Floods Cut off Pakistans Swat Valley

Floods continue to wreak havoc in Pakistan as the worst monsoon rains in decades cut off Swat Valley from the rest of the country.

Pakistan's Swat Valley is fast being cut off.

Raging flood waters are tearing through the region, destroying bridges and roads and isolating Swat from the rest of Pakistan.

According to authorities, landslides triggered by the country's worst floods in 80 years have added to the isolation of many areas.

The arrival of aid has been hampered by the damage to transport infrastructure. To make matters worse helicopters have been grounded because of poor weather.

The flooding, brought on by the strongest monsoon rains in decades, has killed at least 1,600 people and left more than two million homeless.

Residents in Swat were critical of the government response to the catastrophe.

[Mohamad Amoin, Local Resident]: (Urdu)




"The people of Swat have been the worst affected by the floods. Hundreds of people have been swept away by the floods. Thousands of houses have collapsed and hundreds of thousands have been affected. The inaction of the government in this crisis is regrettable."

The floods first struck in the north of the country but have since spread down the Indus River wreaking havoc.

In the agricultural heartland of Punjab villagers were driven out by the raging waters, leaving their homes and livelihoods behind.

[Hajiran Bibi, Local Woman]: (Seraiki)




"We have got nothing, absolutely nothing. We have no tents, no bedding, nothing to eat or drink. We are totally distraught."

International aid has been pouring into the country, and some 30,000 Pakistani soldiers are involved in rescue and relief operations.

Earlier in the week the U.S. sent six helicopters from Afghanistan to help with evacuations.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• NTDTV
• World
• News
• Pakistan
• Swat
• Valley
• Floods
• Urdu
• Punjab
• Afghanistan
• U.S.
• evacuations
• flood waters
• isolating
• landslides
• transport infrastructure
• monsoon

[AZBAJWA421]

@meghager

They are not in Swat. They are either operating from India or US itself.

[johnnyboypdq]

The people cry for the government for help?!? What for, the government did flood them out! Live in a flood zone YOU must be prepaired to be responsible and take care of your property! Do not expect others to come and fix your fucked up priorities. If your paying high taxes for squaller infrstructure then demand more from the cooks in office or refuse to pay the illegal taxes! You can't have it both ways, neither the politician or the idiots....

[michael20100819]

god pray for Pakistani....

[meghager]

wow, the USA is offering a 5 million dollar reward for Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali Ur Rehman some Taliban in Pakistan. That would be a way to help your family in this mess wouldn't it?

If you're a man go find them in Pakistan and get 5 million dollars to help your family. I'd do it.

[Pawsandconsider]

For the price of tents, basic food, basic medical aid and some jet fuel we can do more to fight the attitude of so called terrorism than decades of killing people. Sounds like an awesome opportunity to me. It is too bad it had to come to this in order to make a real difference. Now the good people of Pakistan can see the good side of America.

[guycoolSpore]

wow that happened today?

nice news