ISLAMABAD: At least three more deaths were reported across Pakistan on Saturday as a result of the monsoon downpour, taking the total number of deaths to 552 during the ongoing spell.

In a statement, the Nat­ional Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that the number of those injured was 628, whereas 49,778 houses were damaged due to floods and rains. In light of the destruction caused by the monsoon, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a high-level committee to monitor the relief activities, whereas rescue and relief operations were underway in flood-affected areas.

In its statement, the authority report also underlined the situation of rivers and claimed water flow in all rivers was normal. The situation of roads and bridges said the Karakoram Highway was restored for light and medium traffic at Achar Nala whereas construction of a steel bridge over Achar Nala was in progress. However, all other na­­tional highways and motorways were operational.

‘Assistance to at-risk people’

The Pakistan Humanita­rian Forum (PHF), representing 35 international non-governmental organisations asked the government to allow and facilitate the international and national NGOs to deliver assistance to the people at risk in the wake of current floods in the country.

In a joint statement, the PHF and the Nat­ional Humanitarian Network (NHN) hoped that a joint response with the government will lead to a clear commitment to providing relief assistance to at-risk communities.

They requested the government to initiate a joint need assessment of the flood-affected areas. The comprehensive needs assessment would help identify humanitarian needs of the most at-risk groups, including women, children, and elderly affected by the disaster, it added.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2022