Pakistan: Floods [DHA-01: 27-Aug-96]

                   PAKISTAN - FLOODS
         DHA-GENEVA - INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
                    27 AUGUST 1996


1. FOLLOWING CONTACT WITH THE EMERGENCY RELIEF CELL OF THE CABINET
DIVISION, THE FLOOD CONTROL OPERATIONS ROOM OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN
RAWALPINDI AND THE OFFICE OF THE PUNJAB RELIEF COMMISSIONER IN LAHORE,
THE UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN ISLAMABAD PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING
REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF RAINS IN LAHORE (CAPITAL OF PUNJAB PROVINCE) AND
IN THE UPPER AND LOWER CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE MAIN RIVERS THAT CAUSE
FLOODS DURING THE MONSOON SEASON.


SITUATION IN LAHORE

2. A RECORD OF 461 MILLIMETERS OF RAIN DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS,
MAINLY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (22 AND 23 AUGUST 1996), DISRUPTED
CIVIC LIFE, TRANSPORTATION AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM IN
LAHORE, AS POOR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND OVERFLOWING STREAMS FLOODED
ITS NORTHERN PARTS.  THE TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN ISLAMABAD AND
LAHORE WAS SUSPENDED ON 22 AUGUST AND RESTORED ON 25 AUGUST 1996.

3. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN PUNJAB
HAVE MOBILIZED RELIEF OPERATIONS, MAINLY FOR EVACUATING THE
TEMPORARILY DISPLACED POPULATION LIVING IN THE LOW LYING AREAS
AND THE OUTSKIRTS OF LAHORE TO SAFER PLACES IN MAKESHIFT RELIEF
CAMPS. 25 TO 30 DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED SO FAR, MOSTLY ON
ACCOUNT OF COLLAPSED HOUSES.

4. THIS IS A LOCALIZED CALAMITY DUE TO UNPRECEDENTED RAINFALL.
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE EFFECTIVELY MANAGING THE RELIEF
OPERATION AND WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUSTAINED RELIEF TO THE
DISPLACED POPULATION (FIGURES VARY BETWEEN 200,000 AND 300,000).


SITUATION IN OTHER AREAS

5. HEAVY AND UNUSUAL RAINS IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS OF RIVER RAVI
AND RIVER CHENAB HAVE CAUSED PANIC AS THE WATER DISCHARGE IN
MAJOR DAMS AND HEADWORKS IS NEARING THE MAXIMUM STORAGE CAPACITY.
THE RIVERS HAVE SO FAR NOT CAUSED LARGE SCALE FLOODING  EXCEPT IN
SOME AREAS IN PUNJAB WHERE VILLAGES NEAR THE BANKS OF THE RIVER
RAVI AND RIVER CHENAB WERE FLOODED DUE TO OVERFLOWING BANKS.

6. THE CURRENT DAMAGE AND DISPLACEMENT OF THE POPULATION ARE BY
FAR LESS EXTENSIVE THAN THOSE CAUSED BY THE 1995 FLOODS AND
INSIGNIFICANT AS COMPARED TO THE 1994 FLOODS. NO REQUEST FOR
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE
RISK OF A DETERIORATION OF THE SITUATION PERSISTS UNTIL THE END
OF THE MONSOON SEASON IN SEPTEMBER.  THE UNDP/DHA RESIDENT
REPRESENTATIVE IN ISLAMABAD IS CLOSELY  MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS
IN CONSULTATION  WITH THE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND RELEVANT
AGENCIES.


TELEPHONE NO. +41-22/917.12.34
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TEL +41-22/917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: MRS. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22/917.21.44
PRESS TO CONTACT: MRS. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL. +41-22/917.28.56
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX:+41-22/917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DHAGVA@DHA.UNICC.ORG


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