Flood-hit Pakistanis still suffering

Three months after devastating floods hit Pakistan, millions of people still live in dire conditions and in need of humanitarian assistance.

The International Red Cross (IRC) said on Monday that high levels of waters in the southern province of Sindh have forced flood victims to stay in tent camps where access to adequate shelter, food and clean water is limited.

It added that millions of flood-hit victims will need humanitarian aid for the next two years due to the destruction the country’s infrastructure has suffered.

About 2,000 people were killed and nearly 20 million were affected when floodwaters triggered by monsoon rains began sweeping through most of Pakistan in July.

In the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to the aid agency, most displaced families have returned to their villages only to find they have no home to go to, as many homes are severely damaged or destroyed. Moreover, water sources remain contaminated and basic services are inaccessible.

The IRC also warned that stagnant pools of floodwater in Punjab and Sindh form a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria and dengue fever.

The aid agency says it is working to distribute thousands of nets to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.