Pakistan floods: A thousand dead, millions affected by 'horrors of climate change'

euronews.com:

Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across much of Pakistan have killed nearly 1,000 people and injured and displaced thousands more since mid-June, officials said this weekend. 

The new death toll came a day after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked for international help in battling deadly flood damage in the impoverished Islamic nation.

Sharif said that 33 million people had been impacted by the floods - about 15% of Pakistan's whole population - and blamed "the horrors of climate change" for the natural disaster. 

However, construction in flood-prone areas, endemic corruption, lack of investment in infrastructure, scant regard for the environment and poor preparedness for natural disasters also exacerbate the problems when flooding happens. 

The monsoon season, which began earlier than normal this year, has lashed Pakistan with particularly heavy rains and rescuers have struggled to evacuate thousands of marooned people from flood-hit areas. The crisis forced the government to declare a state of emergency.

In response to Sharif's appeal for international aid, the United Nations planned a $160 million flash appeal for donations which will be launched on 30 August. 

The picturesque Kalam Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is one of the areas most affected by the rains and flooding. Waters from overflowing rivers swept away entire buildings, including an iconic hotel.

“The situation is pretty serious as we don't have any road link left with the rest of the province, we don't have electricity, gas and communications network and no relief is reaching here,” said Muzaffar Khan, whose grocery store was swept away along with many other shops.

Pakistan's Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said soldiers and rescue