Flooding Easing Around South Asia by Delia Cruceru

Floods started to become usual in South Asia after the monsoons season started in June. Millions of people from the region had to leave their houses, at least 289 people were killed last week, officials said. Since the season started only in India 1200 people were killed, 14 million people from there and 5 million from Bangladesh were displaced by flooding, Regional authorities are fighting now with waterborne diseases that lead to bacterial diseases that can cause acute respiratory infections, dysentery, rashes, fevers and a host of other illnesses. The severe weather stroked northern and central China, the United Kingdom and the United States, but medical experts say that Southern Asia faces the most deadly health risks from severe weather because of the lack of sewer systems, poor access to drinking water and the massive number of people who live in low-lying areas along rivers. "Water, basic hygiene and sanitation is an apocalyptic issue in South Asia," said Marzio Babille, chief of health for the U.N. agency for children, UNICEF. "There has been some progress. But it's way too little to cope with the enormous pressure of environmental factors and climate change that is needed." Authorities started to distribute health kits, food and emergency supplies with the help of the Indian air force, two helicopters being used for rescue and relief efforts.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070805/ap_on_re_as/south_asia_monsoon_floods;_ylt=Apr_xc2uHEMMEq26anodgkWs0NUE

by Delia Cruceru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.