Floods Cut off Pakistan's Swat Valley
- 14 years ago
Floods continue to wreak havoc in Pakistan as the worst monsoon rains in decades cut off Swat Valley from the rest of the country.
Pakistan's Swat Valley is fast being cut off.
Raging flood waters are tearing through the region, destroying bridges and roads and isolating Swat from the rest of Pakistan.
According to authorities, landslides triggered by the country's worst floods in 80 years have added to the isolation of many areas.
The arrival of aid has been hampered by the damage to transport infrastructure. To make matters worse helicopters have been grounded because of poor weather.
The flooding, brought on by the strongest monsoon rains in decades, has killed at least 1,600 people and left more than two million homeless.
Residents in Swat were critical of the government response to the catastrophe.
[Mohamad Amoin, Local Resident]: (Urdu)
"The people of Swat have been the worst affected by the floods. Hundreds of people have been swept away by the floods. Thousands of houses have collapsed and hundreds of thousands have been affected. The inaction of the government in this crisis is regrettable."
The floods first struck in the north of the country but have since spread down the Indus River wreaking havoc.
In the agricultural heartland of Punjab villagers were driven out by the raging waters, leaving their homes and livelihoods behind.
[Hajiran Bibi, Local Woman]: (Seraiki)
"We have got nothing, absolutely nothing. We have no tents, no bedding, nothing to eat or drink. We are totally distraught."
International aid has been pouring into the country, and some 30,000 Pakistani soldiers are involved in rescue and relief operations.
Earlier in the week the U.S. sent six helicopters from Afghanistan to help with evacuations.
Pakistan's Swat Valley is fast being cut off.
Raging flood waters are tearing through the region, destroying bridges and roads and isolating Swat from the rest of Pakistan.
According to authorities, landslides triggered by the country's worst floods in 80 years have added to the isolation of many areas.
The arrival of aid has been hampered by the damage to transport infrastructure. To make matters worse helicopters have been grounded because of poor weather.
The flooding, brought on by the strongest monsoon rains in decades, has killed at least 1,600 people and left more than two million homeless.
Residents in Swat were critical of the government response to the catastrophe.
[Mohamad Amoin, Local Resident]: (Urdu)
"The people of Swat have been the worst affected by the floods. Hundreds of people have been swept away by the floods. Thousands of houses have collapsed and hundreds of thousands have been affected. The inaction of the government in this crisis is regrettable."
The floods first struck in the north of the country but have since spread down the Indus River wreaking havoc.
In the agricultural heartland of Punjab villagers were driven out by the raging waters, leaving their homes and livelihoods behind.
[Hajiran Bibi, Local Woman]: (Seraiki)
"We have got nothing, absolutely nothing. We have no tents, no bedding, nothing to eat or drink. We are totally distraught."
International aid has been pouring into the country, and some 30,000 Pakistani soldiers are involved in rescue and relief operations.
Earlier in the week the U.S. sent six helicopters from Afghanistan to help with evacuations.