Pakistani woman carries a small bicycle outside her shack submerged by heavy flood, on Monday in Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab province, Pakistan. Photo: AP. (click title to entry - thank you)
...The government has deployed thousands of soldiers and civilian rescue workers to save an estimated 28,000 people trapped by the floodwaters, distribute food and collect the bodies of the up to 1,100 killed so far.
But the scale of the disaster is so vast that many residents say it seems like officials are doing nothing. That anger poses a danger to the already struggling government, now competing with Islamist movements to deliver aid in a region with strong Taliban influence....
I sincerely hope any aid actually makes it to the people and not into the hands of extremists that will use it against the people. Whomever is sending aid, don't send guns, okay?
And there is no reason to complain about the government of Pakistan either. If community after community allows extremists to dominate their safety, what is a government suppose to do? It is difficult enough to fight a flood, but, to try to 'safely' provide aid is a hideous concept to a 'war zone.'
Don't blame the Pakistani government, I don't want to hear it.
Terrorists taking pause as Pakistan braces for more floods, monsoon rains
English.news.cn 2010-08-03 00:51:55
By Syed Moazzam Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Terrorists seem to have been taking a pause halting their frequent suicide bombings and sabotage in Pakistan as the second string of monsoon rains unleashed Monday afternoon a little earlier than predicted hampering the badly needed relief and rescue work.
No act of terrorism has so far been reported across the country as the floods misery enters the seven day on Monday in the troubled northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where epidemic outbreak is imminent. Heavy rains have halted relief operation in heavily flooded Dera Ghazi Khan area of eastern Punjab province and in the worst affected Swat and Malakand areas in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province....
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-08/03/c_13426934.htm
Having to deal with militants and terrorists while trying to deliver aid. This is about the most hideous mess any government has to deal with. This has to rank right up there with the Tamil Tigers and the Christmas Tsunami.
Fears militants will capitalise on Pakistan flood chaos
MATT WADE
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
August 3, 2010
SECURITY analysts have warned that militant groups in Pakistan could capitalise on the misery caused by flooding that has devastated the unstable north-west of the country.
The disaster, which is believed to have killed at least 1100 people and displaced 2.5 million, comes as the government struggles to contain Islamic insurgents operating in flood-hit areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province) and Pakistani Kashmir. The Swat Valley, where more than 1 million people were displaced by fighting between the Pakistani army and Taliban rebels in May last year, has been badly affected.
There are reports of diarrhoea and cholera among those left homeless, and aid groups warn that basics like food and water are in short supply. Flood waters have receded in some areas but more monsoon rains are forecast....
http://www.smh.com.au/world/fears-militants-will-capitalise-on-pakistan-flood-chaos-20100802-113g6.html
