Yeah, it's that bad.
From UN Dispatch:
The flooding just keeps getting worse and worse. On Saturday, the UN estimated that 4 million people were affected by the flooding in Pakistan. By Sunday they revised that estimate to 6 million people. Today, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that over 13 million people are affected.
It is no wonder that a UN officials are saying this is bigger than the 2004 tsunami. In fact, that would make it bigger than the combined number of people affected by the Tsunami, Haiti earthquake and 2005 Kashmir eartquake...combined.
More from the link above:
'Our assessment is based on figures provided by the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) - 13.8 million affected - that is more than the people affected in the tsunami. The people affected by the tsunami were five million,' he said in a telephone interview. 'Out of 13.8 million, not all are severely affected but most of them are.'
The floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains submerged villages, washed away bridges and killed over 1,600 people in the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa last week.
HuffPo front page?
Boobs, fluff, etc.
No mention of the "Worst Humanitarian Disaster In Recent History".
WaPo front page?
"On the stump: Clinton vs. Obama"
No mention of the "Worst Humanitarian Disaster In Recent History".
NY Times front page?
Well, I read the Global Edition, so I found this tiny link toward the bottom of the front page:
(to the NYT's credit, a Times Cast video was put up while I was writing this diary)
For the past 10 days, the only diaries to mention this story were two eKos Earthships (and a rec'ed diary Saturday, I remembered, but it was not tagged thoroughly).
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I am really at a loss for words.
Only 2 come to mind:
Please Help!
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MSF in Pakistan info:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org...
DONATE
The Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/
DONATE
Finally, this news comes as I've been deep into reading Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson. His organization does wonderful work in this part of the world. They are not a relief agency, but they have done wonders in helping communities come together behind a common cause.
They could always use support for the wonderful work they do.
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h/t Dave Roberts for pointing out how thoroughly ignored this story has been.
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My previous diary about the floods HERE.
At the time 800 dead, 1 million affected was enough to put it (briefly) on the rec list.
Thanks to all who helped then, and help now.
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Teensy Update by LaughingPlanet on Mon Aug 09, 2010 at 9:28 PM PDT:
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As predicted in a comment below, the right wing can't help itself on this story. I've actually had 3 comments to my Facebook post to this diary; all 3 are by conservative "friends."
The other two are actually germane and somewhat amusing, but the 3rd is what I know most wingers and thinking even if they don't have the gall to type or say it aloud:
Its pakistan, maybe it will flood Al Quida out and we can find that old bastard with an oxygen tank finally!!!
Tame compared to anything you might dredge up from Red State, I know.
I miss The Red Pen.
