Disease Fears Spread in Pakistan Floods
- 14 years ago
Pakistan has been battered by the worst flooding to hit the country in a century. Now, fears are rising over the spread of waterborne disease. There's already been a case of Cholera (KAH-leh-ruh), and the UN says the situation may only get worse.
Millions have been left without clean water in Pakistan, as the country continues to deal with the fallout from the worst flooding in more than a century.
The UN has reported the first case of cholera and is warning of other imminent waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis A and E.
Aid agencies are distributing safe drinking water to some flooded areas in the northwest, and are working to educate people about the dangers.
[Thomas Batardy, Water & Sanitation Engineer]:
"People are swimming in floodwater, water that's picked up all the dirt and germs that were in the ground and in places where sanitation standards were lacking, people are bathing in contaminated water. Obviously that carries a health risk for the people."
On Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the role the United Nations would play.
[Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General]:
"We are all deeply concerned about diarrhea and other waterborne diseases. All our combined medical capacity will be needed to combine the right drugs and care. The United Nations will also distribute clean water for at least six million people."
The UN says only a quarter of the $459 million of aid needed for initial relief has arrived in the country, already one of the poorest in Asia.
Millions have been left without clean water in Pakistan, as the country continues to deal with the fallout from the worst flooding in more than a century.
The UN has reported the first case of cholera and is warning of other imminent waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis A and E.
Aid agencies are distributing safe drinking water to some flooded areas in the northwest, and are working to educate people about the dangers.
[Thomas Batardy, Water & Sanitation Engineer]:
"People are swimming in floodwater, water that's picked up all the dirt and germs that were in the ground and in places where sanitation standards were lacking, people are bathing in contaminated water. Obviously that carries a health risk for the people."
On Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the role the United Nations would play.
[Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General]:
"We are all deeply concerned about diarrhea and other waterborne diseases. All our combined medical capacity will be needed to combine the right drugs and care. The United Nations will also distribute clean water for at least six million people."
The UN says only a quarter of the $459 million of aid needed for initial relief has arrived in the country, already one of the poorest in Asia.