Pakistan Under Water

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August 16, 2010

Death toll rises from Pakistan flooding

Posted: 09:35 AM ET

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CNN Wire Staff


Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The death toll from flooding that has ravaged Pakistan for more than two weeks is up to 1,463, the country's Disaster Authority said Monday.

More than 895,200 houses have been damaged, and more than 2,000 people have been injured, the agency said.

One-fifth of the country is under water. Roughly 900,000 are homeless as a result of the catastrophe.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday that while he has visited sites of natural disasters around the world, he has never seen anything like the devastation created by flooding in Pakistan. He said the disaster is worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistani earthquake combined.

"Thousands of towns and villages have simply been washed away," Ban said, speaking alongside Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. "Roads, buildings, bridges, crops -- millions of livelihoods have been lost. People are marooned on tiny islands with the floodwaters all around them. They are drinking dirty water. They are living in the mud and ruins of their lives. Many have lost family and friends. Many more are afraid their children and loved ones will not survive in these conditions."

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Nearly one in 10 Pakistanis -- up to 20 million people -- have been affected in some way by the flood waters. More than 683,000 people have been rescued, but water-borne bacteria and illness have become a serious concern.

At least 36,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have been reported, the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Islamabad said Saturday.

Up to 3.5 million children are at high risk of deadly waterborne diseases including watery diarrhea and dysentery, which cause dehydration, said Maurizio Giuliano of the Office for the U.N. Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Children also are at risk for typhoid and hepatitis A and E, Giuliano said.

Clean water is an urgent need, but UNICEF cannot reach all those in need due to a serious lack of funds, Giuliano said. Medication is a priority, but funding shortages hamper the work of the World Health Organization even though plans are in place. Lack of proper food increases vulnerability, the U.N. said.

President Zardari said his nation needs more international help to deal with the immediate recovery efforts as well as longer-term reconstruction and infrastructure development, according to spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Ban said he is allocating a further $10 million from the U.N.'s Central Emergency Response Fund, making $27 million allocated since the crisis began.

According to ReliefWeb.int, more than two dozen countries, organizations and individuals have pledged about $305 million. The United States has pledged more than $86 million and has sent helicopters, rescue boats and other supplies.

Ban and Zardari have made a public plea to the international community to increase aid.

Homes, crops, trees, livestock, entire villages and towns have been transformed into vast lakes, forcing thousands of flood victims to huddle in sludgy camps or in jam-packed public buildings.

But when they might be able to return home remains a big question. Pakistan's monsoon season is only about halfway over.

CNN's Reza Sayah and Samson Desta contributed to this report