World help sought for flood relief: World Bank, ADB asked for damage assessment

Pakistan on Tuesday formally launched appeal to international community for assistance in rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas. Besides, the government also urged World Bank and Asian Development Bank for damage assessment of the flood-affected areas.
This was announced by State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sumsam Ali Bukhari and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed at a joint press conference on Tuesday. The NDMA Chairman said the authority in collaboration with all the relevant federal ministries and organisations, including the armed forces, was reaching out to the affected population despite broken roads and rough weather.
He said 35 helicopters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan and 15 in Punjab were constantly flying to rescue people stranded in flood water, as well as in distribution of provisions including food (ready to eat) and medicines to the displaced persons.
He said rescue operation in flood affected areas was continued despite hostile weather condition. During rescue operation, 56 stranded Chinese engineers were shifted to safer localities. However, he said around 4000 tourists were still stranded in northern areas and rescue teams were engaged in areas to shift them to some safe places.
Lieutenant General Nadeem also appreciated the quick response received from some of the foreign countries including South Korea, Japan, US, Australia, EU, UK, China and UN. He said these countries pledged around $34 million including $10 million, UN ($10 million), Australia ($5 million), China ($3 million), EU (30 million euro) and UK ($8 million). This money would be spent on rescue and relief operation. Food and non-food items, medicines and safe drinking water would be provided to flood victim.
He said the main problem rescue teams facing were rehabilitation of communication system. All the road and bridges leading from Baltistan to Gilgit are completely washed away. "We hired the services of Pakistan Air Force and PIA for additional flights to air bridges the people to other cities," he added. Similarly, the roads and bridges of lower Dir and upper Dir and Charsadda were also badly damage. These districts were cut off to rest of the country, he said.
He said the water level at two major dams including Mangla Dam and Tarbela Dam were raised to alarming level. "In case of additional rain, the spill ways will be opened which could bring more devastation in surrounding", he warned. Earlier, the minister for information said the Prime Minister took an air view of the flood-hit areas of Mianwali and Layyah. The Prime Minister directed the federal government to address the demands of provincial governments on priority basis so that maximum relief could be provided to flood victims, he added.
"The government has set up a 'Prime Minister Relief Fund' and everyone must contribute openly to this fund," he said. The minister said government had estimated that 1.5 million people were displaced. To verify the exact number of victim, Nadra had been given task to provide information of the native living in the 20 kilometre areas on both sides of rivers, he said.