More than 8 million Pakistanis in dire need: UN
Last Updated: Monday, September 6, 2010 | 10:16 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
The UN estimates 8 to 10 million Pakistani flood victims still need daily aid. (Associated Press) The United Nations estimates eight to 10 million people in Pakistan still need daily help out of a total of 18.7 million affected by the flooding.
The UN says that a month after Pakistan was deluged with the worst floods in a century, the situation on the ground is still dire in many parts of the country.
Some areas remain totally flooded — particularly in the extreme southern part of Pakistan which is close to the mouth of the Indus River — and vast numbers of people are still cut off from the aid they desperately need.
The town of Sujawal in the southern part of the country had been completely evacuated because it was one of the most severely affected flood areas. However, dozens and dozens of people were trying to get back into the town Monday.
What they're coming back to is a pretty dysfunctional place, with still a few feet of water on the main roads and even more than that on the lanes and alleyways.
Although water still covers much of Sujawal, traffic is flowing again down the main street of the town in southern Pakistan. In places, it's now shallow enough for cars, trucks and even pedestrians who don't mind getting wet to splash their way through the middle of town — something they couldn't do just a couple of days ago.
The water was up to here, one man told the CBC's Tom Parry, pointing to his neck. When Sujawal was evacuated, he sent his family away, but he remained, moving up to the roof where he kept watch over his house. He said he was worried about thieves getting into his home and stealing his property.
Now, there are reports of runoff from the Indus River that has gone into a lake in the north. It threatens to overflow the lake and cause new flooding and severe damage.
While a few hearty souls waited out the flood, many more moved to higher ground. In the nearby town of Thatta, a snake charmer coaxed a cobra from a wicker basket in front of the town's cemetery. This place is known as the City of Silence. Over the past weeks, however, this resting place for the dead has grown increasingly lively.
The cemetery is on a hill and families from Sujuwal and other flooded communities have taken up residence here, living among the graves. Hajarran Mirbhur lives here with her family and said it's horrible.
She hopes, as the water recedes, she and her family will be able to go back home. Like the thousands of others stranded by these floods, she's worried what she'll find when she gets there.
Meanwhile, the UN says it needs hundreds of millions of dollars in new donations to get food, water, medicine and shelter to Pakistanis hit by flooding.
The UN is preparing to ask member nations to give an amount that will be at least double the $460 million US it requested last month at the start of the flooding, said Jean-Maurice Ripert, the UN secretary-general's special envoy for assistance to Pakistan.
The UN has received $310 million US toward the initial appeal, although private and bilateral donations bring the global total committed for Pakistan flood aid to roughly $1.1 billion US.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Attack on Syrian villages deadliest yet, activists say
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, activists say, and as many as half the victims may have been children. more »
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged and windows shattered as severe thunderstorms, and possibly a tornado, rattled through southwestern Quebec Friday night. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of six climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- Attack on Syrian villages deadliest yet, activists say
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, activists say, and as many as half the victims may have been children. more »
- Ex-Mubarak PM vows not to recreate old regime
- The last prime minister of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is denying claims that he's trying to recreate the old regime. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of six climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
Dispatches »
- Foreign slaves serving the U.S. military machine May. 24, 2012 3:33 PM How does a hairdresser recruited for work in Dubai, wind up slaving for the U.S. military in a war zone in Iraq? There are tens of thousands serving in what's come to be known as America's "Invisible Army."
Connect Newsroom Blog
Etan Patz, Brian Banks & 50 Shades of Grey May. 25, 2012 8:56 PM On his first full day of his new life, former football star Brian Banks joins us live.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- Ottawa man in hospital after lightning strike

