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Massive floods across Pakistan | Thousands Killed

Since some questions were raised about Indian aid in this humanitarian disaster, posting some Pakistani views on the issue of the offer of help by India.

‘India’s aid offer being considered’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday seemed unsure about how to respond to a $5 million aid offer from India to help it meet its flood crisis.

The offer was made by Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Mr Krishna described the offer as a “gesture of solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need”, a statement issued by the Indian High Commission here said.

A statement by Foreign Office here on Mr Krishna’s call did not mention the Indian aid offer. However, sources in the foreign ministry indicated that it was being considered.

“We have not rejected the offer outright and a decision would be made soon,” a senior official told Dawn. —Staff Reporter
 
Indian offer

That India has offered Pakistan $5 million in aid, because of the recent monsoon flooding, is more of a ploy than anything else, and thus should be rejected out of hand. Coming from a Congress-led government’s Foreign Minister, the offer raises once again the spectre of India establishing its hegemony over the region, and also panders to international sentiment by showing it that India can handle the problems of the region. Coming as it did during a telephone call by the Indian Foreign Minister, SM Krishna, to his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while offering his congratulations on Pakistan Day, it was meant to show that the creation of Pakistan was a mistake. The hesitation shown by our Foreign Minister, in replying to this offer, itself shows how the present government is desperately seeking US approval by seeking Indian approval.

Pakistan’s government is trying to fit in with the American plans for the region, which sees India as the regional policeman, and the American bulwark against China.
Therefore, Pakistan wants to resume the composite dialogue talks, even if they are devoid of content. Even though they may still be desired by the USA, India keeps on trying to avoid them. No talks with India will have any purpose if they do not tackle the Kashmir issue, the core issue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours; and no talks will have any result unless India changes its attitude, from the present stubborn obduracy, to one that is willing to facilitate a just solution to the region’s problems, which have been created in the first place because of India’s boorish behaviour and hegemonistic methods. This suits the international community, led by the USA, which wants Pakistan to accept India’s regional hegemony. That is why the USA is leading the international community in ignoring the current freedom struggle in Held Kashmir. Accepting the Indian money would indicate that Pakistan is not worried about Kashmir, and is focused entirely on its own problems.
 
US Marine helicopters join Pakistan flood relief

The two aircraft are the first of 19 extra helicopters that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates urgently ordered to Pakistan on Wednesday, it said.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters flew into Pakistan from the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea.

The remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days and will include three US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, four US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and 12 US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.

US military helicopters will operate in partnership with the Pakistan military throughout the country's flood-affected areas.

The 19 aircraft will relieve six US Army helicopters already in Pakistan that will soon return to duty in Afghanistan, the embassy said.

Despite bad weather, the six helicopters have rescued more than 3,089 people and transported more than 322,340 pounds of emergency relief supplies, it said.

Pakistan's government says more than 14 million people face direct or indirect harm from the floods. The United Nations believes 1,600 people have died in the floods, while Pakistan has confirmed 1,243 deaths.

US President Barack Obama “wants to lean forward in offering help to the Pakistanis,” Gates said Wednesday.

The Islamabad government has admitted to being overwhelmed, and hardline Islamic charities have conducted a highly visible aid effort on the ground. – AFP
 
World Bank announces $900 mn for Pakistan floods


The World Bank has announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction work following the floods in Pakistan that have cost the nation around Rs.250 billion, a media report said on Friday. Pakistan is grappling with its worst ever floods that have left over 1,600 people dead and
affected over 14 million people. A report in the Dawn put the total economic loss due to floods at around Rs.250 billion.

The World Bank's Pakistan Director Rachid Benmessaoud met with Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday and announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction.

The major losses have been in the agricultural and livestock sectors and floods have destroyed crops of cotton, rice, sugarcane and tobacco worth billions of rupees, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, minister for food and agriculture, said on Thursday.

Javed Saleem, an official of the Crops Protection Association (CPA), and Ibrahim Mughal, chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Farms Association (PAFA), said over 17 million acres of agricultural land had been submerged and ripe crops of rice, cotton and sugarcane were destroyed.

Over 100,000 cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, horses, camels and donkeys have died and 3,000 fish farms and 2,000 poultry farms destroyed across the country, they said.

In Punjab province, about one million acres of cotton growing area was affected and crops worth Rs.86 billion were destroyed. Sindh province has lost standing crops worth Rs.95 billion over an area of 100,000 acres, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, over 325,000 acres were submerged and crops worth Rs.30 billion were destroyed.

Officials said over one million tonnes of wheat kept in warehouses had been swept away in the floods, which has led to an increase in food prices by 25 to 50 percent.

This has created a difficult situation for people, as consumption of fruits and vegetables usually increases during Ramadan.

"We are importing potatoes and tomatoes from India to meet the demand," Safdar Siddique, president of the Islamabad Fruit and Vegetable Market, said.
 
I have my reservations over Mufti Taqi Usmani due to various reasons (the Qazalbash Waqf case judgment and land reforms and links with Maulana Masood Azhar). However, rest of the names are of very competent, credible and honest men of integrity.

Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Nasir Aslam Zahid, Adeeb Rizvi and Rana Bhagwandas are some of the most honest people in the country. Good decision by PM.

Update : The report earlier had the following names before that of Mahmood Khan Achakzai :- Justice Taqi Usmani, Former Justice Shafi-ur-Rehman, Abdullah, Rustam Shah
Someone should ask the PM why didn't he include Mr. President in this list ... afterall he is the chairman of his party and his boss also ... the answer has all the problems recognised ...
 
I have my reservations over Mufti Taqi Usmani due to various reasons (the Qazalbash Waqf case judgment and land reforms and links with Maulana Masood Azhar). However, rest of the names are of very competent, credible and honest men of integrity.

Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Nasir Aslam Zahid, Adeeb Rizvi and Rana Bhagwandas are some of the most honest people in the country. Good decision by PM.

Update : The report earlier had the following names before that of Mahmood Khan Achakzai :- Justice Taqi Usmani, Former Justice Shafi-ur-Rehman, Abdullah, Rustam Shah

All people mentioned are very honest,credible and have proved their worth when ever they were tested but my support would be for Justice Rana Bhagwandas.
 
Gilani accepts Nawaz proposal on relief panel
By Ahmad Hassan
Sunday, 15 Aug, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif agreed on Saturday to set up a ‘credible national body comprising men of integrity’ to ensure transparency in the collection, management and distribution of relief funds among the flood-affected.

Mr Sharif said it was gratifying for him that Mr Gilani had accepted his proposal regarding the commission.

Mr Gilani hinted at the names of the likes of retired justices Rana Bhagwandas, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Nasir Aslam Zahid to be nominated after getting their acceptance.

In their two-hour discussion, the prime minister was assisted by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Mohammad Gondal and Water and Power Minister Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, while Mr Sharif was accompanied by Senator Ishaq Dar.

Addressing a joint press conference at the PM House auditorium after the meeting, the two leaders said they would appeal to the rich to come forward to help the millions of their compatriots in distress.

The prime minister said: “We can together turn around the economy which is destroyed by the floods by shunning our political considerations and point scoring spree.”

Mr Gilani said he had discussed the today’s meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari who appreciated and encouraged the initiative. He said he had also called Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and MQM leader Farooq Sattar and would continue to contact other leaders to muster their support for a national cause.

He said he and Mr Sharif stood together to help the people who had lost their homes and all means of livelihood.

The PML-N chief said he had witnessed the “unprecedented devastation” caused by the floods, adding that there was a need to unite the nation.

He said he along with the prime minister would tour the entire country to raise funds without waiting for the international assistance.

“We will not beg the world to come and help us. If any country wishes to extend help it may do so, but we have the ability to handle the calamity on our own,” he added.

Mr Sharif said the situation demanded that no distinction was made between the government and the opposition in reaching out to the flood-affected people and to raise and disburse funds.

He said that a meeting of the Council of Common Interests would be convened soon to evaluate the devastation and determine share of expenditures on a regional basis.

When asked if parties outside parliament would also be taken on board, Mr Gilani said: “It is a national effort in which not only political parties but also leaders of civil society organisations will be solicited.”

He said that in the next phase of planning it would be ensured that no structure was built on waterways and highways to avoid future devastations.

In reply a question about the closure of some TV channels in some areas of Sindh and Karachi, the prime minister said he had directed the Pemra chairman to ensure that no channels were blocked or he would risk his job.

Agencies add: Prime Minister Gilani in a televised address marking the Independence Day said that 20 million people had been affected by the floods.

“The floods affected some 20 million people, destroyed standing crops and food storages worth billions of dollars, causing colossal loss to national economy,” he said. “I would appeal to the world community to extend a helping hand to fight this calamity.”

Mr Sharif said names recommended for the fundraising body included Justice Rana Bhagwan Das, Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, Dr Adeeb Rizvi, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Ali Ahmed Kurd.


I dont know why we provide people an opertunity to laugh at us. They had been fighting with each other for two weeks, thrown a big amount of dirt on each other and now sat togather and trying to resolve problems. why couldnt they do it weeks earlier,they should be ashamed of themselves. Anyways its still good that they have planned to work togather with some respectable people.
 
Allah Almighty says
(Surely this Islam is your religion, one religion (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me)
(21/92)

A Jordanian aircraft laden with relief supplies and a medical team on board on Sunday left for Pakistan joining relief efforts for millions of people who were made homeless by massive floods that ravaged the country's north-western region.

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The relief aid, sent upon directives by His Majesty King Abdullah II, was donated by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization JHCO and included foodstuffs, medicines and medical equipment to help more than 20-million Pakistanis affected by the worst floods in the Asian nation's history.

JHCO Board of Trustees chairman, Prince Rashed Bin Al Hassan, said that the planeload was just an initial shipment and other aid would be ferried to flood victims by the Royal Air Force during the holy month of Ramadan.

Director of Special Medical and Humanitarian Tasks at the Royal Medical Services, Brigadier Mohammad Moheisn, said that onboard the relief plane was a 25-strong medical crew, including 9 doctors of different specializations and nurses as well as a team for control of epidemics and communicable diseases after reports of an outbreak of water-borne diseases in some flood-hit region.

"The Jordanian medics will work with their Pakistani peers and are expected to deal with various cases in addition to performing minor and major surgeries", Moheisn added, noting that another backup team will be dispatched later.

He explained that the team is provided with about 3.5 tons of medicines needed to treat infectious diseases including 21,000 vaccines for meningitis, cholera, typhoid and polio whose outbreak is a likelihood in such situations.

Pakistani Charge D'affaires in Amman, Zaheer Janjua, expressed his country's gratitude over the Jordanian assistance and said Amman and Islamabad maintained "solid and brotherly" ties.

He added that the floods, the worst in 80 years to hit Pakistan, had affected more than 20 million people as floodwaters inundated vast swathes of the country rendering Pakistani authorities incapalbe of coping with the massive relief effort alone.

Swollen by torrential monsoon rains, major rivers have flooded Pakistan's mountain valleys and fertile plains, killing up to 1,600 people and leaving two million homeless.

The Pakistani government warned of new waves of floods that have already disrupted lives of a tenth of its 170 million people.
 
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Malik Riaz Hussain Chairmen Bahira Town ----- Open Letter In The Name of Rich Pakistanis!
mail
 
Jordan sends food, medical aid to Pakistan

AMMAN: A Jordanian plane carrying 3.5 tonnes of food and medical supplies left for Pakistan on Sunday to help aid millions of people hit by devastating floods, an official said.



“The plane also carries a 25-member medical team, including nine doctors, as well as 21,000 typhoid and cholera vaccines,” Brigadier Mohammad Mheisen of Jordan’s Royal Medical Services told the state-run Petra news agency.



Prince Rashed bin Hassan, King Abdullah II’s cousin and president of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation’s board of trustees, said the kingdom would send more aid to Pakistan during Ramadan, according to Petra.



The United Nations has appealed for 460 million dollars to deal with the immediate aftermath of the floods, estimating that 14 million have been affected and that 1,600 have died.



Waters are still high and the United Nations has now confirmed the country’s first cholera case in Mingora, in the northwestern district of Swat, and said at least 36,000 people were reportedly suffering from acute diarrhoea. -AFP
 
The Pakistan army is doing it's best. All citizens must play there part to help the flood victims.

 
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According to NASA the floods in Pakistan is so bad that it changed the appearance of the lower Indus River.

NASA said the following about the satellite images:

A flood surge heading for Pakistan’s coast changed the appearance of the lower Indus River in just four days. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured these images on August 8, 2010 (top), August 10, 2010 (middle), and August 12, 2010 (bottom).

All three images use a combination of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between water and land. Water appears in varying shades of blue. Vegetation is green, and bare ground is pinkish brown. Clouds range in color from pale blue-green to bright turquoise. A thin veil of clouds hangs over much of the region on August 12.

On August 8, even though the lower Indus has risen far above its typical levels, it still appears as a relatively thin braided stream south of Sukkur. On August 10, the river has widened south of the city, and on August 12, the Indus has risen even more. Compared to the previous two images, the water appears fairly light in color on August 12. This may result from the angle of sunlight or from cloud cover, but might also result from an increased sediment load in the water.
 
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Tonight i saw at the news some Emirates CH-47 Chinock Helicopters Flying from the base of Multan in central Pakistan to deliver aids and i saw Qatari C-17 Transport aircraft and som other arab IL-76 Transport aircrafts from Syria, Oman, Egypt and Libya . . I hope my brothers who have pictures or videos For these aircrafts to download it
 
Jacobabad faces worst disaster in its history

SUKKUR / HYDERABAD: With the approach of a second ‘peak flood’, the district of Jacobabad is facing the worst crisis in its history and a number of villages and settlements have been inundated. A large number of people who had moved to areas earlier considered to be safe are now forced to move to other places.

At least 22 people, including women and children, have been swept away by raging waters in Moula Dad, Mehmal, Karim Bux and other areas.

The town itself appears to be safe for the moment, but a reported decision to divert floodwaters into a saline water drain has been strongly opposed by people of adjoining areas. The water was earlier diverted towards the Jacobabad-Dera Murad Jamali bypass.

The authorities have now decided to ease the pressure by draining the flood into the Soomra canal. The canal passes by the estate of former Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro and Garhi Sabahayo and the district coordination officer has urged the inhabitants to leave the area.

Meanwhile, government institutions and non-government organisations (NGOs) are facing problems in rescue and relief work because of clashes among supporters of parliamentarians and other influential people.

Floodwaters are touching the walls of the Shahbaz airbase and authorities are trying to save the base.

People are also facing difficulties in reaching out to their relatives because of disruption in the communications system and suspension of rail and road links. Some people said they could not even attend funerals of their relatives.

According to local sources, more than 300,000 people have been affected in areas around Jacobabad. Villagers have lost their property, grain stocks, cattle and standing crops.

About 20,000 people arrived in Sukkur from Jacobabad on Saturday night. They have been accommodated in schools.

Floodwaters from the Begari Sindh feeder have entered Qadri Darbar, Gillani Mohalla, Bhatti colony, Umrani Laro, Sona Khan Rind, Hyder Ali, Sultan Kot, Garhi Khero and Baqa Pul.

Thousands of people moved to Balochistan after water was released into the saline water drain.

A large number of people going to Dera Murad Jamali and Dera Allahyar are stranded because large areas in these districts have also been flooded.

Several incidents of robbery have been reported from different areas of Jacobabad. Some robbers are said to have been apprehended by armymen.

The road and rail link between Quetta and Jacobabad has remained suspended for two weeks.

The pressure of Indus, meanwhile, is increasing at the Kotri barrage where 252,125 cusecs of flow was recorded upstream and a discharge of 227,920 cusecs at 6pm on Sunday.

Army personnel have evacuated 754 people from the Mohammad Khan Machi, Jaffar Machi, Allan Sobcho and Gharo villages in the kutcha area of Matiari district.

A temporary dyke, called the ‘Zamindari bund’, has been demolished to ease pressure on the old Hala embankment.

Parts of the incomplete right bank outfall drain-II have been submerged between Sehwan and Sann in Jamshoro district. According to Project Director Rafiq Memon, the drain’s entire structure has been inundated.

For people arriving in Hyderabad, mostly from Jacobabad, a tent city is being set up on the directives of the chief minister.

The authorities are hard pressed meeting the needs of the people sheltered in camps.

According to the meteorological department, the Indus at Guddu is likely to remain at an ‘exceptionally high’ level, ranging between one million and 1.1 million cusecs, till Tuesday because of a second flood wave. There are fears about inundation of low-lying areas of Khairpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki and Sukkur.

The condition at Sukkur also indicates a threat of flooding in the low-lying areas of Larkana, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Naushahro Feroze.

According to irrigation officials, the second flood wave is heading towards Sukkur from the Guddu barrage. They said the water level at Guddu was likely to rise to 1.07 million cusecs.

A few days after withstanding a flow of 1.1 million cusecs, the Sukkur barrage is once again under pressure. On Sunday evening the flow was 1,010,857 cusecs upstream and 975,088 cusecs downstream.

The flow at Guddu was 1,041,390 cusecs.

Cuts made in various embankments have caused havoc in Jacobabad, Shikarpur and some areas in Balochistan.

Sukkur was calm on Sunday after panic sparked a couple of days back by rumours of a breach of the old Sukkur embankment and the Bunder wall.

Almost all the cracks in the Bunder wall have been filled, but the residents of Kutcha Bunder are still living either in relief camps or outside the wall to keep an eye on their homes.

Affected people in most of the camps have complained of lack of food, water and medicines.

Most of the affected people from Jacobabad, Kashmore and Shikarpur are living along the Sukkur bypass and Airport Road and in camps set up in schools and colleges.

Various trade bodies are also providing food and water to the affected people. However, the increasing number of displaced people is becoming unmanageable for the authorities.

Reuters adds:



Local men are digging through an embankment on the outskirts of Jacobabad to drain away steadily rising floodwaters.

“We’ve got to make a way to get the water away, otherwise Jacobabad will be sunk,” said Manzoor Ahmed, who along with others was digging gaps in the embankment.

“We’re doing this by ourselves. There are no government people here, not a single one. They’re invisible.”

The water being diverted will almost certainly flood another town or village.

“They have to look after themselves,” Manzoor said. “We’re protecting ourselves, it’s up to them to protect themselves.”

Jacobabad, a typical Pakistani town with dusty, rutted roads strewn with rubbish lining rows of brick shops, is largely deserted. Some people have piled earth in front of their shops in the hope of keeping water out.

The town is also home to an airbase which the US military has used in support of the Afghan war.

Jamal Shah fled to Jacobabad with his family when his village, about 50km away, was flooded. He is considering where he might go next.

“Perhaps the best option is Quetta. It’s higher.”

Town policeman Abdul Sami thought the town would be inundated in a matter of hours.

A main road out of town which had been dry earlier in the day, was almost impassable by the afternoon.

A motley convoy of trucks stacked high with people and their belongings, cars and herders driving their buffaloes, sheep and goats inched through a long stretch of knee-deep water before eventually reaching dry land.
 

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