United Nations, Aug 09: The United Nations has mounted a major relief operation to provide food, medical supplies and clean water to thousands of Pakistanis struggling to cope with floods and mudslides caused by heavy monsoon rains in the country. Southern and southwestern parts of Pakistan have been devastated by floods following excessive monsoon rains during the last two weeks in July - especially the second round of storms that hit on July 22, the UN said.
The world body has made available an emergency grant of 50,000 dollars for purchase of shelter materials. Oral rehydration salt packets, water purification tablets and jerry cans have been delivered by other UN agencies earlier.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has begun purchasing $ 200,000 worth of food supplies for distribution to some 240,000 people in the Thatta, Badin, and Tharparkar districts.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has allocated 50,000 for coordination, monitoring and logistics support of relief activities in Sindh.

Citing preliminary reports from the provincial government of Sindh's relief department, the United Nations said that the floods have affected a total of 390,469 people in 1,407 villages. A total of 88 people have died as a result of the floods and 321 have been injured.
The agency estimates that the requirements of medical supplies both of Sindh and Balochistan will cost over one million dollars and has appealed to donors for necessary funds.

Bureau Report