Food warning following Pakistan flood

Last Updated: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 18:42:00 +1000

The World Food Programme says Pakistan's people are facing and extremely critical situation because flooding has destroyed seeds, crops and their incomes.

It says this makes them vulnerable to hunger, homelessness and desperation.

At least eight million people are depending on emergency aid to survive.

Torrential monsoon rains triggered massive floods that moved steadily down the Indus River Valley from north to south over the past month.

The floods have washed away huge swathes of the rich farmland on which the country's struggling economy depends.

The floodwaters are now sweeping towards two small southern towns as Pakistani troops and city workers managed to save Thatta city by plugging a hole in a dyke.

Meanwhile, hundreds of hungry families have blocked a highway in Pakistan's flood-hit south, demanding the government provide more food.

Around 500 people in the worst-hit province of Sindh, blocked the main road between Karachi city and Thatta for three hours, calling for the state to provide food and shelter.

Language News