WFP - Food Market/Transport System In Pakistan Breaking Down - Zardari Doing State Visits In Europe

[hatrack]

Pakistan (Reuters) - After wrecking Pakistan's northwest, the worst floods in 80 years swept through the economically vital Punjab in a catastrophe that has raised doubts about President Asif Ali Zardari's fragile leadership. Zardari left for Europe this week on state visits, drawing criticism for his absence during the worst of the destruction.

Ethnic violence in Pakistan's biggest city Karachi, and a suicide bombing claimed by Taliban militants in Peshawar also piled pressure on his government, widely criticized for its handling of the floods, which have killed over 1,500 and devastated the lives of more than three million people. It's too early to gauge the economic costs of the floods but they are likely to be staggering. Pakistan depends heavily on foreign aid and its civilian governments have a poor history of managing crises, leaving the powerful military to step in.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced in Washington on Wednesday that Americans could text the word "SWAT" to the number 50555 to donate $10 per SMS message to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to provide tents, clothing, food, clean water and medicine to Pakistan.

EDIT

It's too early to gauge the economic cost of the floods but they are likely to be staggering. Pakistan is heavily dependent on foreign aid and its civilian governments have a poor history of managing crises, leaving the powerful military to step in. "People have lost their food stocks. The markets are not up and running. Shops have collapsed. People are definitely in the greatest need of food," said WFP spokesman Amjad Jamal.

In Nowshera in the northwest, one of the worst-hit areas, former army officer Mohammad Yaseen and other villagers picked through rubble hoping to find food and a few of their belongings. People washed clothes waist deep in water. Rugs hung from the legs of water towers as dozens of bloated buffalo carcasses lay in muddy streets. "After two days, a helicopter came and dropped some bottles of water and packets of biscuits but nobody tried to evacuate us," he said. "After four days, boats came but the water level had receded and there was no point in leaving the house."

EDIT

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66T3RS20100804

[madrchsod]

1. al jazeera has excellent coverage

http://english.aljazeera.net/

i found this this morning...http://www.swatvalley.com/swat/slideshow/

everything in these pictures are probably gone....