Issued: August 29, 2010, 11:00 p.m.

Sindh Province: Fakir Goth breach which has widened to 200 feet and KB Feeder Breach, responsible for inundation, are just 5 kilometers away from the Thatta City. It is also feared that Garhi Khuda Bux, home town of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, founder of Pakistan Peoples Party and ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, may get swamped. There is a whisper on the politics of breaches and the forex have fallen by $181.8 million.

Although the situation for millions of Pakistanis affected by the floods remains unquestionably the need for immediate shelter, food, and other basic necessities, for some, the new concern is starting over again. The floods have expanded in some southern areas and most recently devastated communities in Thatta District. Some areas throughout the country remain inaccessible by road while in others floodwaters receded and have remained that way for more than a week.

Issued: August 26, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

The week started with returning of some of the flood affectees-to their native places-in upper parts of the country, where residual floodwaters, rubble, and ruins greet them. With flood waters mounting pressure on the coastal city of Thatta (in the Southern part of Pakistan) new estimates reveal the widespread devastation caused by floods.

Floodwaters continue to submerge villages in Sindh, recent reports state that the kutcha area of Khanpur near Kotri has been inundated. The nation’s massive flooding has destroyed about 3.5 million houses in different parts of the four provinces. It seems clear that the crisis may further deepen as the waters are yet to recede. At the same time, both local and international NGOs and government departments continue efforts to confront the numerous challenges posed by the floods. Medium and long-term planned interventions are underway with the hopes that the flood waters will recede.

Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan's intervention in flood affected areas of Pakistan.

Humanitarian efforts have evolved over the years. From simple generosity of helping those in need, humanitarian efforts on a global level have become intricate with many factors such as the amount of funds, the types of aid, and how aid reaches communities in need. The process of providing relief during emergencies needs to be efficient and appropriate to the needs of those communities requiring assistance. However, it is not always these priorities that drive relief efforts. In attempts to help, governments and organizations are capable of not giving aid to those who need it most, not providing the right type of relief, creating or worsening local conflicts, and misappropriation of funds and other resources.

On August 21, nineteen of 23 districts in Sindh were announced as calamity-hit regions by the provincial government as the flood waters posed serious threats to Hyderabad and Thatta. About 150,000 people were forced to move to higher ground as floodwaters submerged more towns and villages.

In the next 24-28 hours, River Indus is likely to sustain exceptionally high flood level at Sukkhur Barrage. The mighty Indus is flowing in very-high-flood with rising trend at Kotri Barrage and likely to attain exceptionally high-flood level of 800,000 cusecs, during next 12-24 hrs.

Food Aid Distribution in Sibi, Balochistan from CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan on Vimeo.

Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan distributes food aid to flood-affected families in Sibi, Balochistan.