Pakistan declares national flood emergency as death toll from rain-related mishaps hits 900

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan government has declared a national emergency and called in the army to assist the civil administration in relief and rescue operations as the death toll from rain-related incidents approached 1000.

The decision was made in a three-hour meeting late Thursday night after authorities said floods affected more than 30 million people across the country.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to send troops from the Pakistan army to assist the civil administration with relief and rescue operations.

The Prime Minister called an emergency conference of foreign envoys based in Islamabad to seek international community’s help.

Since mid-June, 937 people have lost their lives, including 343 children and 198 women, while 1,343 others have been wounded, according to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The floods have also damaged 670,328 houses, wrecked 145 bridges, and damaged 3,082 kilometers (1,915 miles) of roads, it said.

Climate Minister Senator Sherry Rehman told international donor agencies representatives at the conference that the recent rains exceeded the 30-year average.

“This water is high now not only on both sides of the Indus in southern Pakistan but has triggered a new flash flood phenomenon where it’s raining in 7-8 unprecedented cycles, super flooding areas from a merciless sky,” she tweeted after the meeting.

International organizations and financial institutions announced an immediate aid of more than $500 million for the flood victims after the prime minister’s appeal for help.

The World Bank has announced $350 million, World Food Program $110 million, Asian Development Bank $20 million, and UK Aid over $40 million, according to the premier’s office.