1M More Displaced in Pakistan

Southern levee bursts, flooding new areas
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2010 10:54 AM CDT
1M More Displaced in Pakistan
Pakistani flood survivors block a highway to protest against the government for not providing adequate facilities to displaced people, outside in Thatta near Hyderabad, Pakistan on, Aug. 27, 2010.   (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

A new levee crumbled against the weight of the Indus River in Pakistan, flooding new areas in the southern Sindh province and displacing nearly 1 million more people, the AP reports. Around 175,000 people—70% of the population of the city of Thatta—are thought to have fled their homes overnight. The government is racing to repair the levee and help residents move.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Taliban made a veiled threat against foreigners who've come to help with the floods: Spokesman Azam Tariq said that aid workers had other motives besides helping the victims, but did not explain what they were. "Behind the scenes they have certain intentions, but on the face they are talking of relief and help. No relief is reaching the affected people, and when the victims are not receiving help, then this horde of foreigners is not acceptable to us at all," Tariq said, strongly hinting that the militants could resort to violence.
(More Pakistan stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X