PRESS SECTION
HIGH COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
132 Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel (603) 2161-1370, Fax (603) 2161-0384
Press Release
352 killed, 8 million made homeless by floods in Pakistan, Pak HC briefs Malaysian media
High Commissioner for Pakistan in Malaysia, Mr. Masood Khalid has called on the Pakistani community as well as NGOs and civil society organizations in Malaysia to come forward and contribute in cash or kind to the relief efforts for the floods affectees in Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference here Wednesday, the High Commissioner said Pakistan had been hit by massive floods for the second consecutive year with some areas in Sindh province seeing the worst rainfall since 1936. "This has resulted in a serious humanitarian crisis which is not possible to tackle without the help and support of the international community, particularly the Pakistani diaspora settled in different parts of the world, including Malaysia," he said at the media briefing held at the High Commission to apprise the Malaysian media of the scale of damage caused by the floods and the nature of relief aid required for the affectees.
He told the media that due to enormity of the disaster and limited resources available with the government of Pakistan, the UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) had also launched a flash appeal, based on their preliminary assessment, of US$ 357 million.
Mr. Masood Khalid informed the media that despite the initial forecast for the 2011 monsoon rains in Pakistan remaining 10 per cent below the normal rainfall, the province of Sindh had received unprecedented rainfall during the month of August. "These rains have caused flash floods and devastation throughout the province with major damage done to life and property in the districts of Badin, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpur Khas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Thatta, K. Shahdad Kot and Tharparkar," he said.
He said that so for as many as 352 people had been killed by the floods which had ravaged all 23 districts of Sindh and the flood water was now heading towards Balochistan. "According to latest information, the floods in Sindh province have caused damage to an area of 7.9 million acres (3.2 million hectares), destroying most of the crops while the estimated number of flood affected people in Sindh as of today stands at 8 million," he said, adding more than 80,000 livestock had also been washed away by flood waters while crops like cotton, banana, dates, chilli and sugarcane on 2.8 million (1.1 million hectares) acres had been destroyed or affected.
To a question, Mr. Masood Khalid said floods had also fully damaged 539,899 houses while another 848,412 houses had suffered partial damage. He said the Pakistan High Commission in Malaysia in response to the appeal for international assistance and to receive donations from Pakistani diaspora, had opened "Flood Relief Account 2011" (Account No. 20-002-065872-4) at AFFIN Bank. "I would urge the Pakistani community based in Malaysia to come forward and assist their brethren back home at this hour of need," he said.
To a question, the High Commissioner said relief goods for the flood victims could also be sent to Pakistan through PIA free of transportation costs. He said some of the necessary items required by the flood victims included blankets, mosquito nets, mosquito repellent oil, Jerry cans, water coolers, plastic sheets, buckets, hygiene/sanitation tablets, water purification tablets (aqua-tabs), water purification units and mineral water bottles.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 21st September, 2011
Hamid Raza Khan
Press Attache
High Commission for Pakistan in Malaysia
132 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Ph: 00603 2161 1370
Fax: 00603 2161 0348
Cell: 00601 02441963