Month: September 2022

Pakistan’s alarming flood situation pose a risk of hunger and disease for hundreds and thousands of flood-affected people left scrambling for shelter and aid after the devastating rains in the country.

660,120 have reported various illnesses at government-run medical camps in flood-affected areas since July, Dawn newspaper reported citing the July-September data.
According to government data, skin ailments and diarrhoeal diseases are rampant in flood-affected areas — a total of 149,551 reported with diarrheal diseases while 142,739 people reported with skin infections.

A total of 132,485 cases of acute respiratory disease, 49,420 cases of suspected malaria, 101 cases of snake-bite and 550 cases of dog-bite, the Pakistani newspaper added.

Dawn’s report said there were 185,274 cases of other illnesses.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) today said that over 1290 lives lost and 12,500 people injured. Over 33 million affected, including over 6.4 million in dire need of humanitarian aid. Almost 634,000 displaced people living in camps.

Over 1460 health facilities affected, of which 432 are fully damaged and 1028 are partially damaged. Access to health care facilities, health care workers and essential medicines and medical supplies is limited.

Ongoing outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea, typhoid, measles, leishmaniasis and polio are at risk of being further exacerbated.

Increased transmission of malaria remains a threat and many cases are already presenting to clinics in the flood-affected areas.

Early disease surveillance indicates that tens of thousands have been identified as patients affected by diarrhoea, malaria, acute respiratory infections, skin and eye infections, typhoid and others.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said they are following closely and with deep concern the humanitarian crisis currently facing the people of Pakistan as a result of devastating monsoon floods.

“The current scale of damage and destruction due to the floods is like none seen before in Pakistan – a result of long-term global climate change leading to more severe weather conditions,” said Al-Mandhari.

He said tens of millions of people are now forced to use unsafe water, both to drink and for their daily needs; they are also exposed to the elements due to flood damage and destruction of their homes, and many are displaced.

“This has resulted in increased exposure to diseases already circulating in the country, including acute watery diarrhoea, malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, measles and leishmaniasis,”

he added.

According to WHO, early disease surveillance reports are already showing an increase in cases of diarrhoea, malaria and typhoid. Other diseases in the country, such as polio and COVID-19, are also at increased risk of spreading if the situation is not rapidly contained. (ANI)

“Arshdeep Singh an inspiration for youth”: Punjab Sports Minister speaks to pacer’s mother

Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Monday spoke to the mother of Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is currently representing the Indian team at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in UAE.

The 23-year-old Indian pacer is under pressure for dropping an important catch in the 18th over of Pakistan’s innings against India in the Super Four phase clash while the former were chasing 182 runs. Singh had dropped Asif Ali, who took full advantage of the lifeline given to him as Pakistan hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 19 runs in the next over. Arshdeep Singh was given the chance to bowl in the final over defending seven runs, but was unsuccessful.
Though Singh returned with good bowling figures of 1/27 in 3.5 overs, his dropped catch caused immense anger among fans, many of whom took to social media to troll and abuse the young pacer.

Minister Meet Hayer said to the pacer’s mother Baljit Kaur over the phone that he will “personally welcome” the pacer on his return to the country and the entire state of Punjab and the country are with Arshdeep.

“Arshdeep is a talented player of our country and the team’s captain turns to him when it comes to bowling on important occasions. Arshdeep is a source of inspiration for the youth,” he said.

“Victory or defeat is given in game. @arshdeepsinghh is upcoming star who carved out niche in a short span. Performed excellent against Pakistan. Regressive psyche to troll him on drop of just a catch. Arshdeep is future of nation. Inspiration for youth. Hate has no place in sports,” tweeted the minister.

Coming to the match, put to bat first by Pakistan, India put on 181/7 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli registered his second consecutive half-century of the tournament, hitting a solid 60 off 44 balls. Captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul also hit quickfire 28 runs each and registered an explosive 54-run opening stand.

Spinner Shadab Khan registered the best bowling figures for Pakistan, taking 2/31. Pacers Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf took a wicket each. Mohammad Nawaz also got a wicket.

Chasing 182, Pakistan lost skipper Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman for cheap. But Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz put on a 73-run stand to keep their team alive in the game. After Nawaz’s dismissal for 42 off 20 balls and Rizwan’s dismissal for 71 off 51 balls, Team India revived their chances in the game.

But Khusdil Shah (14*) and Asif Ali (16) posted vital contributions to take their side across the finishing line with one ball to spare by a margin of five wickets.

Ravi Bishnoi (1/26) and Arshdeep Singh (1/27) were the pick of bowlers for India. Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal also took a wicket each.

Nawaz won the ‘Man of the Match’ award for his all-round performance of 42 runs and 1/25.(ANI)

Pakistanis who are fleeing rising inflation and unemployment in the country are crossing borders through illegal means as a result of which they often fall prey to the smugglers who kidnap them for ransom, media reports said.

According to the Pakistan local media outlet, The Nation, the country is going through a double whammy — the rising inflation and unemployment which has become a serious cause of concern as it is ending up in the surge of human traffickers who tries to exploit their poverty.
As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. These needy and desperate Pakistanis are willing to take any risk in search of a better life. They resort to risky ways of exiting the country when they are unable to access legal channels of migration.

The transnational smugglers take huge ransoms from these illegal migrants. Sometimes it cost the people their lives with transnational smugglers squeezing them to pay more than Rs 500,000.

To evade these dire situations, sometimes these people trek through mountainous terrains and no-man’s-lands. Most of these young men endure gruelling journeys to the ‘promised land’ of Europe, grasping for an economic lifeline as jobs dry up in their country.

But theirs is a failed journey, often result in more suffering as gangs lurk in darkness for potential victims. While many are nabbed at the borders of Iran and Turkey – which have become transit countries for illegal migrants – and deported to Pakistan, others walk themselves into death after authorities in Greece use disproportionate force to push them back toward Turkey.

Greek security forces on the border with Turkey are also using dangerous green lasers to deter migrants and refugees from crossing. Once detected by the radars, many refugees are thrown into panic and lose their life in their vain attempts to escape.

Sources privy to the surging murky business of human trafficking told The Express Tribune that many greedy agents in Punjab’s districts such as Wazirabad, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Lala Musa and Jhelum are sending many innocent people, who are unaware of the dangers of the routes, to European countries via Iran and Turkey.

Many of these smugglers work in cahoots with networks based in Turkey and Iran.

As if this was not enough, many of these young men, broke and desperate, fall into the hands of gangs in Istanbul who take advantage of the undocumented status of the migrants and kidnap them for ransom.

Already impoverished, many of these broken families have no option but to pay a hefty sum to send their sons abroad through these illegal channels to lift them out of the thicket of poverty.

As for those who are caught at the Turkish border and sent back, face the music back home at the hands of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In this regard, the FIA officials said that actions are being taken against those who send them illegally to foreign countries and they are also being punished by the courts.

“People have lost their family’s savings by naively falling for the dreams sold by agents,” an FIA official lamented, adding that instead of going to foreign countries via illegal means, people should learn skills for a better and bright future. (ANI)

Barbadian singer and songwriter Rihanna recently did her part to help staffers at Michelin-starred restaurant Caviar Russe.

According to Page Six, Rihanna helped to tidy up the restaurant after she and a group of friends asked the crew to stay open past closing so that they could enjoy a few late-night bites.
The new mother was dressed comfortably in baggy jeans, an oversized No Limit Records jersey, a pair of lace-up pointy-toe heels a Tiffany and Co. jewellery for the New York City outing.

A source told Page Six that the beauty arrived at the caviar bar with a group of six girlfriends who enjoyed caviar, in addition to champagne and sashimi bites until 2 am.

As they wrapped up the evening, the ‘Needed Me’ singer was, “seen helping the waitstaff clean up and push the bar stools back into place since she stayed so late.”

Lately, Rihanna has been hitting New York streets quite a bit. She often goes for date nights with boyfriend A$AP Rocky, a Harlem native with whom the ‘Fenty Beauty’ founder shares her only son, born in May.

The couple was spotted last week at Richie Akiva’s new members-only hotspot, The Ned, where a source told Page Six that they appeared “chill and definitely happy. She looked amazing.”

As per Page Six, the billionaire stunned in an emerald green leather miniskirt and matching silky shirt, which she unbuttoned low enough to show off her lace black bra. However, the previous night, the star wore a more comfortable ‘fit, rocking a vintage TLC football jersey and sneakers. (ANI)