DEATH TOLL TOPS 1,300 IN PAKISTANI FLOODING
Baku, August 11 (AZERTAC). The death toll climbed to more than 1,300 in Pakistan on Wednesday as the nation`s military and emergency services struggled to cope with the flood waters that have washed across the landscape.
The Pakistan Disaster Authority has confirmed 1,313 deaths, although officials say the number could reach 1,500.
The authority also said 1,588 people have been injured and 352,291 people have been rescued. More than 722,000 houses have been damaged.
The Pakistani military has 55 helicopters and 621 boats taking part in aid and rescue efforts.
The flooding, which has affected some 14 million people, started in the northwest and has threatened places as far south as the port city of Karachi.
For many parts of southern Pakistan, the worst is yet to come.
The "Indus River at Kotri in Southern Sindh Province is likely to attain a very high to exceptionally high flood level," according to the Pakistani Meteorological Department. "Under this scenario, the inundation and flooding of low lying areas of district of Hyderabad, Thatta and adjoining areas in South Sindh."
Food and housing shortages are widespread.
"The assistance that we have so far provided has alleviated suffering, but relief operations need to be massively scaled up," said Martin Mogwanja, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan.
The United Nations will launch an initial Pakistani emergency response plan Wednesday with $400 million more in aid.
U.S. emergency relief teams continued to arrive in Peshawar to help, the U.S. State Department said. The U.S. Agency for International Development has committed $55 million in aid to international organizations and nongovernmental organizations, it said. The United States has provided more than 435,000 meals.
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