Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0113
OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Pakistan - Floods
18 July 2005
Situation
1. The floodwaters in major rivers in the Northern Areas, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and Punjab of Pakistan have been receding. There is no threat of flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers in the next few days.
2. However, according to the Flood Forecasting Division of the Meteorological Department, water levels of the Indus, Kabul Swat, Chitral and Chizer rivers are still high. The on-going rise is likely to remain the same in the next two weeks.
Sindh:
3. According to the Emergency Relief Cell, the recent floods have affected a total of 4791 persons, 74 villages of 4 districts of Sindh province.
4. According to the reports of the Revenue Department, some 90% of areas where there are mud house dwellings are submerged. A total of 326 large and 1500 small villages, 171 primary schools, 43 middle schools, 125 police check posts, and 26 police stations have been inundated.
NWFP:
5. Some more areas have been inundated and a few wooden bridges washed away due to the sudden rise of water in the River Chitral, which has also damaged a number of houses completely and a few partially in the village of Mastuj.
6. Another wave of flash flood at Nasur Gul - Parwak - 10 km away from Bunni, damaged a bridge and destroyed 250 houses. The district administration has rushed relief supplies and tents to the affected areas.
Punjab:
7. According to the official statement, the recent floods have affected 12 districts of Punjab province. During the flood period, 17 persons lost their lives; 963 villages and 405,142 persons were affected; 20,306 houses damaged; 239 cattle lost; and 309,217 acres of crops were also destroyed.
National Response:
8. The Government has so far provided 5800 food packages, 950 tents, 2,200 blankets, and 13 cartons of essential medicines to Northern Areas, NWFP, and Punjab. The Government has set up five flood relief camps in different parts of the Federal Capital to provide shelter and relief goods to the affected people in case of heavy rains and flood.
9. The Pakistan Army has so far conducted 17 rescue operations in the flood-hit areas of the NWFP and evacuated 2,500 people. They have also examined 300 patients in a free medical camp. Pakistan Navy has put its special forces on a high alert in the areas to meet any eventuality in case of floods. A total of 165 motorized boats are available with Army for relief and rescue operations.
10. The provincial government of NWFP has provided relief assistance worth PKR 26,895,000(approximately USD 458,490) to its 10 affected districts.
11. The provincial government of Punjab has released PKR 1,050,000(approximately USD 17.900) to be paid to those affected by the tragic boat incident, which claimed lives of 14 flood affected people when the boat struck a electric pole on 11 July. The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has provided 250 tents, 500 bags of flour, and 500 blankets to the affected people.
12. Mobile Camps of the Abaseen Foundation have vaccinated 3,364 people in the affected areas of Peshawer and Charsadda districts apart from distribution of water purification tablets and water containers (donated by UNICEF) among 450 families of the area.
International Response:
13. The World Food Programme (WFP) has approved an Immediate Response Emergency Operation valued at USD 223,367 of food assistance to 744,000 affected people in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda in NWFP and in Ghanche, Ghizer and Gilgit districts in the Northern Areas.
14. Islamic Relief has distributed fodder for 640 animals in Peshawer district and for 335 animals in Charsadda district on July 14 and 15 respectively.
15. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Offices and will revert with further information, as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.
Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10
Desk Officers:
Mr. Massaki Nakagawa, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034
Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel.
+41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-212-963 87 40
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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