73 districts devastated; UN again warns of further deaths

ISLAMABAD The disaster caused by unprecedented flash floods Pakistan ever faced is far from over with two more deadly tides in the making to hit the riverian areas of Punjab.
According to the Federal Flood Commission of Pakistan, one such tide (peak) is expected to hit the eastern riverian areas of the Indus River System, particularly, Chashma and Taunsa barrage, today (Friday). A severe tide of 800,000 cusecs approximately, emanating from Chashma Taunsa barrage would travel to Chenab River and it would then join Trimu River. Another huge tide of about 600,000 cusecs would surface from Trimu that can wreck havoc in the adjoining regions of Indus River System.
Meanwhile, Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP), Pakistan, and head of UNs Food Cluster, Wolfgang Herbinger, told TheNation on Thursday that Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, and Gilgit Baltistan were suffering from acute food shortage.
I received reports from these areas that theres no milk, no sugar, and no oil available in the markets. We have enough food to reach out to 2 million people but main problem is access, he said adding the UN was trying to provide high-energy biscuits and other food items in those areas by helicopters.
Christopher Lom, Spokesperson, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Asia Pacific Region, and representative of UNs Shelter Cluster, informed TheNation that 700,000 people were yet to receive household assistance and tents. He said that 300,000 people or 71,000 families were provided with the aforementioned shelter items.
We assume that there are 7 persons in every family, each family gets 1 tent or two plastic sheets or tarpaulins. As of now, 71,000 families or 490,000 people have received the shelter items thats nearly half-a-million, he added.
Earlier, briefing the media on Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan (PIFERP), the senior officials of United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) once again called for instant influx of funds and warned of rise in causalities otherwise.
If we dont move to respond soon enough to the sufferings and needs of the flood-affected people, many of them could die, UN Humanitarian Coordinator to Pakistan Martin Mogwanja cautioned. He said that shelter for affected people was the most urgent requirement besides food assistance, clean water and healthcare.
He cited the latest official figures, according to which floods had damaged 73 districts of Pakistan. Earthquake 2005 was a localised emergency that affected 11 districts but these flash floods are the worst natural calamity Pakistan ever faced. But I would not contemplate a worst case scenario, international community would not allow this to happen, he hoped.
Representing the UNs Health Care Cluster, Dr Ahmed Farah Shadoul, said the main health threats in flood-hit region are waterborne diseases.
He said the chances of outbreak of diarrhoea, cholera and measles are running high and mobile clinics are made operational in affected districts across the country. Mengesha Kebede, on behalf of UNs Protection Cluster, said that 1.4 million Afghan refugees in KP and Balochistan were equally affected like the rest of countrys population and they were being effectively provided relief assistance. Its not one time event, its unfolding, its impact is still unknown, the figures of losses surpass every moment, he remarked.