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Gilani: 20 Million Affected by Pakistan's Floods

   VOA News 14 August 2010
   Pakistani  flood-affected people walk past their tents in the compound
   of  a  college  converted  to  a  camp  by  the  Pakistani Army on the
   outskirts of Nowshera, 14 Aug 2010

Photo: AFP

   Pakistani  flood-affected people walk past their tents in the compound
   of  a  college  converted  to  a  camp  by  the  Pakistani Army on the
   outskirts of Nowshera, 14 Aug 2010

   Pakistan's  Prime  Minister  Yousuf  Raza Gilani said Saturday that 20
   million people have been affected by the worst floods in his country's
   history.
   The figure is much higher than previous United Nations estimates of 14
   million.
   Mr.  Gilani  was  speaking  in  a  televised  address to the nation as
   Pakistan  held  a  scaled  down  observance  of the anniversary of its
   independence. Â
   Authorities say the floods have killed some 1,600 people and destroyed
   or damaged more than 700,000 homes.
   Officials  also confirmed the first case of cholera in Mingora, in the
   northwestern district of Swat.  Other cases of the deadly disease are
   suspected.
   President  Asif Ali Zardari, who was widely criticized for his trip to
   Europe  during  the  disaster,  will spend Saturday visiting flood-hit
   areas.
   United  Nations  Secretary-General  Ban  Ki-moon  is  expected to tour
   Pakistan's   flood-hit   areas  to  demonstrate  the  support  of  the
   international community. Â
   International  aid  agencies  said  Friday  the scale of the floods is
   staggering and they are accelerating their response.
   As  much as 50 percent of the country has been inundated, causing loss
   of  crops  and  in some areas, 80 percent of farm livestock reportedly
   has been lost.
   The  U.N.  says  it has received 20 percent of the $460 million it has
   requested in emergency aid.
   Washington has already provided more than $76 million in relief aid to
   Pakistan.  U.S. helicopters have evacuated 4,000 people and delivered
   close to 170 tons of relief supplies.
   World  Bank  President Robert Zoellick said the floods may have caused
   $1  billion in damage to crops, creating a long-term challenge for the
   Pakistani economy.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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