Copter flights for flood relief effort come to an end

NFRCC says 10,445.5 tonnes of food, 1,878.7 tonnes of sustenance items and 15,832,816 medicines distributed so far

ISLAMABAD:

For the first time since mid-August, no helicopter was required to fly during the past 24 hours in connection with the mission to provide relief to the flood victims, indicating a significant improvement in the disaster situation.

The National Flood Response and Coordination Centre (NFRCC) said that its disaster management efforts, including relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas, were continuing across the country.

Pakistan has experienced extreme rainfall since the monsoon season began in mid-June, with about three times more rain than the national 30-year average. This has led to severe flooding impacting more than 33 million people.

The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed the NFRCC to coordinate and synergise flood relief efforts in the country. These include saving lives and providing relief items to flood victims.

So far, NFRCC said, over 10,445.5 tonnes of food, 1,878.7 tonnes of sustenance items and 15,832,816 medicine items were distributed among the flood victims. Some 147 relief camps and over 300 medical camps were established across the country, it added.

For the flood rescue and relief operation, 627 Army Aviation helicopters sorties were flown to various areas for evacuation of stranded people, the NFRCC said. “Moreover, till now 4,659 stranded individuals were evacuated through helicopter sorties,” it added.

Besides, the Pakistan Navy (PN) flew 71 helicopter sorties to rescue 481 stranded people. Similarly, the NFRCC said, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out 268 sorties and evacuated 1,521 people from the flood-affected areas.

NFRCC in a statement updated on the damage assessment by joint survey teams, stating that 519,093 houses were surveyed across the country so far, which showed that 319 people had died, 190,606 houses were destroyed, 136,817 houses were damaged, 213,906,763 acres of crops suffered damage and 304,652 livestock animals perished.

As per the NFRCC update efforts were afoot to finalise model villages in the worst-affected districts of Sindh and Balochistan. However, model designs of miscellaneous firms and institutions would be submitted for final approval.