U.N. reports Pakistan flood’s grim toll

UPI
Oct. 19, 2010 at 11:00 AM ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 19 (UPI) — An estimated 20.2 million Pakistanis were affected by the monsoon-driven rains that inundated portions of the country, a U.N. agency reported Tuesday. Nearly 2 million homes were damaged or destroyed by the flooding that started during the summer, and at least 7 million still were without shelter, the Humanitarian Communications Group said in a release. The death toll was estimated at more than 1,700. Heavy monsoon rains started July 22 in northwest Pakistan. Continuous rainfall led to rivers overflowing their banks and floods moving north to south along the Indus River. The report said flooding was reported as recently as Sept. 16 in southern Sindh province. The report said flooding caused widespread damage to public infrastructure, as well as schools and hospitals. More than 62,000 students now attend 718 temporary schools in displacement camps, the report said. Agricultural losses also were heavy, the report indicated. At least 2.4 million hectares of standing crops were lost, as well as 1.2 million livestock and 6 million chickens. …

U.N. reports Pakistan flood’s grim toll