Pakistan declares state of emergency due to floods that have already claimed over 900 lives
Eva Deschamps / August 26, 2022
Pakistan declared a state of emergency on Friday and called for international mobilization as the death toll from the floods continues to rise. Since June, torrential rains linked to the monsoon period have already claimed the lives of more than 900 people.
The floods have displaced more than 33 million people, mainly in the poor southern and southwestern regions of the country, according to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister's office.
A total of 937 people have died in floods since mid-June. Heavy rains are still expected in the regions of Sindh and Balochistan, where millions of people are reportedly still waiting for help in some remote areas.
The overflowing rivers are destroying houses, bridges and roads across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the army to assist the civil administration and put hospitals on high alert. He also called on the international community to mobilize.
This year's rains are the worst since 2010, when more than 2,000 people died and more than two million were displaced, Zaheer Ahmad Babar, chief forecaster of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, told AFP.