PAKISTAN: OVER FOUR MILLION AFFECTED BY FLOODS

(New York / Geneva / Islamabad: 05 August 2010): Over four million people are estimated to have been affected so far - to different degrees - by floods, which have been hitting Pakistan since last week.

"This is a disaster of major proportions with immediate but also medium and long-term implications," said Martin Mogwanja, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan, adding that the emergency continued to evolve.

Assessments are still underway. However, estimates issued by the provincial authorities, and produced with the assistance of the United Nations, indicate that over four million people have so far been affected in different ways - including those who preventively left their homes. At least 250,000 dwellings are reported to have been destroyed or severely damaged, leaving at least one and a half million persons homeless.

United Nations agencies and their partners have already provided tents or plastic sheeting to at least 100,000 people, food to at least 150,000 and clean water to at least 750,000.

Over the past days, the floods gradually moved from north to south. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, located on the country's north-west on the border with Afghanistan, was the worst hit, with an estimated 155,000 homes destroyed. In the north-eastern parts of Baluchistan and the south-western areas of Punjab, respectively, an estimated 300,000 and 1.8 million people were affected, according to Government estimates.

In the next hours, the floods are expected to reach the country's southern Sindh Province, potentially affecting 11 of its districts. Approximately 350,000 people in the province have already relocated to safer areas.

"Without knowing how the situation may further develop, we are ready to continue assisting the Government in responding to any deterioration of the situation", said Mr. Mogwanja.

Since last week, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) embarked on the most critical phase of the response-rescuing those in need. At least 500,000 have been evacuated from low-lying areas.

"In terms of emergency relief, the most urgent needs of the population are food, clean water, medical care, shelter and household goods", added Catherine Bragg, United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. "In some affected areas, crops have been destroyed or severely damaged, which will significantly affect livelihoods in the medium term", she added.

The flooding follows torrential rains that hit the area during the course of last week, leading to the worst floods in the country in at least 80 years.

For further information, please call: OCHA Islamabad: Maurizio Giuliano, +91 300 8502397, giuliano@un.org; OCHA New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, reader@un.org, OCHA Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, byrs@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.intt