ISLAMABAD, 8 July 2008 (IRIN) - About 150,000 people living alongside Leh Nullah, a drainage channel running through Rawalpindi, should benefit from a new flood warning system launched on 7 July with Japanese assistance.

The drainage channel is prone to flooding, particularly during the monsoon season.

This has from time to time created havoc. In July 2001, 74 lives were lost and 3,000 houses destroyed after the drainage channel burst its banks.

The incident led to discussion of the need for a flood warning system. Since 2001, periodic flooding of houses alongside the channel has taken place, with the latest flooding just a few days ago, when heavy rain lashed Rawalpindi.

"Water creeps rapidly over the banks and into homes. It makes for very difficult living conditions," said Rabia Bibi, 45, who lives near the channel. She told IRIN: "Each year people have to move away during the rains because of water entering homes."

Thanks to Japan

Speaking at the launch of the Leh Nullah Flood Forecasting and Warning System, Pakistani Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf thanked the Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their cooperation.

The Japanese ambassador to Pakistan, Seiji Kojima, said his country "would make all possible efforts" to help Pakistan with disaster management. The lack of disaster preparedness in Pakistan has been attributed by international agencies to much of the human suffering caused last year by the cyclone that hit coastal areas.

In recent days, seminars and drills have also been held, under Japanese supervision, to educate people on early warning systems and how to respond to them. Local officials have also been trained. JICA has set up the new warning system at a cost of around US$5.5 million.

The project was started after the Pakistan government in August 2005 made a formal request. Equipment was provided by the Federal Flood Commission, the Pakistan Metrological Department and civic agencies in Rawalpindi.

Under the system, any flood warning would trigger rescue agencies in Islamabad to set off alarms.

The need for early flood warning systems has been raised in Pakistan at various official and non-official forums. The effectiveness of the Nullah Leh system will be monitored closely over the coming weeks: Monsoon rains have already begun to fall across Pakistan, triggering the annual flooding and rain damage that affects tens of thousands of people every year. A heavy monsoon in northern areas has been forecast by the Metrological Department.

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