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A Slough aid worker reports from the Pakistan floods

11 August 2010 01:08 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Slough man has been working in Islamabad in Pakistan for the past week to help people affected by devastating floods in the region, APA reports quoting BBC News.
It is believed almost 14 million people have been affected by the worst flooding in 80 years.
James Boakes works for the charity Action Aid, and says that he has been faced with "biblical scenes" as people move from flood stricken areas.
"Pakistan’s seen nothing like it in its history," he said.
"You’re seeing this mass movement of people. They are fleeing the flooding, seeking to get to dry land or shelter."
Monsoon rains
Some remote areas of Pakistan have yet to be reached by aid workers, and there are now fears that the southern province of Sindh will be the next to be swamped by the flood waters.
Mr Boakes said that his charity was providing shelter for people who had been walking for 24 to 48 hours through flood waters to reach safe camps providing aid.
"On the ground, what we have is relief centres that are providing the bare basics," he said. "That’s shelter, food, quite often raw food allowing people to cook up their own traditional meals.
"Also crucially, we provide access to doctors and medicine."
Mr Boakes said that the situation on the ground in Pakistan continued to change.
"It’s very much a moving situation," he said.
"You’ll be aware that the flooding down the River Indus is affecting the Sindh province in the South.
"The monsoon rains continue to fall across the country."
Mr Boakes said that parts of northern Pakistan, such as the mountainous region of the Swat Valley, were completely cut off.
"You’re talking about a region the size of England that’s been flooded," he said.
"Resources absolutely are stretched."