Brief description of the emergency
Since 21 July 2010, widespread and unusually heavy monsoon rains hit most parts of Pakistan and further torrential rain is forecast over the next couple of days. The worst affected areas by the consequent floods are the Rajanpur district of Punjab Province; Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Bannu districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (formerly known as the North West Frontier Province); and Barkhan, Sibi, Kohlu and Dera Murad Jamali districts of Balochistan province in the south-west. As per the most recent census, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa has a population of 17.7 million people and Balochistan has 6.5 million inhabitants.
Impact
Most of the land routes linking to the flood affected regions have been disrupted, leaving thousands of local residents marooned or displaced from their homes. Around 150 people have been reported killed in weather-related incidents. Other impacts include the loss of livestock and damage to agricultural crops and fields which will require attention for the recovery of the affected population from this disaster. The total estimated damages and affected population are yet to be determined due to inaccessibility due to rising flood waters and disruption to communication networks. Continuing heavy rains are aggravating the situation in the worst-affected districts.
