Pakistani PM says floods death toll rises to 1,752

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Monday that the devastating floods have killed over 1,752 people and 2,697 others have been injured.

Gilani told a high-level meeting that the recent unprecedented floods have played havoc in 79 out of 124 districts of the country, causing massive damages to the standing crops, spreading over an area of 1.3 million acres, destroying physical infrastructure, bridges, roads, schools, health center, buildings and residences besides displacing millions of people.

"In my visits to the flooded areas all over the country, I have witnessed horrible tales of fear and deprivation. I have seen that people have lost their shelters, livestock and livelihoods," said the prime minister at the meeting called to discuss post-floods situation.

The meeting, attended by chief ministers of the four provinces and senior officials, discussed the reconstruction phase and a plan to give cash to the affected people, the prime minister office said.

"Innocent children are threatened with diseases and malnutrition. Expecting mothers do not have bare minimum essential nutrients for nourishment. Around 20 million people are seeking help, from all available resources," Gilani said.

About 1,000 bridges and over 4,000 km of long roads have been damaged, re-construction of which would cost 8 to 9 billion rupees (94 to 106 million U.S. dollars), 20 percent of the irrigation infrastructure, livestock and crops have been destroyed, and the power supplies corporations cumulative losses exceed 13 billion rupees (153 million dollars), the meeting was told.

Over 77 countries have contributed in cash and kind towards the relief for flood affected people, the prime minister said. The IMF has lent emergency financial support to Pakistan. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other donors have also promised to redirect and fast track their existing commitments, he added.

A total of 953.7 million dollars has been pledged by donors through UN system and bilaterally so far, the prime minister said.

Source: Xinhua