PAKISTAN FLOODS: Victims of Pakistan’s floods are queuing to get medical treatment as doctors complain of a shortage of medical supplies to treat a rising number of patients. Monsoon floods have receded in some areas but aid agencies fear disease, food shortages and malnutrition may create new crises as people head back to their shattered towns and villages and try to rebuild their homes and lives. Here is a factbox on some of the emerging health problems. On Monday, influential U.S. Senator John Kerry said Pakistan urgently needed more international aid to combat potential instability and extremism. He said the international community was not meeting its responsibilities towards Pakistan.
NORTH KOREA: South Korea has offered 10 billion won ($8.4 million) in aid to North Korea after heavy rains in July and August in its northern and eastern provinces forced thousands from their homes and put farmland under water. The offer comes despite a new round of U.S. sanctions against Pyongyang. It is South Korea’s first large-scale offer of humanitarian aid to the North since the sinking of one of its warships in March. Seoul cut off most of its ties with Pyongyang after accusing the North of torpedoing the Cheonan corvette and demanded an apology. North Korea says it did not carry out the attack.
INDONESIA VOLCANO: Thousands of villagers who were evacuated when a volcano erupted for the first time in 400 years have begun returning home, but officials say it’s uncertain whether the threat from the volcano has passed. Mount Sinabung, in North Sumatra, erupted on Sunday and again on Monday, sending plumes of dark grey smoke and volcanic ash up to 2 km (1.5 miles) into the air. Around 30,000 people were evacuated from nearby villages, but many were heading home on Tuesday. Some were going back to check on crops.
IRAQ: Iraq’s prime minister says the country has won sovereignty and stands as an equal to the United States after the U.S. military formally ended combat operations on Tuesday, despite political deadlock and violence. The six remaining U.S. military brigades will turn their focus to training and advising Iraqi police and troops as Iraq takes on responsibility for its own destiny ahead of a full withdrawal of U.S. forces by the end of next year.
ETHIOPIA FLOODS: More than a quarter of a million Ethiopians are at risk from severe flooding next month when heavy rain is expected in the country, according to government estimates issued by the United Nations. A contingency plan issued by regional authorities says $6.8 million would be needed to respond to such an emergency. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says 19 people were killed in mudslides after flooding last week and nearly 12,000 people have been displaced since then. Flooding has been reported in recent days, including in the eastern Amhara lowlands and in northern Somali Region.
OTHER INTERESTING MATERIAL ON ALERTNET
In Pakistan, waiting on an island for flood relief – Reuters
Pakistani villagers return to destruction, disease – Reuters
Red Cross using SMS to help Haiti prepare for hurricanes – IRIN
BLOG: By tomorrow at any cost – World Vision
DIARY DATES
Aug 31
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama will make a major address on Iraq
BAGHDAD – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visits Iraq
LONDON – Amnesty International will launch the report Safer to Stay Silent – The Chilling Effect of Rwanda’s Laws on
‘Genocide Ideology’ and ‘Sectarianism’
KABUL – British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visits Afghanistan and meets President Hamid Karzai
KAMPALA – Uganda’s opposition coalition expected to hold national delegates conference and elect a flag bearer to run
against President Museveni who has already announced his candidature for the for 2011 general elections
UNITED NATIONS – Mandate of UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, expires
BELGRADE – British Foreign Minister William Hague will discuss Serbia’s draft resolution on Kosovo that will be debated
in the United Nations on Sept. 9
JERUSALEM – Heads of Jewish communities around the world gather for World Jewish Congress (to Sept. 1)
Sept 1
WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expected to meet U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of launch of Mideast talks on Sept. 2
WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Central Bank Governor Yaseen Anwar due to meet World Bank President Robert Zoellick
IRAQ – United States expected to reduce troop numbers from around 85,000 to 50,000 by Sept. 1, before a complete withdrawal by the end of 2011
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