0
ISLAMABAD At least 70,000 to 80,000 people have been affected in Swabi by the floods and about 450 houses have been destroyed besides massive losses to crops and livestock, said UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In a statement issued here, it said that stored grains had been swept away by the floods in Swabi which might lead to food insecurity in the flood-affected union councils of Ismaila, Kalu Khan and Adina.
It said that traffic between Swabi and Mardan had been cut off as several bridges were washed away while the communication system has been damaged in Mardan district.
'Majority of the deaths occurred due to the collapse of roofs in mud houses. Concrete houses were mostly unaffected. Valuables in homes were completely swept away,' the statement added.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set up three medical camps in Mardan while the UNHCR is sending 500 tents for distribution in flood affected areas in Swabi through district administration.
Our correspondent from Swabi adds
NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti on Monday suspended XEN irrigation Swabi for negligence and directed officials to prepare a report about losses caused by the floods.
During his visit to the flood affected areas in Swabi he was told that a bridge in Kalu Khan union council had been washed away, and extensive damage caused to crops and houses in Ismalia region.
NWFP Senior Minister Rahimdad Khan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Imran, party district president Rehmanullah and officials of the provincial departments accompanied the chief minister.
The nazim of the union council Ismalia apprised the chief minister about the destruction caused by the floodwaters.
Mr Hoti said that a report on the destroyed bridge and Kalu Khan bypass should be prepared and sent to him immediately.
He also directed the officials of the revenue department to prepare a report about the losses caused by the floods.
Meanwhile, the flood-affected people have complained against the apathy of the government towards their misery.
They alleged that the provincial government had only focused on Mardan because the NWFP chief minister belonged to the district.
The people were still draining out the rainwater from their houses with water pumps. The people whose houses had been damaged were staying with their relatives.
The residents said they were short of food because the household items had been damaged by floodwaters and supplies from the government did not reach to them.
There was no availability of drinking water and the wells used by the people for drinking water were full of rainwater. A number of wells had also collapsed, said the residents.
According to locals, only the Al-Khidmat Foundation had established a relief and medical camp, where people got free food and medical help.
Meanwhile, former federal minister and ANP leader Azam Hoti visited the flood affected areas in Ismalia region on Monday.
A briefing was given to him by nazim of Kalu Khan union council about the destruction caused by the floodwater, displacement of the people and damage to crops.
