Should Pakistan pray for rain this year?

Published June 29, 2011
Mai Hajra Maluk, 90, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, begs for relief while sitting outside her tent at a camp in Sukkur, located in Pakistan's Sindh province.
Mai Hajra Maluk, 90, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, begs for relief while sitting outside her tent at a camp in Sukkur, located in Pakistan's Sindh province.
Children displaced by heavy flooding a year ago bathe outside their family tent along a road in Sukkur.
Children displaced by heavy flooding a year ago bathe outside their family tent along a road in Sukkur.
A girl displaced by heavy flooding a year ago carries her sibling as she walks past her family tent along a roadside in Nowshera.
A girl displaced by heavy flooding a year ago carries her sibling as she walks past her family tent along a roadside in Nowshera.
Children displaced by heavy flooding a year ago, read the holy Quran at a mosque with flood water stain marks on the wall in Karampur, about 70 km (43 miles) from Sukkur.
Children displaced by heavy flooding a year ago, read the holy Quran at a mosque with flood water stain marks on the wall in Karampur, about 70 km (43 miles) from Sukkur.
A laborer levels stones while working to repair a portion of the Tori Band (embankment), where two main breaches were accrued due to last year's heavy flooding, in Kashmore about 140km (87 miles) from Sukkur.
A laborer levels stones while working to repair a portion of the Tori Band (embankment), where two main breaches were accrued due to last year's heavy flooding, in Kashmore about 140km (87 miles) from Sukkur.
Ghulam Shabbir, 30, a labourer who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, works in a brick factory in Karampur, about 70 km (43 miles) from Sukkur.
Ghulam Shabbir, 30, a labourer who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, works in a brick factory in Karampur, about 70 km (43 miles) from Sukkur.
A labourer carries a pan on his head as he walks past a water gauge pillar while working to repair a portion of the Aliwan Band embankment in Sukkur.
A labourer carries a pan on his head as he walks past a water gauge pillar while working to repair a portion of the Aliwan Band embankment in Sukkur.
A woman, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, carries water canisters on her head which she filled from a nearby hand pump while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along the road in Sukkur.
A woman, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, carries water canisters on her head which she filled from a nearby hand pump while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along the road in Sukkur.
Imam Din, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, stands outside of his tent while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along a road in Sukkur.
Imam Din, who has been displaced by heavy floods for a year, stands outside of his tent while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along a road in Sukkur.
Siblings displaced by heavy floods for a year stand outside their family tent while taking refuge in a camp along a road in Sukkur.
Siblings displaced by heavy floods for a year stand outside their family tent while taking refuge in a camp along a road in Sukkur.
Girls, who have been displaced by heavy floods for a year, carry water containers on their heads which they filled from a nearby hand pump while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along the road in Sukkur.
Girls, who have been displaced by heavy floods for a year, carry water containers on their heads which they filled from a nearby hand pump while taking refuge in a makeshift camp along the road in Sukkur.
A newspaper seller rides his bike through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore on June 29, 2011.
A newspaper seller rides his bike through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore on June 29, 2011.
Men ride on a horse-cart through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore.
Men ride on a horse-cart through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore.
A man pushes his cart through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore.
A man pushes his cart through flooded streets after heavy monsoon rain in Lahore.

Pakistan warned that floods triggered by monsoon rains could affect millions more people this year, but claimed it was better prepared after a massive humanitarian crisis in 2010. Monsoon-triggered floods in 2010 affected up to 21 million people and killed an estimated 1,750 people, causing an estimated 10 billion USD in losses and hammering the already depressed economy.

Up to five million people in Pakistan are at risk from floods this year, partly due to poor reconstruction and the inadequate rehabilitation of survivors who are still reeling from last year's epic deluge, the United Nations said. - Photos by agencies

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