations estimated that 800,000 people have been cut off by floods in Pakistan and are
only reachable by air. It also stated that at least 40 more helicopters are needed to ferry lifesaving aid to
increasingly desperate people. Many of those cut off are in the mountainous northwest, where roads
and bridges have been swept away.[51]

By order of President Asif Ali Zardari, there were no official celebrations of Pakistan's 63rd
Independence Day on 14 August, due to the calamity the country faces.[52]

[edit]

Potential long term effects

[edit]

Food

Floods have submerged 17 million acres (69,000 km2) of Pakistan's most fertile crop land, have killed
200,000 herd of livestock and have washed away massive amounts of grain. A major concern is that
farmers will be unable to meet the fall deadline for planting new seeds in 2010, which implies a massive
loss of food production in 2011, and potential long term food shortages.[53] The agricultural damages
are more than 2.9 billion dollars, according to recent estimates, and include over 700,000 acres (2,800
km2) of lost cotton crops, 200,000 acres (810 km2) of sugar cane and 200,000 acres (810 km2) of rice, in
addition to the loss of over 500,000 tonnes of stocked wheat, 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) of animal
fodder and the stored grain losses.[54][55]

Agricultural crops such as cotton, rice, and sugarcane and to some extent mangoes were badly affected
in Punjab, according to a Harvest Tradings-Pakistan spokesman. He called for the international
community to fully participate in the rehabilitation process, as well as for the revival of agricultural crops
in order to get better GDP growth in the future.

In affected Multan Division in South Punjab, some people were seen to be engaging in profit-taking in
this disaster, raising their prices up to Rs 130/kg. Some have called for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to
write off all agricultural loans in the affected areas in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa especially
for small farmers.[56]

On 24 September World Food Programme announced that about 70% of Pakistan's population do not
have adequate access to proper nutrition. Most of this population with less than adequate nutrition lives
in rural areas of the country.[57]

[edit]

Infrastructure

Floods have damaged an estimated 2,433 miles of highway and 3,508 miles (5,646 km) of railway. Cost
estimates for highway damages are approximately 158 million USD, and railway damages are 131 million
USD. Any unique or particularly large infrastructure damages will increase these estimates.[12] Public
building damages are estimated at 1 billion USD.[12] Aid donors have presented an estimate that 5,000
schools have been destroyed.[58]

[edit]

Taliban insurgency
The flood will divert Pakistani military forces from fighting the Pakistani Taliban insurgents (TTP) in the
northwest because they will be needed to help in the relief effort.[59] It is feared that this will allow
Taliban fighters to regroup.[60] On the other hand, some are suggesting that by helping flood victims,
the US has an opportunity to improve its image.[61]

The Pakistani Taliban have also engaged in relief efforts and are making inroads where the government
is absent or seen as corrupt.[62] As the flood may have dislodged many property markers, it is feared
that governmental delay and corruption will give an advantage to the Taliban to settle these disputes
swiftly.[62] A Taliban spokesperson asked the Pakistani government to reject Western help from
"Christians and Jews" and claimed that the Taliban could raise $20 million to replace that aid.[62][63]

According to a US official the TTP had issued a threat saying that it will launch attacks against foreigners
participating in flood relief operations.[64] In response, the United Nations said it was reviewing security
arrangements for its workers. The World Health Organization stated that work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province was already suffering because of the security concerns there.[65] However, an unverified
Taliban spokesperson based in Orakzai told The Express Tribune: “We have not issued any such threat;
and we don’t have any plans to attack relief workers."[66] Reportedly three American Christians were
killed by the Taliban on August 25 in the Swat Valley.[67]

[edit]

Political effects

Floods have been theorized to have future political consequences mostly due to public perception of
governance inefficacies and it has been said that if the situation is not adequately addressed specially
with fight against terrorism going on in Pakistan, it might lead to future political unrest. These political
effects of the floods have been compared with that of 1970 Bhola cyclone.[68][69][70][71][72][73][74]

[edit]

Economic effects

On 7 September 2010, the International Labour Organization reported that more than 5.3 million jobs
have been lost due to the floods, emphasizing that "productive and labor intensive job creation
programmes are urgently needed to lift millions of people out of poverty that has been aggravated by
flood damage".[75][76][77] The GDP growth rate of 4% prior to the floods may turn negative with the
estimates ranging from -2% to -5% of GDP. Though the GDP growth may improve in 2011 and beyond, it
will be several years before it can return to the 4% level of 2009. The loss of crops will hit the textile
manufacturing which is the largest export sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, the loss of over 10 million
heads of livestock's along with the loss of other crops will bring down the total agricultural production
by more than 15%. Toyota and Unilever Pakistan have said that the floods may sap growth, necessitating
production cuts as people struggle to cope with the destruction. Parvez Ghias the chief executive of
Pakistan's largest motor automaker Toyota described the economy's state as "fragile". Nationwide car
sales are predicted to fall as much as 25%, forcing automakers to reduce production in October 2010
from the pre-flood level of 200 cars per day. The milk supplies have also fallen by 15%, which will cause
the retail price of milk to increase by Pk Rs 4 (5 US cents) per liter. Some investors have started to buy
the devalued stock in the hope that they will rise again.[78][79][80]
[edit]

Relief efforts This section may be in need of reorganization to comply with Wikipedia's layout
guidelines. Please help by editing the article to make improvements to the overall structure. (August
2010)

A bridge damaged by the flooding

Pakistan has appealed to international donors for help in responding to the disaster.[81] Twenty-one
helicopters and 150 boats were pressed into service to assist the affected people according to the
National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan.[82] The US embassy in Pakistan provided seven
helicopters to the authorities to assist in relief-operations.[83] The United Nations also launched relief
efforts.[27] It appealed for $460 million to provide immediate help, including food, shelter and clean
water. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Pakistan on 15 August to oversee and discuss the
relief efforts.[45][46] A Pakistani army spokesman said that troops had been deployed in all affected
areas and had rescued thousands of people.[30] Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani visited the province
and directed the Pakistan Navy to help evacuate the flood-victims.[84] By early August, more than
352,291 people have been rescued.[33]

According to the Relief web Financial Tracking service, total donations worldwide for humanitarian
assistance so far come to $687 million, with a further $324 million promised in uncommitted pledges, as
of August 27, 2010.[85]

By the end of August the Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) stated that Muslim countries, organizations and individuals had pledged close to $1
billion to assist in Pakistan’s flood emergency.[86] This statement is placed in doubt by findings from the
U.N. Financial Tracking Service that indicate that only 3 of 56 OIC’s member states - Saudi Arabia,
Turkey, and Kuwait - had pledged more than single digit millions.[86] Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani stated that by the end of August Saudi Arabia's support exceeded that of the US, yet both UN
data and data from Pakistan's Disaster Management Authority fail to support this claim.[86]

Sun Charity USA is one of the private relief outfits active in Pakistan.[87]

Merchandise supporting the flood relief efforts is available through zazzle.com/pkflood [88] with all
proceeds benefiting UNICEF in Pakistan.

The Imran Khan Foundation [89] is an accredited 501c3 charity that has raised over $2 million towards
the flood relief efforts and continues to solicit donations.

[edit]

Response by national governments

Afghanistan finance minister Omar Zakhilwal handed a cheque worth $1 million to Pakistani
ambassador Mohammad Sadiq at the end of a press conference in Afghan capital Kabul.[90]

Argentina have sent drinkable water.[91]

 Australia announced a A$35 million aid-package,[92] as well as committing two C17 Globemaster
aircraft to deliver emergency supplies and to assist relief efforts [93] and deploying a medical task force
consisting of up to 180 personnel and more than 33 tonnes of equipment.[94]

Austria donated 5.6 million euros to Pakistan.[95]

Azerbaijan gave US$2 million financial assistance to help the victims and eliminate the aftermath of the
disaster.[96] The Azerbaijani embassy in Pakistan said the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev ordered to
send two Il-76 planes with a humanitarian assistance on board to Pakistan. One of the planes delivered
40 tonnes of humanitarian cargo to Pakistan.[97] Also the staff of Azerbaijan embassy in Pakistan also
transferred its two-days’ salary worth around $2,000 to relief fund.[98]

Bahrain donated $2.6 million to Pakistan.[99]

Bangladesh has pledged $2 million for relief and will also dispatch a medical team along with material
assistance including tents, blankets, water purification tablets, mineral waters, life saving drugs and
vaccines, oral saline, hygiene kit, biscuits and packed dry food.[100]

Belarus donated blankets, tents, canned meat, water, and medicines, all worth around $200,000.[101]

Belgium donated 150,000 Euro for the victims.[102]

Brazil donated US$ 0.7 million through World Food Programme or life-saving assistance to the affected.
[103]

Canada announced that it would donate $2 million worth of emergency aid. $750,000 are expected to
be donated to the ICRC for distribution of shelter-materials and water, sanitation and health-services,
while the remainder goes to the WFP to provide much-needed food-assistance. On 14 August the
Canadian government announced an additional $32 million Dollar in aid.[104][105] The Canadian
government announced on August 22 that it will match, dollar-for-dollar, citizen donations made to
registered charities between August 2 and September 12,[106] later extended to October 3, 2010.[107]
On 14 September, an additional $7.5 million in relief aid was announced by the Canadian government.
[108]

China has so far provided 320 million yuan (47.1 million USD) worth of humanitarian supplies to
Pakistan in four batches with $200 million USD more aid promised by Premier Wen Jiabao.[109][110]
which will total 1.86 billion yuan (274 million USD). "As Pakistan's neighbor and all-weather friend, China
empathizes with Pakistan on the heavy casualties and property loss caused by the natural disasters,"
said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.[111] It initially announced that it would provide
emergency aid worth 10 million yuan (approx. US$ 1.48 million) to help the flood-victims.[112] The
People's Liberation Army donated another 10 million yuan to Pakistan.[113] The Chinese Red Cross has
also given US $50,000 in cash to Pakistan.[113] The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan traveled to Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and expressed his condolences to those affected by the tragedy.[114][115] On 13 August,
China announced another emergency humanitarian aid worth 50 million yuan (US$7.35 million) bringing
the total official Chinese relief aid then to more than 70 million yuan(approx. US$ 10.3 million) to the
flood-affected Pakistani people.[116] A Chinese search and rescue team arrived in the southern
Pakistani city of Thatta, Sindh Province, where heavy floods swept away hundreds of villages. The
Chinese rescue team, consisting of more than 60 members, set up tents and field hospitals to provide
medical services to flood victims. The Red Cross Society of China and some of China's local governments,
including Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province, had also offered cash and material
assistance to Pakistan. China announced another aid package of 200 million RMB on September 6,
saying it was sincere, timely and unconditional and that China would continue to offer Pakistan support
and help for the reconstruction.[110] Chinese ambassador in Pakistan Lui Jian while meeting with
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Chinese total contribution has reached 50 million
dollars with another batch of $200 million dollars promised by Chinas premier Wen Jiabao on
September 23 at the UN summit in NY. On September 20 China has dispatched 4 of its military
helicopters to aid in the search and rescue to Pakistan which is the first time China has ever dispatched
military helicopters overseas to perform such duties, the helicopters are also carrying flood relief aid.
[117]

The Czech military have sent 24 flights with humanitarian aid.[118]

Denmark has donated 63 million DKK (11M USD) in relief efforts and another 130 million DKK (22M
USD) in further development aid.[119][120]

Egypt donated medicine, medical supplies and foodstuffs.[121]

Estonia donated 64,000 euros.[122]

The European Union released €10 million to help Pakistan's flood victims on 11 August, as part of
emergency aid to flood-stricken country.[123] By 18 August, the EU had committed to spending €70
million (90 million dollars) on aid for victims of the floods.[124]

Finland government donated €1.2 million for humanitarian assistance to the flood victims. €600,000
were channeled through the World Health Organization, €400,000 through the UNHCR and €200,000
through Finn Church Aid.[125][126]

France donated 1.05 million euros and 35 tonnes of emergency supplies, tarpaulins, tanks, blankets,
jerry cans, kitchen sets, water purification tablets, 200 shelters and anti-cholera medicines.[127]

Germany initially committed €1 million for the victims, which was further increased to €2 million on 6
August.[128] On 12 August, Germany announced a $13 million aid package.[129] On 13 August Germany
increased its aid commitment by €10 million to now €25 million in direct help plus €43 million via
contributions through international organizations with which it is associated. In addition there have
been private donations to charities in the scale of €24 million up to 18 August.

Greece donated €100,000.[130]

Hong Kong has donated HK$ 3 million to World Vision for a relief project for flood victims in Pakistan.
[131]

Iceland contributed ISK 23 million (US $190,000) to emergency aid in areas impacted by the monsoon
floods in Pakistan.[132]

Indonesia The Government of Indonesia dispatched a cargo flight carrying humanitarian assistance of
US$1milliion for the flood victims. The relief assistance which arrived at the Chaklala Air base by a
charted cargo flight consisted of 15 tons of emergency supplies included 4.5 tons of ready to eat meals’
packets, 3 tons of medicines, 5 tons of powdered milk for children, 4000 blankets and 4000 Sarongs.On
behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia the donation of the relief goods was handed over
by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Mr. Ishak Latuconsina to the State Minister for
Information and Broadcasting Mr. Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari at the Chaklala Air base on August 7, 2010.
India, on 13 August, offered condolences and $5 million in financial aid.[133] Pakistan accepted the
offer on 20 August, a day after the meeting between Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers.[134] On 1
September 2010, India raised the aid amount to US$25 million.[135] Nearly 400 Indian medical staff
have been waiting for the Pakistan government's visa approval to help flood victims.[136] India has also
already supplied the first consignment of 25 truck-loads of potato to Pakistan.[137]

Iran had committed over 400 tonnes of relief goods; out of which 330 tonnes[138] had already been
delivered by the Iranian transport aircrafts as of 24 August 2010. These goods included tents, floorings,
clothes, canned food, bread and medical supplies. Iranian red crescent society has also been on the
ground along with Pakistan Red Crescent Society as a part of its ongoing relief operation inside Pakistan
to more than 100,000 flood vicitms. In addition to the Iranian government help Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi
Golpaygani has announced that one third of collected Khums will be donated to Pakistan for
humanitarian assistance.[139][140][141][142][143][144] Iran's chamber of commerce also donated US
$1 million to the flood affectees.[145] Iran has also offered to setup field hospitals and community
centers for flood victims in Pakistan.[146] In response to UN's appeal for help at New York, Iran
committed US $10 million towards the flood relief. In addition to this fund, Imam Khomeini Relief
Committee was directed to collect private donations from Iranians and donate it to Pakistani
government. Iranian interior minister also visited Pakistan as the head of a humanitarian mission
assessing the needs of Pakistani people in order to facilitate the distribution of Iranian aid to Pakistan.
During the visit the Pakistani interior minister was invited to Tehran for discussing the flood situation
among other matters, and the Pakistani minister visited Iran on 22 August 2010.[147][148][149][150]
[151][152] Iranian interior minister during a meeting with Pakistani interior minister informed the latter
that Iran is the third largest donor nation in terms of delivered aid.[153] Iran has also assured Pakistan of
its continued support and aid into future.[154] In order to better supply relief to flood victims, Iranian
president Dr. Ahmadinejad would visit the flood hit areas of Pakistan.[138] Iran has also donated 50,000
tents and has sent 500 doctors and nurses to help with ongoing international relief operation.[155] Iran
started to send an additional 1,100 tonnes of relief goods to Pakistan on 5 September 2010 as part of its
ongoing relief operation.[156] Iran is also setting up 15 relief and medical camps in every Pakistani
province each capable of holding 1,000 families.[157] On 12 September 2010, Iran allocated an
additional US $100 million for Pakistan flood relief.[158][159]

Ireland An initial €200,000 was donated by the government of Ireland.[160] An additional €550,000 was
added on 9 August 2010.[160] Then the total was €960,000.[161] The Irish media were critical of the
country's government for providing less than half the aid it donated to Haiti after the earthquake there.
[162] €1.19 million was added on 19 August, bringing the total at that stage to €2 million, the total given
to the Haiti disaster.[162][163] Minister for Overseas Development Peter Power, TD, said at the time
that more aid would be forthcoming from Ireland and that the country had provided a "proportionally
greater" amount than "most other European countries".[162][164] The Irish public had provided an
additional sum of more than €2.5 million by 20 August.[165]

Israel has offered aid to Pakistan, but the officials said they have not received an answer from Pakistan
on whether or not the aid should be forwarded.[166]

Italy provided € 1.33 million, including a humanitarian aid flight carrying emergency supplies such as
medicines, generators, water purifiers and containers.[167]

Japan provided US$ 0.23 million for emergency relief goods, while additional assistance of up to US$3
million has been committed for the disaster aftermath.In a press release, Japan announced to extend
the aid to 14.4 million USD (approx. 1.22 billion JPY) in total, in the form of the provision of emergency
relief goods, as well as food, water, sanitation etc.[168] Japan is also expected to send a unit of six
helicopters and some 300 SDF Troops [169]

Jordan A plane carrying food and medical supplies left for Pakistan on 15 August. It is carrying a 25-
member medical team, including nine doctors, as well as 21,000 typhoid and cholera vaccines.[170]

Kosovo donated €150,000 to the Government of Pakistan's flood relief efforts.[171]

Kuwait donated US $5 million to victims of the severe floods in Pakistan, according to Kuwait Red
Crescent Society (KRCS).[172]

Lebanon sent a plane to Pakistan with humanitarian aid.[173]

Lithuania donated LTL 50,000.[174]

Malaysia has donated $1 million to help people in flood-hit Pakistan.[175]

The Maldives collected MVR 10 million(US $1 million) for Pakistan. The people are collecting more
money. All the Maldivian broadcasting channels held a 24-hour telethon to help Pakistan and got MVR 1
million.[176]

Morocco sent a plane carrying 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid.[177]

Nepal cabinet provided cash assistance of Rs 10 million for flood victims in Pakistan.[178]

Netherlands donated €3.6 million euros.[179] Netherlands The population of the Netherlands has
collected more more than 17 million euros for relief aid in Pakistan.[180]

New Zealand donated NZ$4 million towards relief efforts in Pakistan.[181]

Nigeria also assisted Pakistan by donating US$ 1 million.[182]

Norway facilitated relief operation by providing NOK 30 million. NOK 9 million were given to UN Central
Emergency Response Fund, and NOK 21 million were allocated to UNICEF, Pakistan Emergency Response
Fund (ERF), and Pakistan Red Crescent Society[183]

The Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) send 2,336MT of aid to Pakistan, comprising foodstuffs,
water, Dates, tents, relief supplies and tools.[170]

Palestine donated 3000 tons of humanitarian supplies to Pakistan.[184]

Qatar Red Crescent has appealed for QR 6.5 million and as part of its Ramadan campaign allocated
QR1.5 million to its humanitarian mission.[170] QATAR Charity (QC) has started delivering food packs
worth QR7 million ($2 million) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP).[185] It also
plans to airlift 80 tonnes of emergency relief items, totalling around QR 2.2 million ($600,000).[186]

Russia have sent two Russian Il-76 cargo planes with emergency relief.[187]

Samoa donated US$20,000.[188]

As of 17 September 2010, Saudi Arabia has allocated more than US $361.99 million for the relief
operation, topping the list of all donating countries: US $105.29 million donated by the Saudi
Government, US $14.7 million donated by the Saudi Fund for Development, and US $242 million
collected through Saudi Public Fund Relief.[189] Saudi Arabia released a statement announcing the
establishment of an air-bridge to ferry relief-supplies to Pakistan. As of August 30, relief goods worth
USD 40 million had been delivered and some USD 67 million worth of relief goods were in the pipeline;
USD 5.3 million had been handed over to National Disaster Management Authority – NDMA Pakistan in
cash. Two 100-bed mobile hospitals were also donated by the Saudi Government to the flood victims.
[190]

Singapore donated 50 thousand US dollars, 800 water filters and 10,000 blankets.[191]

Slovakia donated power generators, water pumps and tents.[192]

Sri Lanka dispatched 18 metric tons of relief goods worth approx US$ 3 million to Pakistan on a Sri
Lankan Air Force C-130.[193][194][195] The Health Ministry will also send will be in the 15 member
special medical team to Pakistan.[196]

Spain have sent out two aircraft containing 15 tonnes of aid material for the victims.[197]

Sweden will send eight water cleaning aggregates which together have a capacity to support 18,000
people with clean drinking water.[198]

Switzerland donated CHF 3 million to Pakistan.[199]

Sudan donated 10 tonnes of food, medicine and shelter equipments as well as a medical team including
all disciplines.[200]

Syria announced that it would send 35 tonnes of foodstuffs, medical supplies, medicines and many
other necessary materials to help flood victims.[201]

Thailand donated $75,000.[202]

Tunisia sent a plane with 13 tons of food products, medicine, blankets and clothes.[203]

Turkey has donated US$ 5 million to Pakistan initially, in addition to 115 tonnes of humanitarian aid
consisting of food packages, blankets, sleeping bags and beds delivered to Pakistan Red Crescent
Society.[140][204] By 18 August, Turkey has donated more than US$11 million and issued a rallying cry
and launched a large-scale relief effort for flood-ravaged Pakistan.[205][206]

Turkmenistan sent about 40 tons of cargo, including food and medicines.[207]

United Arab Emirates A fleet of Chinook helicopters was deployed to help in evacuation, according to
the commander of the UAE Armed Forces Relief Team in Pakistan. The UAE Force in Afghanistan
distributed 30MT of relief materials and food to flooded areas of the country. The UAE also pledged to
donate $ 5 million for the flood relief operations in Pakistan.[208] A telethon campaign by the Red
Crescent Authority (RCA) raised 79 million AED ($21 million) for the flood victims. The Red Crescent also
dispatched 70 tons of essential relief supplies.[209][210]

The United Kingdom has committed £134 million[211] (US $210 million) to the relief and recovery
effort, in addition to bringing forward a £10 million bridge project to replace some of those washed
away. Interventions carried out or under way include the flying in of 400 metric tons of aid, and
providing tents, shelter kits, blankets, water containers and nutritional interventions.[212] Former
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also acknowledged the slow international response and urged
British public to donate generously.[213] British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has made a personal
donation to the relief effort for flood victims in Pakistan, the Queen gave an undisclosed amount via the
British Red Cross.[214] Additionally Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, described the international
response as "absolutely pitiful" on August 16.[215]

The United States stated that it would provide 56,000 ready meals on 1 August and 2, twelve temporary
bridges and two water-filtration-plants to help the flood-victims as part of a US$10 million aid-pledge.
[216] Commenting on the floods, the United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stated, "The
Pakistani people are friends and partners, and the United States is standing with them as the tragic
human toll mounts from flooding in northwest Pakistan."[217] Hillary Clinton personally donated $10 for
flood-relief in an effort to encourage people to donate, no matter how small the amount.[218] On 10
August, US announced another $20 million to provide relief for the affected,[219] taking the flood
related aid from United States to US$ 55 million.[220] On 11 August, US increased its assistance for
flood-ravaged Pakistan to $ 71 million.[221] Additionally, United States initially provided six US Army CH-
47 Chinook helicopters from their duty in Afghanistan. On 12 August, it provided two more CH-53E
Super Stallion helicopters to assist Pakistan Army in their relief efforts. The two helicopters are first of 19
helicopters that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has urgently ordered for Pakistan in next few days.
[222] Senator John Kerry also visited Pakistan in order to survey the damage from the disaster, and to
raise US public awareness about Pakistani relief needs.[223] On 13 August, US increased its aid to US
$84 million as USS Peleliu gets ready to dispatch more helicopters pledged earlier by US Defense
Secretary.[224] In addition to this, the United States is providing $3 million to the World Health
Organization to expand the capacity of Pakistan's Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) and to establish
the first 15 treatment centers for water-borne illness. It is also working with the humanitarian
community to spread awareness through radio stations regarding safety precautions against water-
borne diseases.[225] On 14 August, further two CH-53E Super Stallion and a MH-53E Sea Dragon arrived
in Pakistan to work with Pakistan military in flood-affected areas.[226] On Thursday, 20 August, the
United States pledged an additional $60 million to the U.N. flood relief effort in Pakistan, bringing its
total contribution to $150 million in a move designed to encourage other governments and private
donors to boost their aid. On Friday, 27 August, the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and her Amphibious Ready
Group will deploy to Pakistan to assist.[227]

Uzbekistan has sent 300,000 dollars worth of humanitarian aid to Pakistan.[228]

Vietnam donated 50,000 dollars.[229]

Yemen has donated relief materials including medicine and edible oil.[230]

World Bank provided US$ 1.3 million to Pakistani government for relief work.[231] The bank has
additionally approved a loan of US$ 900 million for medium and long term reconstruction.[2]

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also offered to discuss how to help Pakistan manage the
economic impact of the floods.[232]

Asian Development Bank has offered a loan of 2 billion dollars for the reconstruction efforts.[233]

Islamic Development Bank has offered a loan of 11 million dollars for the reconstruction efforts.[234]

[edit]
Response by non-governmental organizations This section may need to be updated. Please update this
section to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished.
Please see the talk page for more information. (September 2010)

[edit]

DEC and member charities

The UK based Disasters Emergency Committee, reported that as of 20 September its flood relief appeal
had raised £56 million (US $89 million).[235] As of 14 September, DEC member agencies and their
partners had helped nearly three million people.[236] For the first time in the DEC's 45 year history, they
saw donations rise rather than fall in the second week of an appeal,[237] and they then saw them rise
again in the 3rd week.[238]

Oxfam is currently providing clean water and hot meals to over 180,000 people. In total, Oxfam aims to
reach around 900,000 people with clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies.[239]

Save the Children is using helicopters, donkeys and boats to deliver doctors and medical supplies to
families cut off by the water. It has sent a medical team and medicines on donkeys in Allai, treated more
than one thousand patients, and plans to distribute 800 shelter kits, including tarpaulins, jerry cans and
plastic glasses, to flood-affected families.[240]

The Red Cross has dispatched food and shelter items for distribution by Pakistan Red Crescent
volunteers to tens of thousands of people. Additionally, it has provided medicines and medical supplies
to hospitals and health centers enabling Pakistan Red Crescent health-care units to treat thousands of
people.,[241][242]

CARE International has provided water purification tablets, tents, family hygiene kits, kitchen sets,
tarpaulins and mosquito nets to thousands of survivors. Mobile and basic healthcare units have
provided health services to around 4,500 people.[243]

Islamic Relief is distributing 3,570 family hygiene kits in Nowshera and Mardan districts benefitting
24,990 people. Also it is distributing 2,850 household kits (containing mattresses, mosquito nets etc.)
and 2,850 kitchen sets to benefit 19,950 people.[244] Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi is working with
the NGO in raising the aid for the disaster.[245]

Concern has helped 18,000 people and 6,400 people in Charsadda district have received emergency
packages.[246] Concern had raised more than €1 million in public donations from the Irish public by 13
August 2010.[247]

World Vision is currently providing clean water and food in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province and is
treating people at five health clinics. The agency plans to reach 150,000 people during the first 90 days
with relief items including water purification packets, hygiene kits, tents, cooking items and food. It also
aims to provide cash-for-work activities to 1,000 people, open additional health posts, set up 20 child-
friendly spaces and 20 women-friendly spaces to provide a safe and comfortable environment for
children and women to interact with peers and receive support. World Vision plans to expand these
efforts as floodwaters recede and more communities become accessible.[citation needed]
[edit]

Other charities

Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), has deployed Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART)
members, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) as well as Search and Rescue teams to assist
in coordination with AKDN helicopters with evacuations, transport relief supplies and medial teams. In
collaboration with the Pakistani Army, FOCUS has transported 200 MT of relief goods, 126 MT of food
across Gilgit-Baltistan, Sindh, and Chitral. With the support of the Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA), FOCUS is also supplying tents, tarpaulins, water, hygiene kits and blankets, as well as
basic healthcare services, to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwah, Gilgit Balistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces.[248]

Humanity First, in collaboration with NCHD has dispatched over 800 tents as well as mattresses,
blankets, floor mats, buckets and shoes. Over 600 water survival boxes have been provided in
collaboration with the British Rotary charity WorldWaterWorks Limited. HF has handed out 44 tonnes of
food aid, and has assisted over 22000 people, but the response is expected to rise. Moreover, with 31
medical camps over 5000 patients have been seen.[249]

MERCY Malaysia has set up two clinics in the districts of Nowshera and Charsadda, each with a local
doctor and three medical staff. It also sent a team on 12 August to support the clinics. The NGO donated
five units of ultra-filtration water systems worth US$15,000 and donated US$40,000 worth of tents,
food and drinking water.[250][251]

ICNA Relief Canada is actively providing emergency relief across the country. ICNA Relief is running
medical relief camps in 13 locations, distributing free medication and providing ambulance services.
ICNA Relief is also providing food packages (Flour, Sugar, Cooking Oil, Rice, Lentils, Biscuits and other
basics) and shelters to the flood victims. Tent distribution is being made to help those whose houses
have been washed away by the floods. ICNA Relief Canada has appealed to its donors for $5 million
raise."ICNA Relief Canada".

Muslim Charity has launched £1.5 million appeal to help the victims of floods in Pakistan and raised £1.5
million as on 08 Sep 2010. Muslim Charity targets to benefit 150,000 people through its activities.
Muslim Charity is providing food to 100,000 people for the month of Ramadan, clean drinking water to
50,000 people, medical facilities to 30,000 people through its 18 medical camps and shelter to 8,000
people. In its second phase of relief work; Muslim Charity targets to rebuild 500 house, 2 primary
schools, 2 medical centres and 10 mosques in Pakistan.

Trócaire had raised around €700,000 in donations from the Irish public by 13 August 2010.[247] The
organisation later said there were difficulties accessing food.[252]

UNICEF has set up 24 medical camps in the affected areas, benefiting around one million people.[253]

Giving Children Hope donated medical supplies and other aid to several medical centers in Peshawar.
[254]

Médecins Sans Frontières was in a position to respond immediately due to its long term presence in the
country. MSF has deployed 100 international and 1200 Pakistani staff to provide medical care,
particularly disease prevention, and resettlement services.[255]

[edit]
Other organisations

UN-SPIDER Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) received
assistance through the SpaceAid Framework of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information
for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) during the first phase of the disaster.
Through SpaceAid, SUPARCO was able to access post and pre-disaster satellite data. This information
was used by Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and relief organizations to
assist response efforts and assess damages. Humanitarian NGOs such as iMMAP and the Pakistan Youth
Organization have been using this information for their operations as well.[256]

The United Methodist Church's representatives are on the ground with a project that within the week
will purify more than 3.5 million liters of drinking water and benefit more than 73,000 people a day. The
Methodist are also helping to bring food relief and emergency shelter to tens of thousands of Pakistanis
affected by the flooding.[257]

The Pakistan Cricket Board and English Cricket Board Cricket Boards are working together to organize a
fundraiser exhibition match for the benefit of flood victims.[258][259]

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had raised at least AUD$2.8 million for UNICEF's flood
relief efforts through its nation-wide radio appeal from Friday 27 August until 3 pm on Sunday 29 August
2010.[260]

[edit]

Response by individuals

The Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation donated SR 10 million (USD 2.67 million) along with 10 tons of relief
material including 3,500 shots of malaria medicine, 20,000 doses of diarrhoea medicine, 1,500 blankets
and 1,000 sanitation kits.[261]

The Open Society Foundation, led by George Soros donated $5 million in addition to an initial $50,000.
[262]

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $700,000 for flood relief.[263]

Angelina Jolie donated $100,000 to the United Nations for flood relief operations in Pakistan.[264]

[edit]

Response by Islamic militant organizations

Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD), an organization which is a front for banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba,
stated that it had 2000 workers providing flood relief.[265] JuD was banned by the United Nations in
2008 after the 2008 Mumbai attacks but was openly distributing aid under the Falah-e-Insaniyat arm of
the organization.[266]

Al Rasheed trust, an organization under UN sanctions for its links to Al-Qaeda, was among the first to
provide aid to the flood victims.[267]

Haqqania madrasa, an Islamic school with ties to the Haqqani network, have converted one of their
buildings into a shelter and were caring for 2500 victims.[268]
The Taliban offered to raise $20 million for flood relief if the Pakistani government rejected aid from
"Christians and Jews".[62]

[edit]

Response by corporations

Karachi Electric Supply Corporation was involved in the flood relief operations, providing shelter, food,
medical care, electricity and purified water to approximately 30,000 people in Thatta, Sajjawal, Sunda
and Challian. KESC also provided support to four camps in Karachi; supplies delivered included tents,
food, general household items, water purification plants free medical treatment to around 14,600
people. In Karachi, KESC supplied free electricity to several districts.[269][270]

Coca Cola announced a donation of US $1 million.[271]

Deloitte, a business advisory firm, donated £1 million (US $1.5 million) to the DEC appeal.[272]

Google Foundation donated $250,000 for the flood relief efforts. A corporate broadcast was sent to all
employees to raise awareness about the disaster.[273]

BMO Financial Group, Canada’s oldest bank, donated $100,000 in support of Red Cross relief and
recovery efforts. In addition, the company accepted donations through its BMO Bank of Montreal
branches in Canada and its Harris branches in the United States. The company also waived fees for fund
transfers and drafts to Pakistan through 17 September 2010.[274]

Dell announced a $150,000 donation to the flood victims and matched any amount donated by Dell
employees.[274]

Intel donated $100,000 to American Red Cross for flood relief. In addition, Intel will match employee
donations up to $2k per employee. A corporate broadcast was sent to all employees to raise awareness
about the disaster.[274]

JPMorgan donated $100,000.[274]

Bank of America Corporation donated $50,000 to Save the Children.[274]

BP donated $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.[275]

Northwestern Mutual Foundation donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross.[276]

Microsoft donated $700,000 cash donation, deployment of disaster management software for the Govt
of Punjab at no cost, urgent food supplies to the flood victims in KPK province and software donations to
various NGOs currently involved in relief activities.[277]

[edit]

Criticism of response

The Pakistani government was blamed for sluggish and disorganized response to the floods.[278] The
perceived disorganized and insufficient response led to instances of riots, with attacks and looting of aid
convoys by hunger-stricken people.[279] The lack of a unified government response allowed Islamist
groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-e-Islami to supply aid with minimal resistance.[280][281]
President Asif Ali Zardari was also criticized for going ahead with visits to meet leaders in Britain and
France at a time when his nation was facing catastrophe.[282][283] In Sindh, the ruling Pakistan People's
Party ministers were accused of using their influence to direct flood waters off their crops while risking
densely populated areas.[284] Pakistani ambassador for UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon called for an
inquiry into allegations about rich landowners diverting water into unprotected villages to save their
own crops.[285]

The United Nations criticized the international community for responding slowly, despite the ferocity
and magnitude of disaster. As of 9 August, only $45 million in aid had been committed, which is far less
than usual for a natural disaster of this scale.[286] In an analysis of the response to the disaster, The
Guardian said that there was a dire need of relief goods in the immediate aftermath of the floods. It
quoted the UN's humanitarian affairs coordination office, saying that "[s]ix million [of the 14 million
affected] are children and 3 million women of child-bearing age. This is a higher figure than in the 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami."[287]

An analysis by AP's correspondent, Nahal Toosi, suggested that a number of factors account for the
inadequate international response: namely, the low death toll, the protracted unfolding of the extent of
the catastrophe, the lack of celebrity involvement, the impression that the government is not focused
on the event, and a certain donor fatigue, perhaps more so as Pakistan had been receiving support
before.[288]

British Prime Minister David Cameron was accused by Pakistan of hampering international aid efforts
after he claimed that Pakistan was responsible for promoting terrorism.[289][290]

[edit]

Neglect of minorities

It has been reported that members of Pakistan's Ahmadiyya Muslim community, who were caught up in
floods in Muzaffargarh, were not rescued from their homes because rescuers felt that Muslims must be
given priority. Ahmadi Muslims complained to the government that not only were they not rescued but
in some instances ejected from relief camps when their identity was disclosed. Ahmadis were declared a
non-Muslim minority in 1974 by the Pakistani government, which prohibited them from 'posing as
Muslims', and have faced continued persecution.[291][292] The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
condemned the denial of relief to Ahmadis.[293] It also stated, “The commission has noted with concern
reports of lack of provision of relief goods to flood-affected Ahmadi families, expulsion of displaced
Ahmadis from a government school in Dera Ghazi Khan and rented lodgings elsewhere in southern
Punjab after clerics’ pressure as well as issuance of edicts by clerics that affected Ahmadis must not be
provided help."[294]
Members of the Sikh community, who arrived in gurdwaras in Lahore, also complained of government
apathy. They said members of their community were abandoned in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and had to
arrange rescue for themselves.[291] In Peshawar the Sikh leaders accused the Government of Pakistan
of not helping them after the floods swept away their homes and businesses and threatened to protest
lack of assistance by the Government.[295]

Protests broke out in Lyari relief camp after Hindu victims of Baagri and Waghari nomadic tribes were
served beef by the authorities in violation of their religious beliefs, which forbid consumption of beef.
The situation was resolved after officials from minority affairs ministry intervened.[296][297]

[edit]

Inequality

Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pakistan's diplomat to the United Nations, has alleged that wealthy feudal
warlords and landowners in Pakistan have been diverting funds and resources away from the poor and
into their own private relief efforts.[298] Haroon also alluded to evidence that landowners had allowed
embankments to burst, leading to water flowing away from their land.[299] There are also allegations
that local authorities colluded with the warlords to divert funds.[300] The floods have accentuated the
sharp divisions in Pakistan between the wealthy and the poor. The wealthy, with better access to
transportation and other facilities, have suffered far less than the poor of Pakistan.[301]

2010 Pakistan Floods

Updated: Sept. 7, 2010

The summer of 2010 produced Pakistan’s worst flooding in 80 years. Nearly 20 million people --
an eighth of the population -- have been significantly affected, about the population of New York
State, the United Nations said. The number in urgent need is now about 10 million and expected
to rise. More than half of them are without shelter.

Flooding began on July 22, 2010, in the province of Baluchistan. The swollen waters then poured
across the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province in the northwest before flowing south into Punjab and
Sindh. Estimates of the death toll of the floods range from 1,300 to 1,600.

Even as Pakistani and international relief officials scrambled to save people and property, they
despaired that the nation’s worst natural calamity had ruined just about every physical strand that
knit this country together — roads, bridges, schools, health clinics, electricity and
communications.
The flooding, which began with the arrival of the annual monsoons, has by now affected about
one-fifth of the country — nearly 62,000 square miles — or an area larger than England,
according to the United Nations.

Six weeks after the floods began, as rivers continued to devour villages and farmland in the
southern province of Sindh, aid workers warned of a triple threat: loss of crops, loss of seed for
the next planting season and loss of a daily income. Worries have also risen that the disaster will
destabilize the country in the months to come and aggravate the already deep regional, sectarian
and class fissures.Poorly handled relief efforts, corruption and favoritism have added to the
distrust that many Pakistanis already feel for their civilian political leaders, while the armed
forces have burnished their image performing rescue and relief missions along the length of the
flooded areas.

Instability and Aid

The destruction could set Pakistan back many years, if not decades, further weaken its feeble
civilian administration and add to the burdens on its military.
The floods in Pakistan have upended the Obama administration's carefully honed strategy in a
country that was already one of its thorniest problems.
Pakistan is a central pillar of American regional strategy to combat the Taliban and Al Qaeda but
also a place long troubled by a weak government and economic woes. Hard-line Islamic groups
stepped in to provide aid where the government has failed to reach; the United States also sent
aid with an eye to improving its reputation among ordinary Pakistanis.
For the past year, the Pakistani government and the military were engaged in a campaign to
restore public services in Pakistan’s northwest, trying to rebuild trust after more than two million
people were displaced in 2009 when government forces launched a major offensive against
militants. But the reconstruction efforts were painfully slow, and the public mood shifted from
frustrated to furious.
The country's infrastructure was devastated by the floods in the summer of 2010. More than
5,000 miles of roads and railways were washed away, along with some 7,000 schools and more
than 400 health facilities.
The United Nations appealed for international donations of $460 million, but only one-third of
that had been provided as of August 16. The World Bank pledged to reroute money from other
projects to provide $900 million in emergency funds to help recovery efforts.
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who flew over the country on August 15
with President Asif Ali Zardari, said he had never seen such a disaster and urged foreign donors
to speed up their assistance. President Zardari, who came under stinging criticism for making a
trip to Europe as the flood disaster unfolded, made his first tour of flood-hit areas on August 12.

At Risk for Disease

United Nations officials said that a shortage of aid funds left some six million people, the
majority of them children and infants, at risk of potentially lethal diseases borne by dirty water.

Aid workers confirmed the first reports of cholera in the Swat Valley of the northwestern
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province and in the remote Rajanpur district in Punjab Province.
Cholera is common in South Asia during the rainy season, but flooding that overflows outhouses
and sewage canals compounds the problem. The authorities’ ability to contain the disease
depends on whether they can get antibiotics to people who are ill and clean water to people who
are not.

Food Shortage Fears

Even as the government and international relief workers struggle to get food and clean water to
millions of flood-stricken Pakistanis, concerns are growing about the enduring toll of the disaster
on the nation’s overall economy, food supply and political stability.

Providing clean water for millions and avoiding the spread of diseases like cholera are the first
priorities. But there are also looming food shortages and price spikes, even in cities. There is also
the danger that farmers will miss the fall planting season, raising the prospect of a new cycle of
shortfalls next year.

The prospect of immediate hunger combining with long-term disruptions to food supplies was a
chief concern. The floods have submerged about 17 million acres of Pakistan’s most fertile
croplands, in a nation where farming is an economic mainstay. The waters have also killed more
than 200,000 head of livestock, and washed away large quantities of stored commodities that
feed millions throughout the year.

While dire conditions threaten rural communities, severe inflation and shortages of fresh produce
loom for even large urban centers relatively unaffected by the floods, like Karachi.

pakistan Floods 2010, Floods In Pakistan , Pakistan Floods Donating and

Organizational Relief Campaign Information
Posted: Aug 17, 2010

The economic cost is expected to be huge. Preliminary information indicates that direct damage
from floods is greatest in the housing (current estimates are that 723,000 houses have either been
destroyed or damaged), roads, irrigation and agriculture sectors. Crop loss is estimated at $1
billion. However, the full impact on soil erosion and agriculture can only be assessed when the
water recedes, by mid-September.

How We're Helping

The Government of Pakistan has requested around $900 million of financial support from the
World Bank, which we have committed to provide
- The funding will come from the Bank's Fund for the Poorest (the International Development
Association, IDA) through reprogramming of currently planned projects and reallocation of
undisbursed funds from ongoing projects.
- On August 11, the Government asked the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) to undertake a Damages and Needs Assessment in the flood-hit areas, and the United
Nations (UN) the Early Recovery Needs Assessment. The World Bank, ADB and UN will
collaborate through participation and sharing of information on their respective assessments, and
will also regularly coordinate with key donors.
- The Bank and ADB have mobilized staff and a Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and
Recovery (GFDRR) rapid response team arrived in Islamabad on Friday, August 13 to help
launch the assessment.
- If there is no fresh wave of flooding, the assessment can be completed by October 15, 2010.
- A grant of US$1.3 million has also been made available by the GFDRR to support the Damage
Needs Assessment, rescue and relief efforts, and to strengthen disaster management and longer
term disaster risk reduction.
- We used some of this grant to purchase Rescue Boats, delivered to the government on Friday,
August 13.
- With the support of donors, we are also prepared to use the newly operational Multi-Donor
Trust Fund (MDTF) for the northwest border region to finance recovery, reconstruction and
rehabilitation.
- We are working with the Government to re-prioritize our planned projects and review ongoing
projects for possible reallocation to reconstruction activities. Some immediate priorities we have
agreed with the government are:
- Reallocating $10 million of existing undisbursed funds to the National Disaster Management
Agency providing fast-disbursing additional funds to retroactively finance imports needed for
early recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation, such as fuel, steel, cement and related goods
and services.
- Accelerating delivery and expansion of a planned Emergency Operation for the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP)/Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to include flood-affected
districts.
- Working with the government to help ensure that disaster funds are spent for their intended
purpose.
- The Bank financed the rehabilitation of the Taunsa Barrage (an artificial obstruction to reduce
the risks of tidal flooding) in Punjab Province, which may have helped this barrage withstand the
unprecedented flood that came downriver over the past week.
- Going forward, in addition to the needs assessment and subsequent assistance with long-term
reconstruction, the Bank will be making other contributions to the repair and rehabilitation of
critical infrastructure on the Indus River to help with future flood prevention.
- The Bank's Board approved financing for the rehabilitation of the Jinnah Barrage on July 01,
2010.
- The Bank is also financing the design consultancies for the rehabilitation of two other barrages
in Sindh.
Contact: Saskia Stegeman, (202) 473-4227, sstegeman@worldbank.org
About the World Bank "Flash" note:
The World Bank's News Bureau would like to introduce you to the World Bank "Flash" note.
These notes contain background information and state the bank's position and our action plans on
topical issues.
PAKISTAN: 3.5 MILLION CHILDREN AT RISK OF DEADLY DISEASES(New York /
Geneva / Islamabad: 16 August 2010): As many as three and a half million children in
floodaffected Pakistan may be at risk of contracting deadly diseases carried through
contaminated water and insects, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
"As in any disaster situation, children are among the most vulnerable", said Martin Mogwanja,
Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan. "We cannot allow this catastrophe to inflict such a heavy
toll on our next generation".
The waterborne illnesses of greatest concern are several types of diarrheal diseases, such as acute
watery diarrhoea — which may in some cases be cholera — and dysentery, which can kill
through dehydration. Hepatitis A and E, as well as typhoid fever, are also a significant risk.
Additionally, stagnating water is breeding ground for mosquitoes, and this is bound to lead to an
increased threat of diseases like malaria and dengue.

Pakistan battles economic pain of floods

by Sajjad Tarakzai | August 19, 2010

Pakistan is courting IMF help to alleviate the threat of economic ruin as enormous floods wipe
out farmland and industry, triggering UN warnings that the restive country faces years of pain.
Authorities Sunday were evacuating people from a town and flood-hit villages in the south from
encroaching floodwaters, which nationwide have killed 1,500 people and affected up to 20
million, according to official tallies.
Pakistan's weak civilian government has faced an outpouring of public fury over sluggish relief
efforts, while officials warn the country faces economic losses of up to 43 billion dollars.
The International Monetary Fund said it would meet Pakistani officials in Washington this week
to discuss the impact of floods that have devastated the country's southern agricultural
breadbasket and its textiles industry.
Pakistan may reportedly ask the IMF to ease the terms of a 10-billion-dollar loan, which since
2008 has helped to prop up the enfeebled economy.
Millions of flood survivors in desperate need of food, shelter and clean drinking water
meanwhile require humanitarian assistance to survive, as concerns grow over potential cholera,
typhoid and hepatitis outbreaks.

On Saturday, six flood victims, including three women and two children, were killed and 25
others injured after being electrocuted in the Kashmore district of the southern province of
Sindh, officials said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has praised the global community as emergency donations for Pakistan
neared 500 million dollars, but warned the flood-stricken nation faces "years of need".
The United States, which has made the nuclear-armed nation a cornerstone ally in the fight
against Islamic extremism, has given the most, followed by Saudi Arabia and Britain.
On Friday Ban welcomed the donations, but warned: "We must keep it up. Pakistan is facing
weeks, months and years of need."
"It is very likely that the need for donations will strongly increase because... the number of
people in need of immediate humanitarian aid has risen from six to eight million," Maurizio
Giuliano, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in
Islamabad, told AFP.

The UN has increased its estimate of the number of people without shelter from two million to
six million, he added.
"We have more than doubled the rate at which we are delivering relief but, since August 11, the
number of people who need emergency help has undoubtedly more than tripled. We are in a race
against time."
The UN World Food Programme said it urgently needed helicopters to get food to millions of
flood victims who remain cut off by the high waters, although weather forecasters say the
monsoon systems are easing off.
The WFP warned that the floods have killed or are threatening millions of livestock, and
launched an urgent appeal for animal feed.
Flood survivors camping out in miserable conditions have staged angry, if isolated, protests
against the government, shutting main highways and forcing police to mobilise.
Food prices are soaring. Pakistan has suffered an electricity crisis for years, but now the flood
waters have forced power stations to close, exacerbating energy cuts and leaving entire
communities without power.
"Alienation towards the government has increased and in the long run it can create internal
instability. The opposition can cash in on that and in the long term, Islamist militants can
benefit," analyst Hasan Askari warned.

AFP