Devastating Pakistan weather conditions, monitoring continues by WV
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World Vision Pakistan continues to monitor the devastations caused in
recent days by floods, heavy rains and gusty winds in southern regions of the country, currently outside its area of operations.
The poor neighborhoods in the city of Karachi (Sindh Province) were hit hardest by the storms. Media correspondents and local NGOs' representatives estimate that more than 200 people were killed, but government officials confirmed only 70 deaths.
More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in the city.
Weeks prior to the floods, Karachi residents faced extremely hot weather, power cuts, and water shortages. The situation has now worsened by the deluge.
The Meteorological Department warned of the cyclone that hit the coastal provinces of Sindh and Balochistan on Tuesday, without having a direct impact on Karachi. Due to the cyclone, the provinces of North West Frontier Province, Punjab and Kashmir are also likely to receive rain with thunderstorm and lightning during next 24 hours.
'Our operations in the NWFP have not been affected by these harsh weather conditions,' says Graham Strong, World Vision Pakistan Country Director, 'and we continue our project activities in Kaghan Valley, Siran Valleys, and Oghi.'
Currently, World Vision has not responded to the small scale disaster that occurred in Southern Pakistan.
Mr. Strong advised, however, that the WV Pakistan team is constantly evaluating the situation on the ground, and a change in emergency indicators may prompt a swift intervention.
The poor neighborhoods in the city of Karachi (Sindh Province) were hit hardest by the storms. Media correspondents and local NGOs' representatives estimate that more than 200 people were killed, but government officials confirmed only 70 deaths.
More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in the city.
Weeks prior to the floods, Karachi residents faced extremely hot weather, power cuts, and water shortages. The situation has now worsened by the deluge.
The Meteorological Department warned of the cyclone that hit the coastal provinces of Sindh and Balochistan on Tuesday, without having a direct impact on Karachi. Due to the cyclone, the provinces of North West Frontier Province, Punjab and Kashmir are also likely to receive rain with thunderstorm and lightning during next 24 hours.
'Our operations in the NWFP have not been affected by these harsh weather conditions,' says Graham Strong, World Vision Pakistan Country Director, 'and we continue our project activities in Kaghan Valley, Siran Valleys, and Oghi.'
Currently, World Vision has not responded to the small scale disaster that occurred in Southern Pakistan.
Mr. Strong advised, however, that the WV Pakistan team is constantly evaluating the situation on the ground, and a change in emergency indicators may prompt a swift intervention.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
