33 million affected by floods in Pakistan, government says estimated cost of damage is $30 billion

As the flood rages on in Pakistan from incessant rains, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported.

That the country has logged 1,396 deaths since mid-June, 499 of them being children. The government also estimated the cost of the damage caused by the flood to stand at USD 30 billion.

The southern province of Sindh has seen 466 per cent more rain than the average with the entire country receiving 190 per cent more than the 30-year average.

Syed Murtaza Ali Shah, District Commissioner of Dadu district, said on Sunday that 90 percent of Dadu district is inundated and the town is still under threat.

UN chief Antonio Guterres visited flood-hit areas in the country on Saturday and asked the international community to step up their efforts to help flood-ravaged Pakistan.

Agencies of the UN agencies have begun work to assess Pakistan’s needs in order to develop a post-disaster reconstruction plan after the country received 391 mm (15.4 inches) of rain, or nearly 190 per cent more than the 30-year average, in July and August.

Prime Minister Shehbaz told Guterres that rescue and relief efforts are in full gear and the people have been moved to safe places. He also thanked different countries and organisations for their support to Pakistan.