MORE VILLAGES FLOODED IN SINDH

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 : Around 150,000 people were forced to move to higher ground as floodwater from a freshly swollen Indus River submerged dozens more towns and villages in the south on Saturday.Officials expect the floodwater nationwide will recede in the next few days as the last river torrents empty into the Arabian Sea.According to a private news channel, survivors may find little left when the return home, however, the water has washed away houses, roads, bridges and crops vital to livelihoods.

Already, 600,000 people were in relief camps set up in Sindh province during the flooding over the past month.
At one relief camp in Sukkur 32 year old Allah Rakhi gave birth to a baby girl. As the latest surge approached on Saturday, Jamil Soomro, a spokesman for the provincial government, said authorities have evacuated more than 150,000 people from interior parts of Sindh in the past 24 hours.

WATER LEVEL WITNESSED HIGHEST PASSING THROUGH SUKKER, GUDDU BARRAGES

SUKKUR, Aug 21: Flood water has kept its level very high passing through Sukkur and Guddu Barrages for last some days.According to Flood Forecast Division (FFC) on Saturday, the inflow of water at Guddu Barrage upstream is 893,831 cusecs and outflow at downstream is 889,234 cusecs.Likewise, a high floodtide of 982,473 cusecs is flowing at Sukkur Barrage while its downstream level is 945,758 cusecs.

High-level flood tide is also passing at Kotri Barrage where water level is constantly surging rapidly. Water inflow at Kotri Barrage upstream is 757,221 cusecs while its downstream level is being recorded at 733,016 cusecs.

IRAN HAND OVERS 2000 TENTS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Islamic Republic of Iran on Saturday handed over fifth consignment of 2000 tents for flood-victims in Pakistan at Taftan border.Iran has so far provided 350 tonnes aid worth one and half million dollars to Pakistan. A statement of Iran embassy says that aid will continue pouring in future.

JAPAN MILLATARY CHOPPER UNIT HEADS TO FLOOD HIT PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21-The first contingent of a 200-strong Japanese military helicopter unit left for Pakistan Saturday to join international relief efforts in the flood-ravaged country.Fifty ground troops left the Japanese city of Fukuoka for an army airfield in Multan, central Pakistan, Japanese media reported.They will prepare the ground for the rest of their unit and six helicopters which will transport people and goods in flood-hit areas, according to the Defence Ministry.

A naval transport ship and six air force C-130 transport planes are set to carry the helicopters and the unit’s equipment to Pakistan, the ministry said.
A total of 530 Japanese ground, air and naval troops will be mobilised for the relief mission.
“We hear that the extent of damage is quite serious,” Colonel Atsushi Ishizaki, the commander of the unit, told Japanese media at a ground force base in Fukuoka.
“We are proud that we can provide Pakistani people in trouble with something from our heart as Japanese.” The Pakistani military will protect the helicopter unit which will carry no arms while engaging in disaster relief activities in line with Japanese government policy, Kyodo news agency reported.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters on Thursday that the       United States had “unofficially” asked Japan to provide assistance to Pakistan. He also said Tokyo recognised the “importance of Pakistan” which neighbours Afghanistan.
Tokyo has already extended 14.4 million dollars worth of emergency aid to help Pakistan cope with the disaster.

17 DISTRICTS OF SINDH DECLARED CLAMITY HIT

HYDERABAD, Aug 21: Relief Commissioner Sindh has declared 17 districts of Sindh as calamity-hit  under section 3 of Sindh National Calamities (Prevention & Relief) Act 1958 on account of unprecedented floods, breaches in protective dykes,canals and heavy rains. In a notification, issued here on Saturday, the districts of Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Nausheroferoze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Jecobabad, Kashmore  Kandkot, Larkana, Shikarpur, Kamber Shahdadkot  Kamber, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin have been declared calamity hit districts. The people of these districts have suffered heavy losses including human livestock, property and Kharif Crops.

PAK ARMY RELIEF RESCUE OPERATION FORWADING SUCCESFULLY

MULTAN, Aug 21 (APP): Pakistan Army here on Saturday made 120-feet long temporary bridge at Seem-Stream in Karamdad Qureshi and ensured restoration of held traffic between two  big cities Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan of South Punjab,The establishment of the bridge is highly beneficial as it ensured public movement and supply of consumer items across the region.The restoration of traffic between Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan will also help improve relief working.

According to ISPR, Pakistan army is actively engaged in reconstructing damaged portions of canal which were affected by the malevolent flood waters.
Doctors of Pakistan army and Jordan, who were working jointly, provided treatment to 4500 flood victims in different areas of South Punjab.
According to in-charge relief centre Col Sohail Shehzad, Pakistan army has distributed 2400 tonnes of relief goods among flood affectees and the process of distribution is still in progress in the areas. He said relief camp has received 3000 tonnes of relief goods from NGOs, philanthropists and masses.
He further disclosed that relief operation would continue by September 10, and after the date, the flood affectees would be offered foods family package to cater needs of 15 days.
According to ISPR, Corps commander Multan Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed is monitoring the relief and rescue operation.

SINDH CM TAKES AERIAL VIEW OF FLOOD HIT AREAS

LARKANA, Aug 21:  Chief minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday took an aerial view of flood affected areas. Syed Qaim Ali Shah flew over Shikarpur, Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Kamber-Shahdadkot districts and was accompanied by provincial ministers Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Mir Nadir Ali Magsi, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Advisor to the chief minister for Information Jameel Ahmed Soomro, MPA Ghulam Mujadid Isran.Talking to newsmen after paying a visit to the graves of martyrs of Bhutto family at Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto, the CM informed that about 80,000 (eighty thousand) cusecs flood water had flowed from Tori Bund where a breach had occurred by over topping of the bund. The breach had damaged the towns including Dari, Ghouspur, Karumpur and many villages of Taluka Kandhkot, Thull, Jacobabad and Ghari Khairo town and some parts of Shikarpur district.

The chief minister also said that every flood affected family was being provided an amount of Rs 20000 and these families were also being registered by NADRA.
The chief minister said that the Government is making efforts for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-stricken people and in this regard all available resources are being utilised to help mitigate their sufferings.
He also said that a free train service has been provided for for the flood affectees to facilitate them to shift from Larkana and Rohri to Karachi.
He said that the DCOs have been directed to provide transport to the flood victims and to ensure their evacuation from the affected areas. 

The CM also said that efforts are being made to protect the various towns.
He  said that the meeting of National Disaster Management Authority  (NDMA) was held under the chairmanship of the prime minister in which  he briefed the prime minister that from Kashmore to Kharo- Chan, 872 miles of Indus River bunds being protected which was a challenge for the government. He  added that 19 districts of the province have been affected by the flood.