The International Monetary Fund has warned of major economic harm due to the floods
ISLAMABAD (Agencies)
Celebrations of Pakistan's independence on Saturday were cancelled as floods continued to bring misery to millions and the United Nations confirmed at least one case of cholera.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was expected to arrive in the country as aid agencies warned of a "second wave" of deaths from disease.
"There has been at least one cholera confirmed case in Mingora," Maurizio Giuliano, spokesman for the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs, told AFP, referring to the main town in the northwestern district of Swat.
" Given that there is a significant risk of cholera, which is a deadly and dangerous and a potentially epidemic disease, instead of focusing on testing, everyone who has AWD is being treated for cholera "
Maurizio GiulianoGiuliani said 36,000 people suffering from potentially fatal acute watery diarrhea (AWD) are being treated for cholera.
"Given that there is a significant risk of cholera, which is a deadly and dangerous and a potentially epidemic disease, instead of focusing on testing, everyone who has AWD is being treated for cholera," he said.
Charities said relief for those affected by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history was lagging far behind what was needed.
"There are millions of people needing food, clean water and medical care and they need it right now," said Jacques de Maio, head of operations for South Asia at the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"Clearly at this point in time the overall relief effort cannot keep pace with the overall scale of the emergency." he said.
Humanitarian agencies in Pakistan were keeping a close watch on the risk of "a second wave of deaths induced by the floods in the shape of water-borne diseases," de Maio added.
Celebrations scrapped
" There are millions of people needing food, clean water and medical care and they need it right now "
Jacques de MaioCelebrations of the Saturday anniversary of Pakistan's 1947 independence from British colonial rule have been scrapped by President Asif Ali Zardari, his spokesman announced.
The embattled leader has come under fire from flood victims and the opposition after pressing on with a trip to Europe last week, despite the mounting emergency at home.
"The president has decided that he will hold no celebrations in the presidency," Zardari's spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, told AFP.
In his independence day message, the president will call on people "to come out and help your grief-stricken brethren," Babar said.
Zardari will also visit flood-affected areas in the northwest and the central province of Punjab.
On Thursday, he visited a hard-hit area in the southern province of Sindh and met survivors for the first time, two weeks after the floods began.
Millions needed
" We have to acknowledge our ignorance and the impossibility at this point to measure with precision the full magnitude and scope... of this catastrophe "
de MaioThe United Nations believes 1,600 people have died in the disaster, while Islamabad has confirmed 1,343 deaths.
The U.N. has appealed for $460 million to deal with the immediate aftermath of the floods, but charities say even this figure falls far short of what is needed.
The ICRC gave warning of the unsounded scale of the disaster, directly or indirectly affecting an estimated 15 million to 20 million people according to Pakistan.
"We have to acknowledge our ignorance and the impossibility at this point to measure with precision the full magnitude and scope... of this catastrophe," de Maio said.
U.N. officials warn that the damage to infrastructure and the economy will put this volatile country back years.
The economic costs are staggering, making it more difficult for the government to carry out strategic spending in former Taliban bastions to win public support.
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the floods may have destroyed about $1 billion worth of crops and that the Bank was considering reprogramming about $900 million in aid.
Wheat, cotton and sugar crops have all suffered damage in a country where agriculture is a mainstay of the economy.
The International Monetary Fund has warned of major economic harm and the Finance Ministry said it would miss this year's 4.5 percent gross domestic product growth target.
The government had projected a budget deficit in 2010/2011 of 4 percent of GDP but some analysts believe it could now be at least 6 percent of GDP.
Up to two million people require emergency shelter and six million depend on humanitarian assistance to survive, fanning widespread anger against the weak US-backed government, amid looting and misery on the ground.
The U.N.'s Ban arrives late Saturday. He "will discuss relief efforts with government leaders on Sunday and visit flood-devastated areas the same day," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/08/14/116574.html
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