As the First Phase of Pakistan’s Collapse Begins, the Prospect of Civil War Looms
The worst ever floods in Pakistan have severely impacted at least 3 million people: UNICEF
The flooding catastrophe has claimed the lives of up to 3,000 people in less than a week, and the damage will likely worsen dramatically as more heavy monsoon rains are forecast.
Tens of thousands of homes, businesses and people’s livelihood have been washed away as entire villages are submerged by floodwater.
There’re severe shortages of drinking water, food, shelter, medicine and sanitary material. It’s only a matter of time before water-borne diseases such as cholera could create epidemics.
“Most roads linking flood-hit areas have been blocked and 91 bridges have been either washed away or damaged, so access to affected areas is still a challenge.” Adnan Khan, spokesman for the Crisis Management Authority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was quoted as saying.
“The main problem there is outbreak of diseases, especially in Nowshera district where hundreds of dead animals are lying on the ground and there is a shortage of machinery to remove them.”
“Since the flood hit our area, I did not see any food or relief packets from the government. Their offices have been washed away or damaged,” said a local school teacher in Swat Valley.
Residents take shelter on high grounds from floods in Risalpur, located in Nowshera District, in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province July 30, 2010. ACredit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif. Image may be subject to copyright.
Deluge Buries Pakistan Province
Download large image (7 MB, JPEG) — Image acquired July 31, 2010
Download large image (9 MB, JPEG) Image acquired August 1, 2009
The above images were captured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite on July 31, 2010 (top), and August 1, 2009 (bottom ). “These images show the Indus River in northwestern Pakistan. Both images use a combination of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between water and land. Water varies in color from electric blue to navy. Vegetation is green and bare ground is pinkish brown. Clouds range in color from nearly white to pale blue-green.” Source: NASA E/O. Click images to enlarge.
Related Links:
- Between Hell and High Water
- Remember this Image! [Posted by edro on September 4, 2008]
- Disaster Forecast: The United States
- Past Decade Warmest on Record
- Collapse Diary
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