September 26, 2011

Southern Pakistani's crops destroyed by floods

Deluges and floods have affected 73% of crops and 67% of food stocks in the Sindh province, according to UN's food agency on Friday (Sep 23).

It is also encouraging donors to increase support.

Crop destruction has wiped out farmers' present and future sources of food and income with spiralling humanitarian consequences unless immediate assistance is provided, the FAO said.

Before heavy rains hit Pakistan this year, it was estimated that families affected by the 2010 floods would require three to four cropping seasons to recover, the agency said.

"Delayed assistance will lead to heightened food insecurity, increased public health threats, loss of land tenure agreements due to farmers' inability to pay their debts, population displacement and longer-term dependence on food aid," Kevin Gallagher, FAO representative in Pakistan, said.

Saving livestock is one of the top priorities after the floods killed nearly 78,000 head of livestock in Sindh. At least five million animals are at risk because they lack feed and shelter and are exposed to diseases, the FAO said.