20m hit by Pak floods

UN secy general due in flood-ravaged areas; no aid yet for 6m victims

BBC Online, Reuters, Sukkur

Pakistan's PM Yusuf Raza Gilani said 20 million people have been affected by the country's floods, a much higher estimate than the UN's 14 million.

He was addressing the nation during much muted celebrations of Pakistan's independence from the UK 63 years ago.

The United Nations confirmed at least one case of cholera among the victims, in the Swat valley.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit the country during the weekend.

Health workers have been stepping up their battle against waterborne diseases in the flood-hit country.

There were still flood victims to be reached, but the government was leaving no stone unturned, he said.

The UN had previously said the region's worst flooding in 80 years had affected 14 million out of Pakistan's 180 million population and killed 1,600 people.

'SLOW' INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Meanwhile, United Nations aid agencies have provided assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of Pakistan's worst floods in decades but relief operations have yet to reach an estimated six million people.

The lives of 20 million people -- nearly 12 percent of the population -- have been disrupted by one of the worst catastrophes in Pakistan's history. Six million still need food, shelter and water, the UN said in a statement.

Highlighting the scale of the disaster, Prime Minister Raza Yusuf Gilani said in an Independence Day speech the country faces challenges similar to those during the 1947 partition of the subcontinent.

Thousands of families were torn apart after the bloody partition into Hindu-dominated India and Muslim-majority Pakistan that led to the flight of at least 10 million refugees in the greatest migration in recorded human history.

The floods, triggered by torrential monsoon downpours just over two weeks ago, engulfed Pakistan's Indus river basin, killing up to 1,600 people.

Pakistan's government, overwhelmed by the disaster, has been accused of being too slow to respond to the crisis with victims relying mostly on the military and foreign aid agencies for help.

Anger is spreading, raising the possibility of social unrest. In Sindh province, flood victims complain of looting and there are signs of increasing lawlessness.

Gilani and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's most popular politician, vowed to work together to tackle the crisis.

"Politics at this time is haram (forbidden by Islam)," Sharif said in a joint news conference.

Millions of Pakistanis, frustrated by political struggles at the best of times, want to know when their government will help.

"The government has given us half a carpet. We have received rice and medicine from the government but no tent," said 22-year-old laborer Zarsheed.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari drew heavy criticism for going abroad to meet the leaders of Britain and France as the crisis unfolded, and not cutting short his trip.

"Despondency is forbidden in our religion. We consider it as a test from Allah for us. This is a test for us and for you," he told flood victims at a relief camp on Saturday. "We will try to meet all your wishes. We will build a new house for you. We will build a new Pakistan.

Despite the government's perceived failure in the crisis, analysts say a military coup is unlikely. The army's priority is fighting Taliban insurgents, and seizing power during a disaster would make no sense, they say.

It already sets security policies and influences foreign policy, and is described by some as a state within a state.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to meet Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Sunday to discuss the flood crisis.

ECONOMIC COSTS
The economic costs of the flooding are staggering, making it tougher for the government to carry out strategic spending in former Taliban bastions to win public support.

The International Monetary Fund has warned of major economic harm and the Finance Ministry said it would miss this year's 4.5 percent gross domestic product growth target.