Photo gallery: Pakistan floods ravage lives of millions
By Michael Georgy
Tue Aug 3, 2010 10:11am EDT ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The worst floods in memory in Pakistan have devastated the lives of more than 3 million people, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday, while outrage over the unpopular government’s response to its people’s plight spreads. The catastrophe, which started almost a week ago and has killed more than 1,400 people, is likely to deepen as more rains are expected. A breakout of water-borne diseases such as cholera could create a health crisis. The disaster has also, once again, called into question the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, already hampered by problems ranging from a stubborn Taliban insurgency, widespread poverty to chronic power cuts in the nuclear-armed U.S. ally. Pakistan’s civilian governments have long been perceived as riddled by corruption and largely ineffective, leaving the powerful military to step in during troubled times. Poorly resourced Pakistani authorities are struggling to help flood victims, many of whom have lost everything and say they received no warnings that raging waters were heading their way. United Nations World Food Program spokesman Amjad Jamaal said an estimated 1.8 million are in dire need of water, food and shelter. He said some people are being bitten by water snakes. Anger was palpable in towns such as Charssada. A Reuters reporter saw people attacking trucks distributing relief items. Police then charged at them with batons. Bistma Bibi, 65, who lost two grandsons in the floods, accused state relief workers of only helping friends or relatives. “I came here at 5 o’clock in the morning. I begged and fought but got nothing. They’re giving them (supplies) to their people,” she said. …
