Risk of disease spreads as Pakistan flooding continues

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 14:43
  • Length: 5:43 minutes (5.24 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Today the UN warned that 3.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk for water-borne diseases in the coming days as flood waters continue to wreak havoc throughout the country. The World Health Organization is asking the Pakistani government to investigate a reported case of cholera over the weekend and a UN official said a "second wave" of deaths could be approaching. Aid agencies are struggling to reach people cut off by harsh weather in order to distribute critical food, water and medical services - to the more than two million who are now homeless. Pakistan's government estimates that 20 million, or one in ten Pakistanis, are affected by the disaster.

For more details, we're joined by Sonia Walia, regional coordinator for Asia at the International Medical Corps, an international humanitarian organization. She's directing relief efforts in Pakistan and joins us from Washington DC.

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