ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Widespread flooding across Pakistan is blamed for killing at least 900 people and has forced the country to declare an emergency.
The United Nations said the southwest Asian country has received more than five times their average rainfall and has prevented some aid from reaching the hardest hit areas.
The organization reports more than 600,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and 33 million residents have been affected.
In addition to housing, the agricultural sector has also been hit hard by the heavy rains.
Authorities estimate around 2 million acres of crops and nearly 800,000 livestock have been impacted.
Officials say the world’s fifth-most populous country relies heavily on the agricultural and farming communities for a constant source of sustenance and livelihoods.
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Pakistan typically experiences monsoon rains during July and August, but this year’s event has been significantly more severe than previous seasons.
The U.N. reports rainfall nationwide is 2.87 times higher than the national 30-year average, which has caused hundreds of miles of roads and 145 bridges to become inoperable.
More than $173 million in aid has been pledged by the Pakistani government, and the country has sought international help fending off any potential humanitarian crisis.
Aid agencies say a lack of suitable infrastructure has prevented vital services and supplies from reaching the hardest hit provinces.
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It’s estimated more than 50 percent of communities face challenges from the extreme weather.
In addition to flooding, the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that rain-induced landslides and dam failures are possible along several waterways, including the Indus River.
