Floods halt supplies

Vegetables prices go through the roof

Statesman Report

PESHAWAR: With vast chunks of land submerged under water due to floods, prices of vegetables across the province have gone through the roof on Thursday.

The prices of most commonly used vegetables in the provincial capital have doubled.

In the backdrop of heavy rains, supply of fruits and vegetables to the provincial capital was suspended leading to a sharp increase in prices of the majority of vegetables.

Besides, lack of storage space has also hit the city's vegetable markets hard as all shopkeepers are finding it difficult to prevent vegetable spoilage due to rain and mud in the markets.

Moreover, shops were inundated in fruit and vegetable markets due to heavy rain.

Due to the destruction caused to standing crops in the province, no vegetable auction was conducted at Jinnah Park market on Thursday.

The price of tomatoes has gone from Rs40 to Rs100 per kg, potato from Rs25 to 40, onion Rs20 to 35 and vendors sold onion by mixing B-grade onion in A-grade at Rs30.

Traders said that other vegetables have also seen a significant jump in prices.

Vegetable-laden trucks have also not been able to bring supplies to the local markets and were stranded on different routes of the province from neighbouring districts, driving up prices.

Ill-planned sewerage system adds to flood woes in City

Statesman Report

PESHAWAR: The worst spate of relentless rains turning deadly floods have claimed dozens of lives across the province while many shops, hotels, houses have been completely washed away by flashfloods.

Before the advent of monsoon rains, people were offering prayers for rains to heave a sigh of relief from sweltering heat.

Nevertheless, the rains started and wrecked havoc in the province especially in the provincial capital in the form of human causalties besides flashfloods in the suburb areas washed away many homes displacing hundreds.

Two factors including ill-planned sewerage system and abject poverty have played a major role in adding to the flood woes in the provincial

After the incessant showers, the prevailing destruction in the city was not surprising because many of its parts had seen flood like situation numerous times in the past due to ill-planned sewerage system. 

Several major drains built without any planning pass through interior city, which often inundate areas including Namak Mandi, Ganj, Gulbahar, Bilal Town, Kohati, Lahori, Bhanamari, Dabgari, Shaheen Muslim Town and Jahangirpura even after a moderate spell of rains.  

People in these localities are always ready to see their streets inundated with rainwater after downpour, despite the fact that millions of rupees are claimed to be spent on the reconstruction of these drains every year.   

The situation was not different this time too and people suffered a lot due to official apathy.

The claim that the restoration of magistracy system would help in addressing the woes of the masses has proved to be a hallow slogan, as no improvement has been seen so far on any front.

The pathetic cleanliness situation in the city during last six months is yet to be rectified.

It has become crystal clear now that cosmetic steps are not going to bring any improvement to avert floods destruction in future.

It has also become a tradition that committees are formed and hallow slogans are raised by the rulers to deceive the people after every natural calamity.

Transit deal termed an attack on sovereignty

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) should be scrapped as it is an attempt to destabilise Pakistan by ensuring Indian supremacy in the region.

The deal has exposed undemocratic mindset of top US officials and added to trust deficit. It has forced many to think that Washington is enforcing its agenda on gunpoint and robbing Pakistan of its sovereignty, it said.

Our nation is being held hostage since 9/11, governments are carrying American orders under threat, Dr Murtaza Mughal, president PEW, said. The situation is contrary to the claims of self-determination, he added.

The PEW president said that the latest deal will hurt our trade, commerce, industry, railways, transport sector and hike unemployment.

"India will get a boost under APTTA while Islamabad will get increased terror incidents, amplified insurgency, drugs, arms, poverty, deprivation and uncertainty," he said. 

Dr Murtaza said that contradictory statements of top officials aimed at defending deal and satisfying masses are adding to anger among people who are taking this as a joint US-India onslaught.

Mughal lamented that the deal in which provinces and other stakeholders were bypassed could be called a crime against 180 million Pakistanis, violation of constitution and a national security threat.

He further said that the deal has no moral standing as transit trade is already inflicting losses to the tune of billions and the new deal will multiply sufferings adding that it is a well-orchestrated plan to transform the country into a consumer country.

India will get a lot while Pakistan will get nothing out of this deal, he added. - Newswire

Women, kids at risk of infectious diseases

Statesman Report

PESHAWAR: Scores of children and women are at the risk of infectious diseases in flood-affected areas of the province.

Medical experts said that diarrhoeal diseases are the biggest concern adding that typhoid, salmonella and acute watery diarrhoea were the concern of particular areas.

Skin diseases due to poor hygiene such as general rashes and scabies as well myriad eye diseases were also reported from some districts and localities of the provincial capital.

The experts further said that in terms of sheer numbers, the skin diseases dwarf everything else, but they are infrequently fatal, adding it's very hard to scratch yourself to death.

They lamented that steps were yet to be taken by the concerned authorities in terms of providing chlorine or disinfectants to purify the water in the flood-hit areas.

Drinking water system and wells had been damaged or contaminated due to flooding, while at the same time people have also lost essential household items used for fetching and storing water.

Timeline on displacement since September 2009

PESHAWAR: Conflict-related population displacements have been continuing in the province as the government tries to take the fight to pro-Taliban rebels - highlights below.

September 2009: Up to 80,000 people flee fighting in Khyber Agency in the first two weeks of September.

16 October 2009: About 24,000 people left their homes in South Waziristan for the two neighbouring districts of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in anticipation of an army offensive against the Taliban, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

November 2009: UNHCR says owing to clashes in South Waziristan it has registered 350,000 IDPs in Dera and Tank.

4 January 2010: Landslides block the River Hunza and form an overflowing 16km-long lake in Hunza-Nagar district, Gilgit-Baltistan, a self-governing territory in Northern Areas. Floods displace 27,600 people, according to Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

January 2010: UNHCR says some 71,000 people flee fighting in Orakzai Agency to the contiguous districts of Hangu and Kohat.

15 January 2010: Some 1,14,375 individuals from Bajaur and Khyber agencies, Dir, Swat and Buner areas are accommodated in over 10 camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to UNHCR. In addition, 9,93,092 individuals are living in the host communities of Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi.

April 2010: IDPs displaced from Bajaur Agency, some since 2008, begin returning home. Some complain of a lack of assistance. All camps in Lower Dir district are closed following the return of IDPs to Bajaur. 

15 April 2010: At least 72 civilians are killed in an airstrike in Khyber Agency triggering fresh displacements from the area.

17 April 2010: At least 41 IDPs are killed in bombings at Kacha Pakha IDP camp, just outside Kohat, leading to disruptions in relief work.

June 2010: A low-scale military operation in Bajaur Agency, which had in April been declared by the army free of militants.

July 2010: Water levels on the lake formed on Hunza River by a landslide in January begin to recede, raising hopes that 20,000 displaced might be able to return home.

July 2010: The Geneva-based International Displacement Monitoring Centre says 1.23 million people remain displaced in the country. 

July 2010: As of July 9, the following IDP camps in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were operational: Benazir Camp (Risalpur), Jalozai Camp (Nowshera), Samar Bagh (Lower Dir), Togh Sarai (Hangu) and Pitao (Malakand) - accommodating some 1,05,497 individuals. By July 25, Samar Bagh Camp had closed as more IDPs were returning. The overall displaced population stands at more than 2,00,000 families (1.4 million individuals).

July 2010: Fighting continues in Orakzai and Kurram agencies of FATA. Skirmishes continue to be reported in South Waziristan, Mohmand and Khyber agencies. It is not yet clear if the military operation will be extended to North Waziristan. - IRIN

Owais for mitigating miseries of flood affectees

Assures provision of facilities to KEF hospital

Statesman Report

PESHAWAR: Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani has urged upon the people of the province to demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood and extend full support to flood affectees for mitigating their miseries.

He was talking to a delegation comprising members of Board of Directors of Khyber Eye Foundation (KEF) here Thursday, says a handout. 

Led by chairman of the foundation Yawar Naseer, the delegation comprised Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and renowned eye specialist Prof. Dr Muhammad Daud.

Speaking on the occasion, Owais said, "We rightly can feel proud of the exemplary courage and forbearance of our people, which they have been exhibiting in facing difficulties and problems," assuring that no effort would be spared to reach out the affectees.

Today too, he added, our people are confronted with a similar testing situation in shape of flood havocs and there is a need to demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood. 

He also appreciated the role played by the foundation in discharging humanitarian services for the ailing humanity, adding that KEF was among few organisations whose role and services in sharing the responsibilities of the government in the province could be described as remarkable. 

"Keeping in view the track record of the achievements of the foundation, every possible initiative would be taken to help it modernise the treatment facilities especially in acquiring latest equipments for up-gradation and expansion of its sole hospital; the Khyber Eye Foundation Hospital, located in the provincial capital. 

In this connection, he particularly mentioned the provision of vitrectomy machine and certain other equipment for up-gradation of eye bank of the hospital to ensure safe and efficient conduct of cataract surgeries as well as long term preservation of donated corneas and assured to do the needful within the shortest possible time.

Earlier, Yawar Naseer apprised the governor about working of the foundation and said average 24 eye patients are getting operation based treatment facilities at a nominal fee in the hospital on daily basis. 

Apart from this, he added, the organisation is also extending free treatment facilities to eye patients by holding free eye camps in far-flung areas of the province as well as FATA.

How to stay healthy in monsoon

PESHAWAR: It's monsoon time. Enjoy the rain, but don't forget to keep the mosquitoes at bay or to wash your hands frequently to ward off infections.

For, humid conditions and moderate temperatures create perfect conditions for the spread of diseases, a private news channel reported.

Experts also warn against the overuse of antibiotics and suggest boosting the immune system instead.

"The growth of bacteria is caused by high humidity and a temperature that is neither too high nor too low. It results in diseases like jaundice, malaria, typhoid, cholera, cough, cold, fever and flu," doctors say.

People should ensure that the water they drink is pure. The household should be kept clean at all times and special attention should be paid to the hygiene of kids.

There's indeed a lot you can do to keep infections away, say doctors.

"The cleaning up of stagnant water bodies, overflowing drains, leaky walls and roofs is a must during the rainy season. Use repellants to prevent mosquito bites and the most important is the drinking water should be clean.

One should bath regularly and wash hands with soap frequently to prevent fungal infections. Desert coolers should be cleaned once in a while and all water reservoirs and tanks should be covered. Experts also suggest boosting one's immune system.

Overuse of antibiotics, exposure to radiation, hazardous chemicals and widespread use of corticosteroids should be avoided, say experts. Building natural immunity is especially important in children whose immune systems are vulnerable to a large number of diseases. – APP