Eid-al-Fitr a somber affair in Pakistan as flooding affects millions

By Sean Maroney
11 September 2010 Nowshera, Pakistan — Celebrations for the holiday Eid-al-Fitr in Pakistan are muted as millions of Pakistanis continue to suffer in the wake of the country’s worst flooding. The heavy rains came to Pakistan just before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, known locally as Ramazan, arrived. Sunrise-to-sunset fasting is the key component of the month.  And while Eid-al-Fitr marks the end to the fasting, there seems to be no end in sight for millions of Pakistanis who were caught in the floodwaters. Pakistanis normally celebrate Eid at home with their families.  But for many of the flood survivors, that is no longer an option. Mohammad Urs lives in a tent camp in Thatta in the southern province of Sindh. He says he does not know where his brothers are.  He is trying to get in touch with them by phone.  He says that this is not a happy Eid. … The worst flooding in Pakistan’s history has killed more than 1,700 people and affected nearly 20 million others. Even as the rains die down, the Pakistani government and humanitarian agencies are voicing concern regarding a follow-up heath disaster. Oxfam estimates that in less than three weeks, the number of cases of acute diarrhea, skin diseases, acute respiratory infections and suspected malaria have all tripled. …

Eid-al-Fitr a Somber Affair in Pakistan as Flooding Affects Millions