Heavy floods which were caused by abnormally heavy monsoon rains resulted in the killing of around 549 people in Pakistan in the last few months, with remote communities in the impoverished southwestern province of Balochistan among the worst hit, a government agency stated.
Meanwhile, several government agencies have joined hands with the army to set up aid and relief camps in flood-affected areas and are working to help relocate families and provide food and medicine.
Apart from the fatalities, the floods had resulted in damaging more than 46,200 homes, the National Disaster Management Authority stated on Friday.
Moreover, during a visit to stricken areas, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “We are doing our best to provide for extensive relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.”
But the Balochistan provincial government said it required more funds and appealed to international organizations for help.
At the same time, the province’s Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bezenjo said, “Our losses are massive.”
Several districts which have been hit by floods have reported for food shortage, with some also disconnected from the rest of of the province because of more than 700 km of roads being washed away.
Bezenjo said his province needed “huge assistance” from the government and from international aid agencies.
According to the local reports, the disaster authority stated that the last month was the wettest in three decades, with 133% more rain than the average for the past 30 years.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, received 305% more rain than the annual average, the disaster agency said
