PM urges UNICEF, global agencies to help Pakistan,
Deadly floods: 70m Pakistanis affected, 170,000 sq km inundated,
As many as 26 people died and 11 other sustained injuries due to floods during last 24 hours,
According to the latest flood update released by the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC), 26 deaths were reported across the country and 11 people got hurt due to floods.
The overall death count since June 14 has reached 1,290 out of which 570 were males, 259 were females and 453 were children. However, 12,588 people received injuries, the NFRCC said.
In Balochistan, the traffic on M8 is disrupted and there is land sliding in 24 km section of Wangu hills.
The deadly floods have affected over 70 million people, inundating 170,000 square kilometers area of Pakistan.
The incessant monsoon rains and floods have damaged the country’s agricultural infrastructure of around $20 billion, costing economic losses amounting to $25 billion.
As a result of the floods, almost 40 million people have been rendered homeless while over six million flood victims are in need of quick financial aid, food, drinking water and emergency medicine.
Nearly 65% of the food basket (agricultural crops such as rice, pulses, sugarcane and vegetables) has been swept away by the recent floods. Initial estimates suggest that the floods and climate catastrophe have submerged 21 million acres (78,000 km2) of crops cultivated in 57 districts of the country.
The heavy floods also perished 2.65 million livestock, 334 poultry and 156 fish farms putting farmers on their knees when it comes to meet food demands of 100 million people in these areas.
Meanwhile Prime Minister urged the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other global agencies to support Pakistan as the climate-induced calamities had adversely affected the country’s children.
On his Twitter handle, the prime minister said over 400 children were dead in recent floods which make up one-third of the overall death toll.
The children were exposed to a greater risk of water-borne diseases, he added.
“As Pakistan battles one of the worst climate-induced calamities, among the most adversely affected are children. With over 400 dead, they make up one third of overall death toll. Now they are at even greater risk of water-borne diseases. UNICEF & other global agencies should help,” the prime minister posted.
