The Paper reporter Nanbo intern Lu Wen
Data from Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority on August 31 show that since mid-June this year, the number of deaths caused by monsoon rains in Pakistan has risen to 1,191, more than 3,300 Thousands of people were affected. Health officials in Pakistan have warned that severe flooding has displaced millions of people and could lead to a large-scale disease outbreak in the country.
On August 31, 2022 local time, in Jaffarabad, Pakistan, children affected by floods sat on rope beds next to the flood after the monsoon rains. visual China picture
On August 31, 2022 local time, houses were flooded in Jaffarabad, Pakistan. Visual China Map
According to the British " Guardian " report on August 31, months of heavy rains have left people stranded and without access to clean water. The number of cases of diarrhea and malaria has increased, and people are suffering from dysentery. and cholera risks. Pakistani authorities say they fear the spread of water-borne diseases in the wake of the floods will further put pressure on local health services.
WHO said it is working with the Pakistani government to respond to outbreaks of diarrhea, cholera and other diseases. It is reported that WHO has allocated US$10 million (approximately RMB 69 million) for emergency health relief work. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on August 31 that the agency had classified flooding as an emergency of the highest level. The spread of waterborne diseases means access to health services and disease surveillance and control has become a "key priority" in Pakistan.
Arif Jabbar Khan, director of WaterAid Pakistan, visited the Sindh province in southern Pakistan, which has been hardest hit since the monsoon rains began in June. He said: “Some families are now living in dilapidated huts made of bamboo and plastic on the banks of overflowing canals and rivers. With no other options, they have been drinking from the floodwaters and that is the reason for the massive outbreak of disease. ”
Aid groups also warned that pregnant women and menstruating women are facing deeper difficulties. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which is responsible for sexual and reproductive health, estimates there are 650,000 pregnant women in flood-affected areas, with up to 73,000 expected to give birth in September.
When the flood hit, British-Pakistani Mustafa Khan was on vacation in Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province. He said: "People living in Kokrobar, an informal settlement on the outskirts of the port city, do not have access to toilets, sanitary conditions are deteriorating, and many children have eye infections."
Azra Fa, head of the Sindh provincial health department Dr. Zal Pechuho said that the Pakistani government has set up 4,210 medical camps for people suffering from skin diseases and water-borne diseases. Kamran Bangash, spokesman for the provincial government, said: "Hundreds of people have been infected with water-borne diseases. With the evacuation operation basically completed, the authorities will focus on providing clean water and food."
Editor in charge: Hu Zhenqing Picture editor: Zhu Weihui
Proofreading: Ding Xiao
