FLASH FLOOD CAUSE OVER 10 BLN LOSS TO PEPCO

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 : Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has suffered a loss of over Rs 10 billion to its installations so far across the country due devastated floods. Sources told this agency here that four of the total nine power distribution companies including Peshawar Electric Company (PESCO) Multan Electric Supply Company (MEPCO), Quetta Electric Supply Company) (QESCO) and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) were suffered severely by devastating floods.

They said three hydel generation stations- Jigran (30 MW), Malakand (80 MW) and Chashma (160 MW) suffered losses and had gone out of operation. 
The floods also hit three thermal power plants including Pak-Gen (350 MW), ASE Lalpir (350 MW) and KAPCO (Kot Addu).  The KAPCO has started partial generation of 600 MW against its capacity of 1386 MW. Both the Thermal plants would take two weeks to become operational once water level receded.
The sources said that the floods swept away Madian and Shangla grid station in Swat while the third big Khawazakhela grid station was still inaccessible.    
PEPCO is utilizing all its resources and making efforts for early repair and restoration of power installations including grids, transformers, transmission lines and other infrastructure soon after receding of floodwater, they added.
All other distribution companies have been directed to put their material and equipment reserves at the disposal of the four affected distribution companies to restore the power system, they said.
It is worth mentioning here that Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also assured that it would fully assist repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure of power system damaged due to flood in the country.
ADB has already announced 2 billion dollars emergency grant to help repair massive damage to infrastructure caused by the country’s recent floods. 
The ADB will work with Pakistani power sector officials to asses the scale of the damage at the earliest.

FLOOD WATER LEVEL RISES BY 15 ft IN JAFFARABAD 52 KILLED

QUETTA, Aug 22 : After entrance of more flood tides from three sides into district Jaffarabad, water level has risen by 13-15 feet in many areas particularly in the district headquarters Dera Allahyar while Provincial District Management Authority’s (PDMA) compiled report by 20th August had confirmed displacement of 1.1 million people and killing of 40 persons by raging floods in Balochistan. On Sunday, dozens of flood victims most of them children suffering from gastroenteritis and other waterborne diseases were brought to Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi and Quetta hospitals. Doctors told media that due to acute shortage of required medicines at the hospitals and medical camps, fear of deaths of a large number of such patients had emerged. 

During last few days after the worst ever floods hit Balochistan’s districts, over 52 persons infected with gastroenteritis, cholera and other waterborne diseases had died. The major cause of deaths of such patients was being told non provision of timely medical treatment and non-availability of necessary medicines at the camps and hospitals.
Provincial Minister for Works and Communication Mir Sadique Umrani has alleged that international donors and NGOs had ignored Balochistan and flood survivors of the province were not getting any relief assistance from them.
Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Mir Ameen Umrani has accused that no relief was provided to a large number of flood-stricken people who had taken refuge in various areas of Naseerabad division particularly Tehsil Tambo. Through a statement, he said that hundreds of thousands of flood victims were forced living under open sky in very hot weather and a remarkable strength of them had suffered from gastroenteritis and other waterborne diseases. He added that still many of flood victims were deprived of food, drinking water, medicines and tents. 
He observed that although the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps had been playing a vital role in carrying out rescue and relief operation, adding but how only two institutions alone could feed 1.1 million flood victims of the province. He appealed to the federal government and NGOs to pay special attention to flood survivors of Balochistan.
About 10 flood victims had died of gastroenteritis in Dera Murad Jamali, six in Gandakha and Bhag while over 35 have been bitten by snakes between Friday and Sunday. 
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued its report on flood compiled by 20th August. According to the report, raging floods wreaked havoc in 12 districts of Balochistan, displacing 1.1 million people including 40,000 of Sindh. It said that 40 persons were killed, 98 suffered injuries and 50 went missing.
The report maintained that floods washed away 2584 villages and 75,261 houses in Balochistan. Director General PDMA Hasan Baloch said that floodwaters still standing in many districts including Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Kachhi Bolan and Jhal Magsi by many feet.
Director PDMA Aataullah Mengal said that floods washed away crops standing on millions of acres of land and thousands of cattle in Balochistan.
According to another report issued by Works and Communication Department, floods had washed away 338.08 kilometers roads and hundreds of bridges in various districts of Balochistan which caused loss of Rs 542.985 million to the province.

RESPONSE OF WORLD COMMUNITY IS VERY ENCOURAGING : FM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said the funding for the UN’s aid appeal for victims of Pakistan’s deadly floods rose to over $800 million, with the announcement of more pledges following his visit to United Nations.He was addressing a press conference here, after returning from New York, where he attended the special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to discuss the situation in Pakistan following the devastated floods.

The Foreign Minister said the special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations was scheduled for one day, but it remained continued for two days, due to overwhelming response from the international community.
The Minister said the session marked a doubling of the $ 460m emergency relief appeal launched on August 11. More than 40 countries announced pledges amounting to $254.5 million at the special session of the UN General Assembly, bringing the aid total since the natural disaster struck Pakistan to $815.59 million. 
He said the general assembly was convened on August 19, to create awareness among UN member states about the magnitude of the unprecedented national disaster that has uprooted more than 20 million people and caused huge economic losses besides posing a host of new challenges. 
The countries who increased their pledges or announced fresh pledges on the occasion of General Assembly session of the United Nations.
Qureshi said the response and pledges from the international community was very encouraging despite the recession in the world.
He said he also held meetings with many foreign ministers including Secretary General United Nations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his stay in New York.
The Minister said the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan being held in Brussels in October 14 and 15 was being revised to include the demands and needs of Pakistan following the flood situation.
Referring to his interaction with international media in New York, the Foreign Minister said, all international channels are highlighting the floods situation and helping Pakistan to generate funds. He said, the American newspaper are also writing editorials in this regard.
He said he also interacted with Pakistani community and other NGOs to motivate them for highlighting the sufferings of the people who affected due to these floods.
The Minister said during his meeting with EU representative, they agreed to give more access to Pakistan in trade in EU countries to help Pakistan to promote its exports.
Qureshi said the General Assembly also passes a resolution unanimously to extend support to Pakistan following these floods.

PRESIDENT ZARDARI CALLS MINISTER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT FLOOD SITUATION

HYDERABAD, Aug 22: President Asif Ali Zardari called Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar Zaman Shah here Sunday to inquire about the flood situation and the condition of embankments from downstream Kotri to Mulakatiar in T.M Khan district.The president directed the minister to maintain round the clock vigilance at the embankments and also to ensure flawless relief and rescue operations to help the affected people. He informed the minister that he had personally visited the protective embankments of Mulakatiar in the past.

On the occasion, the federal minister apprised the president about the flood fighting measures adopted by the concerned departments of the government and expressed his satisfaction over those steps.
He told the president that after the recent re-strengthening, the embankments were in a better shape to cope with the pressure of floodwater striking at the embankments.
He informed that he had been visiting the left bank embankments of River Indus downstream Kotri on daily basis for the last 7 days and that he was personally overseeing the relief activities there.

KATCHA VILLAGES IN HYDERABAD DELUGED, TENS OF THOUSANDS WANT SHELTER

HYDERABAD, August 21, : With the continuous upsurge in floodwater in River Indus downstream Kotri several villages, some of them dating back to the 18th century, have been deluged while their hitherto reluctant dwellers have now vacated their abodes.As many as 20 villages in Latifabad including Haji Khan Laghari, Budhal Laghari, Fazal Khan Laghari, Daree Mian, Naij Noha Mian and Dhanoo Bheel are submerged by the floodwater which was recorded at 760,511 cusecs downstream Kotri on Saturday 6 pm.

Over 15,000 people were inhabiting those villages which have now been reclaimed by the mighty Indus River, while the displaced people have started to move towards the relief camps.
Also inundated are two graveyards, one of which belonged to a Hindu community, along the embankments of Hussainabad and Latifabad, besides a 45 acre agricultural land from where supplies of vegetables were made to the Pakistan Army.
The powerful currents of the floodwater are unleashing their might mainly on the embankment of Latifabad No.4, which is also supported by two studs, while the reinforcement work there is being steered by Sindh Rangers with help of local people and political workers who have been volunteering to perform the menacing task.
Frightful to human sight there were the scenes of the manual work of stone dumping to reinforce the studs being carried out by the civilians while standing on the verge of the studs for the purpose.
However, the pressure of the water currents is also building up along the embankments of Latifabad No. 10 and 11 and it can be anticipated that with an increase in the discharge of floodwater downstream Kotri, that pressure will go up correspondingly.
Thousands of people living near the embankments have left their homes in anticipation of any eventuality although an overwhelming majority of the people of Qasimabad, Hussainabad and Latifabad has preferred to stay put at their homes.
On the other hand, water currents were continuously moving away from the protective bunds of Qasimabad, which were recently fortified by Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) after complaints raised by the ministerial committee of Chief Minister Sindh tasked with monitoring the flood fighting measures in the district.

PAK NAVY RELEIF TEAMS WORKING IN GARHI KHAIRO, JACOBABAD

SUKKUR, Aug 21 : Pakistan Navy Coastal Command on request of Sindh Government has dispatched relief teams to Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad, where floodwater has entered and complete inundation of the area is imminent.A statement issued by the spokesman of Pakistan Navy said here on Saturday.Pakistan Navy has also provided two helicopters to conduct search and rescue missions in Multan on a request of the Punjab government.

In Sindh, tent cities established by the Pakistan Navy in Khairpur and Jacobabad areas have started registration and accommodation of people rescued and evacuated from the flood-affected areas.
Till now, 350 families have been accommodated in these camps.  Displaced persons are being provided food and other essential goods by relief teams operating in these areas.
Operation ‘Madad’ of Pakistan Navy also continued in the flood affected areas, under which PN rescue teams evacuated 1000 people from marooned areas to safer locations.
In Nawabshah, six rescue teams evacuated 280 people. The rescue team deployed in Shikarpur evacuated 550 persons. Around 80 victims were rescued from Jacobabad by two PN rescue teams.
The total number of evacuations by Pakistan Navy has reached up to 103,200. Evacuation from Nawabshah is likely to be completed by Friday.
Six search and rescue teams have been deployed in Sujawal from coastal units. Three rescue teams have also been deployed in Larkana and Qamber-Shahdadkot districts where many villages have been inundated due to a breach in Kerther canal.
The PN spokesman said dispatch of relief goods and food   continued  in the affected areas. During the last 24 hours, 4250 kilograms of  ready-to-cook food and 40 tents were dispatched to Nawabshah.

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.