Pakistan floods
September 16, 2011
On September 18, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is expected to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the United States, where she will also be addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
She is going on behalf of Pakistani Prime Minister Raza Gilani, who "has cancelled his visit because of the floods," according to a statement by his office.
The latest floods, triggered by monsoon rains, have killed more than 200 people, destroyed or damaged 1.2 million houses and flooded 4.5 million acres (1.8 million hectares) since late last month, officials and Western aid groups say.
More than 300,000 people have been moved to shelters. Some 800,000 families hit by last year's floods are still homeless and aid groups have warned of a growing risk of fatal diseases.
Pakistani leaders were widely criticized for neglecting victims of floods last year that killed about 2,000 people and made 11 million homeless and again stand accused of moving too slowly. Last year, the military took charge of rescue and relief efforts, along with aid groups. The army is active again in the latest disaster.
Author: Manasi Gopalakrishnan (AP, Reuters)
Editor: Sarah Berning