Southern Pakistan has been hit by severe flooding as a result of heavy monsoon rains. The worst monsoons in Sindh for a decade began on the 4th of July, resulting in devastating flooding of a region over 1,000 km2 (400 m2) in size.
A second, and more intense, round of flooding began on 22nd July and more rains are predicted during the first half of August. Forecasts warn that this trend is likely to continue until September 2003.
Officials have put the number of people affected either by homelessness, disease, or isolation at around one million. There have been some 215 deaths so far and nearly 10,000 villages affected. An estimated 100,000 people are stranded in their homes.
Agriculture has been severely hit with over 450,000 acres of crop destroyed and nearly 20,000 head of cattle killed. This disaster follows a five-year drought that has already impoverished the population.
The worst is still to come as people in flood-ravaged areas try to return to normality. Medical facilities and doctors are bracing themselves for outbreaks of hepatitis, malaria, typhoid and other water-borne diseases.
Islamic Relief has allocated an initial 10,000 Euros to provide emergency relief to flood victims.