EXCLUSIVE PHOTO ESSAY - Devastation in Pakistan - By Asad Zaidi

Pakistan faces an unprecedented humanitarian crises due to flash floods triggered by torrential rains that began three weeks ago. The floods have killed about 1,500 people, left approximately 20 million homeless and inundated 1.7 million acres (700,000 hectares) of wheat, sugar cane and rice crops, raising the prospect of food shortages in the coming months in the already-poor nation. The crisis could yet worsen, as authorities warn that the swollen Indus River may burst its banks again in the coming days. Freelance journalist and photographer Asad Zaidi brings to us a look at the devastation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

 

A young boy stands in front of his destroyed house that was collapsed by heavy monsoon rains in Khwas Koorona village, Union council Pir Sabaq of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

A man sifts through his belongings of his flood destroyed home in Pushtoon Garhi in Pabbi Union council of Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan  

A young boy leads his donkey as he carries belongings retrieved from his home that was collapsed by heavy monsoon rains in Khwas Koorona village, Union council Pir Sabaq of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Young girls and boys sitting in their makeshift shelter located on the roadside after having abandoned their flood-destroyed homes in Pabbi Union council of Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

A resident walks past destroyed home that was collapsed by heavy monsoon rains in Sheenky village, Union council Mirza dher of Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.  

A family walks through a flood affected street in Khwas Koorona village, Union council Pir Sabaq of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Abbas Shah (2 years old) with his father in Khwas Koorona village, Union council Pir Sabaq of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. They have lost everything when their house destroyed by heavy monsoon rains.

A young girl and her father sort out blankets salvaged from his flood-destroyed home in Pabbi Union council of Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.  

Pakistani flood affected girl waits in a crowd to receive donated food in Khwas Koorona village, Union council Pir Sabaq of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

- Source, HUM files, UN News  - Photography Asad Zaidi

Comments

[Les N.]

Great pics!