ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said Sunday that the numbers of flood-affected population may rise from 33 million as the monster flood continues.

“The humanitarian action is right now being led by the government and supported by United Nations and other humanitarian agencies. She said that the 1033 people had lost their lives and more than 1500 had been injured. Sherry informed: “Kabul River is still at very high flood level at Nowshera as the water has crossed 300,000 cusecs which is why residents in some areas have not been allowed to come back to their homes.”

She said that water levels in River Indus at Taunsa, Sukkur and Chashma were at High Flood level as it crossed 500,000 cusecs while Guddu and Kotri were in medium flood level, adding rains had disrupted the essential communications systems which were now being rebuilt by NHA and others.

Sherry said: “Kalam has received most rains at 41.5mm and Bagrot in Gilgit Baltistan has received up to 21mm. More rains are expected in the northern part of AJK, KP and Balochistan.”

Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) had started rolling out PKR25,000 relief tranches of PKR 35 billion for the most vulnerable while 218,112 beneficiaries had been provided with immediate cash assistance, she said.

Sherry said that the government was providing PKR 1 million (US$4,615) in ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of families who had lost their loved ones and PKR 250,000 (US$1,154) to those who had been injured.

PKR 500,000 (US$2,308) is being provided for fully destroyed houses and PKR 250,000 (US$1,154) for partially destroyed houses. However, hygiene kits, waterproof tents are still short on the ground for stranded families.

She said that many were being housed in empty schools as the ground was too wet and added that just as we battled with relentless rains in the South of Pakistan in over 72 calamity-hit districts, the Indus river flooding from the north had increased the number of calamity-hit districts as reports of floods in Gilgit Baltistan have come in as well.

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