|
Islamabad - Pakistan's military has moved more than 10 000 victims of a cyclone which hit the coastal towns of southern Balochistan province on Thursday to safer places, an official said on Saturday.
"More than 800 000 people were affected and around 80 000 displaced by the cyclone Yemyin and subsequent heavy floods in the province," military spokesperson Major General Arshad Waheed told reporters in Rawalpindi.
Severe weather hampered the airborne relief efforts over the past four days, he said, adding that the military still managed to move 5 000 people only from coastal town of Gwadar to safer places.
But the government has come under heavy criticism for its slow response to the disaster, with the local residents saying the food that has been supplied to affected areas so far was too little for tens of thousands of victims.
Hundreds of hungry people Friday rioted in the flood stricken city of Turbat and ransacked the offices of the local administration. Two were injured as the police opened fire to disperse the crowd.
"A load of around 50 000 tons has been transported to the affected areas," Waheed said, adding that several helicopters and C-130 planes would continue their relief flights on Saturday.
Twelve hundred military troops are being dispatched for the rescue and relief operation in Turbat and Pasni districts, which had more than half of their areas inundated by floodwater.
Local media says the death toll from the Yemyin cyclone has climbed to 113, though the provincial administration has put the numbers at 27.
The military spokesperson did not provide any information on the numbers killed or injured. - Sapa-DPA
|
