– by SAPAC

Press release – We are sure that most all of you are aware of the recent disastrous flooding that has devastated much of Sindh. We have gathered some information from several resources to help educate you and other members of our community about this catastrophe. Listed below are some informative and unsettling facts about the tragedy so you may get a better sense of what is taking place in Sindh:

· Sixteen of the 23 districts in Sindh have been severely affected by flooding

· Over 4 million acres of land are underwater, including 1.7 million acres of standing crops that have been destroyed and it is estimated that between 8,000 and 100,000 cattle have been killed or are greatly at risk

· More than 5 million people have been displaced or directly affected by flood waters

· 144,000 people have been relocated to 1,800 relief camps located in Sindh

· The Pakistani government reports 126 deaths as a result of flooding and flood-related illness, particularly disease spread by fast-increasing mosquito populations

· In nearly all affected areas, clean water supplies have been contaminated by flood waters leading to a rise in waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea

· Roughly 120,000 pregnant women have been directly affected

· Just under 700,000 homes have been either severely damaged or completely destroyed

· Several towns have been completely swept away, leaving little evidence that they ever existed

· Roads, bridges and other types of infrastructure have been completely destroyed or swept away in many areas, leaving those areas with no electricity, communication or transportation

· Many people whose homes have been damaged are living in tents on roadways.

· No formal plan has announced to provide those living in tents with food or shelter in the near future

· Hundreds of thousands of people without tents are living in knee-deep water inside their homes

· Little effort was made before the floods hit to prepare relief efforts. Additionally, there has been little support for relief at the national or district levels, leaving it up to ill-equipped and underfunded local governments

· Few measures were taken following last year’s floods to prevent future catastrophes, further increasing the impact of flooding this year

· In addition to those affected by this year’s flooding, many victims of the 2010 floods still live in relief camps or depend on relief supplies

· Some officials say that this year’s floods are far worse than last year’s in terms of deaths and long-term socio-economic problems

· Little attempt has been made by the Pakistani government to seek help from international relief organizations

· The price of basic supplies and food items has skyrocketed since flooding began as a result of their scarcity

· Bread and other food items are becoming scarce. Trucks make deliveries of flour to the worst-affected areas, often leading to fights between the local population

· Police, in some instances, have resorted to using batons to disperse crowds attempting to loot from trucks bringing relief supplies to affected areas

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