- UN: Pakistan flood misery exceeds tsunami, Haiti
The death toll in each of those three disasters was much higher than the 1,500 people killed so far in the floods that first hit Pakistan two weeks ago. But the U.N. estimates that 13.8 million people have been affected — over 2 million more than the other disasters combined.
The comparison helps frame the scale of the crisis, which the prime minister said Monday was the worst in Pakistan's history. It has overwhelmed the government, generating widespread anger from flood victims who have complained that aid is not reaching them quickly enough or at all.
"The number of people affected by the floods is greater than the other three disasters combined," Maurizio Giuliano, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told The Associated Press.
A person is considered affected by the floods if he or she will need some form of assistance to recover, either short-term humanitarian aid or longer-term reconstruction help, said Giuliano.
The total number of people affected in the three other disasters was about 11 million — 5 million in the tsunami and 3 million in each of the earthquakes — said Giuliano.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Monday that the floods were a bigger crisis than the 2005 Kashmir earthquake that killed nearly 80,000 people and the army's operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley last spring that drove more than 2 million people from their homes.
"The magnitude of the tragedy is so immense that it is hard to assess," said Gilani during a visit to the central Pakistani city of Multan.
Many of the people affected by the floods, which were caused by extremely heavy monsoon rains, were in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Rescue workers have been unable to reach up to 600,000 people marooned in the province's Swat Valley, where many residents were still trying to recover from last year's fight with the Taliban, said Giuliano. Bad weather has prevented helicopters from flying to the area, which is inaccessible by ground, he said.
"All these people are in very serious need of assistance, and we are highly concerned about their situation," said Giuliano.
Hundreds of thousands of people have also had to flee rising floodwaters in recent days in the central and southern provinces of Punjab and Sindh as heavy rains have continued to pound parts of the country.
One affected resident, Manzoor Ahmed, said Monday that although he managed to escape floods that submerged villages and destroyed homes in Sindh, the total lack of government help meant dying may have been a better alternative.
"It would have been better if we had died in the floods as our current miserable life is much more painful," said Ahmed, who fled with his family from the town of Shikarpur and spent the night shivering in the rain that has continued to lash the country.
"It is very painful to see our people living without food and shelter," he said.
Thousands of people in the neighboring districts of Shikarpur and Sukkur camped out on roads, bridges and railway tracks — any dry ground they could find — often with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and perhaps a plastic sheet to keep off the rain.
"We were able to escape the floodwaters, but hunger may kill us," said Hora Mai, 40, sitting on a rain-soaked road in Sukkur along with hundreds of other people.
A senior government official in Sukkur, Inamullah Dhareejo, said authorities were working to set up relief camps in the district and deliver food to flood victims.
But an Associated Press reporter who traveled widely through the worst-hit areas in Sindh over the past three days saw no sign of relief camps or government assistance.
The floods hit the country at a time when the government is already struggling with a faltering economy and a brutal war against Taliban militants that has killed thousands of people.
The U.S. and other international partners have donated tens of millions of dollars and provided relief supplies and assistance.
A faltering relief effort could open the door to hard-line Islamist groups, which have already been delivering aid in the northwest.
Associated Press Writer Ashraf Khan contributed to this report from Sukkur.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
- Meanwhile in America, BP pretends all is fine and dandy, when nothing could be further from the truth: the man-made disaster is going on, away from the public's eye, as dangerous as ever:
http://israeltruthtimes.blogspot.com/2010/08/bp-catastrophe-part-xi-whistleblower.html
- Radiation, plague, and fires: foreign embassies urgently evacuate staff from Russia
Publication time: 7 August 2010, 13:52
… Early in the morning of 7 August, the escape of foreign diplomats from Russia took epidemic proportions. It is possible that the diplomats, through the intelligence services of their countries, know something that is not yet known to the general public.
Germany officially closed its embassy and evacuated the entire staff from the doomed Russian Empire, media outlets reported. Austria, along with Poland and Canada, is evacuating almost all its staff from Russia. Foreign embassies addressed to their citizens got stuck in the country to leave Russia as soon as possible.
A Hamburg newspaper, Die Welt, reported in a clear text format that the urgent flee of German diplomats from Russia was caused by radiation approaching Moscow.
The radiation, according to the newspaper, comes from facilities for the production of atomic bombs (400 km east of Moscow) burning in Sarov. Emission of radiation in the environment continues.
…
Naturally, the evacuation affected all, without exception, embassies in Moscow, but most of them reported nothing for political reasons.
…
Americans traveling to these areas of Russia are advised to cancel the trip. US citizens … who are already inside the giant area of natural disasters, which now represents the whole Russia, are advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor staying and strenuous physical loads.
The current alert warning will remain in force until September 5, when the situation in Russia, as the US stipulates, relaxes as far as fires are concerned, because there'll be left nothing to burn. The situation would remain unpredictable regarding plague and radiation.
Foreign Ministries of Germany, Bulgaria: France, Italy and other countries also appealed to their citizens not to travel to Russia.
- Heat Wave, Smog Double Moscow's Daily Death Rate
Photo: AP
Moscow health department chief Andrei Seltsovsky said Monday the daily death rate in the city has surged from an average of 360 to 380 deaths under what he called "normal conditions." Some city morgues are overflowing with bodies.
The concentration of carbon monoxide and other pollutants in Moscow's air exceeded the safe limit by almost seven times on Saturday and Sunday. The figure moderated Monday to a range of two to three times acceptable levels.
Russia's state weather service described the heat wave affecting Moscow and other parts of the country as possibly the worst in a millennium. Daily high temperatures have reached up to 38 degrees Celsius compared to the usual summer average of 24 degrees.
Health experts said the combined effect of smog and heat poses a danger to people with heart and lung problems and risks aggravating other health conditions.
Muscovites were leaving the city in record numbers. Aviation officials said more than 104,000 passengers left Moscow's three major airports on Sunday. Travel agents said package tours for vacation spots popular with Russians, such as Egypt and Turkey, were sold out.
Forest and peat bog fires near Moscow have covered the city with a yellowish smoke that residents find almost impossible to escape. Thousands of Russian firefighters have been fighting hundreds of wildfires nationwide. The blazes have killed at least 52 people.
Forecasters said they do not expect temperatures to moderate until next week.
Last item thanks to CH.
And Christopher sent a link to this great MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FIRES ( see Comments section)
- ... And don't forget the effect on FOOD staples: expect widespread HUNGER as a result:
Crop outlook worsens in drought-hit Black Sea region
Drought-devastated Russia could extend a grain export ban into next year and may cut its 2010 beet sugar output, reflecting the dimming prospects for crops in the scorched Black Sea bread basket region.
Russia, the world's No. 3 wheat producer in 2009/10, said last week it would halt grain exports until the end of 2010 as the country's worst heatwave on record destroyed vast tracts of wheat and barley crops.
But Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday the export ban may be extended into 2011, warning the fall in this year's crop could be worse than expected."If someone is waiting for December 31, he is waiting in vain," Putin told a government meeting. "A decision may be taken only after the harvesting campaign results are clear."
Firefighters are still battling wildfires covering 1,740 square km (672 sq miles) in what the state weather forecaster said was Russia's worst heat wave for a millennium.
The drought and the wildfires have sent wheat prices soaring, and the grain export ban is likely to squeeze supplies and lead to a scramble for grains from other producers like Australia.
Wheat prices fell on Monday before retracing to remain within striking distance of last week's two-year highs.
Analysts SovEcon estimated on Monday that Russia's wheat crop could fall by nearly a third to 43.5 million tonnes. This is well below the consensus in a Reuters snap poll on August 5 of 46.5 million tonnes and is likely to take a big chunk out of the global wheat crop in the new 2010/11 season.
Wheat exports in 2010/11 may be around 3 million tonnes, SovEcon forecast, plunging from the 18 million tonnes the International Grains Council estimate were shipped in 2009/10.
In neighbouring Ukraine, the world's sixth-largest wheat exporter in the 2009/10 season, bad weather has also forced analysts and officials to cut crop and export forecasts.
A senior Ukrainian Farm Ministry official said this year's wheat harvest could fall to about 17 million tonnes, below the consensus in a Reuters poll last week of 18.1 million and down from 20.9 million in 2009.
Grain exports from Ukraine are also facing delays after the introduction of a new system of customs controls last week.
CONTRACTS CANCELLED
The ban in Russia has already forced some exporters to cancel major contracts of Black Sea wheat to Bangladesh.
"We see more deals being cancelled as nothing can be done about it," said one Singapore-based trading manager. "People have no choice but to go for Australian wheat as the U.S. is still more expensive due to higher freight costs."
The drought could also force Russia to cut beet sugar output to 3.2-3.5 million tonnes from an earlier expected record 4 million, Andrei Bodin, chairman of lobby group the Russian Sugar Producers' Union, told Reuters Insider in an interview.
Russia is a net importer of sugar, although it has bought less in recent years, as increased domestic production and variable import tariffs pushed it down to the world's number three sugar buyer from the top spot.
(Writing by Nigel Hunt; editing by Sue Thoma. Reuters)
While on the other hand...
- Get Rich Investing in Israel!
Israel has done a terrific job in navigating its economy through the Great Recession -- and is poised to capitalize big-time on the looming wipeout of the Euro. As the European economies topple like dominoes, the most stable and prosperous nations in the Middle East offer incredible profit opportunities.
Companies like Prolor and Radware, that nearly TRIPLE your money in a matter of months, are not all that unusual in Israel.
Prior to the 2008-2009 credit crunch, Israel's GDP had been growing an average of 5% for the past few years. And while the U.S. economy contracted -2.4% in 2009 and the EU contracted -4.0%, Israel's economy actually grew slightly.
Israel's secret?
First, unlike its U.S. and European counterparts, Israeli banks have always maintained strict lending standards, thereby sidestepping the global subprime mortgage crisis.
Second, personal consumption has stayed remarkably steady, thanks to a high savings rate. Israelis have the cash to invest in the still-expanding real estate market -- and their economy has not been devastated by the collapse of real estate prices, as is the case in most countries.
Third, the Israeli shekel also has been one of the strongest currencies in the world over recent years -- and will likely remain so as the Euro continues to depreciate.
What's more, Israel has finally turned its back on its East European socialist origins and embraced the free market with gusto. In fact, with more than 100 listed companies, Israel has overtaken Canada as the foreign country with the most stocks on the Nasdaq.
Finally, Israel is a hotbed for the global technology sector with more Ph.D.s per capita than almost any other nation. Intel has invested over $5 billion in the country. And hot on Intel's heels are Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, Motorola and Cisco. What attracts these tech giants from California's Silicon Valley to this tiny nation of 6 million? Israel's entrepreneurial spirit and cutting-edge inventiveness.
CONCLUSION:
The way I understand the meaning of Gog and Magog now, with facts on hand:
Israel will have a GAG ( same root as Gog), a roof over its head, while the nations that try to destroy Israel will end up as Magog, will MITMOGEG, melt away, literally dissolve, - witness mudslides, floods, fires, chemical poisoning, radiation, parched earth, etc.
COMMENTS:
David writes:
http://www.global-report.com/ goodnews/a451-הפשטונים-הם- שבטי-ישראל-האבודים
What I do NOT like is the fact that those Pashtuns hurt there are actually Bnei-Israel.
See:
http://www.global-report.com/
I was thinking the same thing, that is why I highlighted the word Pashtun in my text, and added a map showing exactly where they are located, did you notice?
Also the picture of the old man I put here: take a good look: he does have the face of an old Jew, but with the expression of an Arab, or some not so good Jew.
They have such Jewish faces, amazing. Thank you. I am just wondering how to reconcile the two facts: God's wrath upon the region, with these Anusim. Do they make up a large part of the Taliban? What can we do to help them?
And what are we supposed to make of it? The fact is, this is an act of God, not an act of man. So?....Maybe it is time for those Bnei-Yisrael to wake up too, isn't it?
See what Aryeh has to say about this post:
The point is not for the Goyim to learn, it is for the Jews to learn. The Goyim deserve much, much more than they are getting but to punish them in full would destroy the world. The real point to punishing them is to wake up the Jews.
Jack says:
It is the map of Russia showing where the fires are that blows me away. I had no idea. It’s like half of Russia on fire and most of Ukraine. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ dr8MGVv2_rI/TGCoOgQFrRI/ AAAAAAAADjY/yKS6oko7S8w/s1600/ russiafires.jpg There are also a lot of fires in Turkey but the fires stop at the Caucasus. Georgia is unaffected so far. How stunning!
UPDATE:
I found THIS:
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1396.htm
Jack writes:
ReplyDeleteIt is the map of Russia showing where the fires are that blows me away. I had no idea. It’s like half of Russia on fire and most of Ukraine. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dr8MGVv2_rI/TGCoOgQFrRI/AAAAAAAADjY/yKS6oko7S8w/s1600/russiafires.jpg There are also a lot of fires in Turkey but the fires stop at the Caucasus. Georgia is unaffected so far. How stunning!
Aryeh says;
ReplyDeleteThe point is not for the Goyim to learn, it is for the Jews to learn. The Goyim deserve much, much more than they are getting but to punish them in full would destroy the world. The real point to punishing them is to wake up the Jews.
its really interesting the pashtuns pakhtuns people today are all Muslims but they were Israelite before Islam came to them even thought they are fundamental Muslims
Deletethey still have similar tribe names for example shinwari=simeon levyani=levi daftali= Naphtali gadon=gad ashury= asher isaaczai= iassachar zabul=zebulun yusuzai=joseph benyamin=benjamin
they are indeed israelites i do not doubt at all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWhiSp0F50&index=14&list=PLPBwTvrsiOUNXhR3OR3zCaLUy2dVwcuSp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2dYW_P5Kg&index=13&list=PLPBwTvrsiOUNXhR3OR3zCaLUy2dVwcuSp
Joel writes:
ReplyDeleteYou are on the target, though a bit premature for the judgment on Russia. Ezekiel is clear that Russia will lead an enormous coalition against Israel. They will invade the Land, but get no farther than northern Israel. The God of heaven, not the IDF, will stop them there with supernatural intervention from the heavens: gigantic hail stones, floods, disease and fire. Only 1/6 of the invasion force will survive.gigantic hail stones, floods, disease and fire. Only 1/6 of the invasion force will survive. Ezekiel only tells us that their home countries will be battered, but to what extent we can only surmise [...]. What we're witnessing now are mild harbingers of what is coming.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/87/b1/64/87b16424ba1b97b651e6d2716b872315.jpg
ReplyDeleteAbout the pashtunwali
The code of honor of the Pashtun people, known as the “Pashtunwali,” is a set of rules and laws to live which includes many similarities to the holy Jewish Torah, the book of the lost tribes (Bnei Israel). Since my native language is Hebrew, I’d like to take the opportunity to prove this argument from the book by comparing it to the Pashtunwali:
Melmastia (hospitality) one of the most important rules of the Pashtunwali, is to be hospitable to every person who comes to your home. At the beginning of the Torah there is a story about 3 foreigners coming to Abraham’s house. Within a few minutes, he is letting them in, serving them with cakes, butter, milk and meat [Genesis (“Bereshit”), 10: 1-8].
Badal (revenge) principle of honor, to revenge. In the Torah, there is a privilege to revenge the death of a person by his family [Deuteronomy (“Dvarim”), chapter 19: 2], under the rule of “eye under eye” – if a person killed your animal, you’re allowed to kill his animal, and so on [Leviticus (“Vayikra”), 24: 17-20]. In other Bibles and traditions we find similar stories [For example, book “Shmuel”].
Nanawatei (asylum) a person may seek a refuge and shelter against his enemy. The Torah lists 6 refuge cities in case a person killed someone and needs protection [Numbers (BaMidbar), 35+ Deuteronomy 19].
Turah (bravery) the protection over the land and family. We see in the Torah that a man must defend his tribe, and not only that but to make sure that his kids are married with partners from the same tribe. A special position is mentioned for widows, in which the man has to protect her [Deuteronomy 25:. 5-10].
Sabat (loyalty) to your tribe and family. In the Torah we find the loyalty mostly for God in the Ten Commandments which refers to being loyal to God by keeping the Sabbath [Exodus (Shmot), 20:8].
Lmandari (righteousness) – behaving in a respectful and decent way. The Torah’s Commandments describe it as “not commit adultery/false witness against neighbor/not covet/not steal/not murder/and etc [Ibid, 20: 2-14].
Isteqamat (Believe/trust in God) in Torah – “I am God.. no other gods before me”[Ibid, 20: 2].
Ghayrat (courage) demonstration of respect. Yaakov’s daughter, Dina, is being raped in the Torah by a foreigner. Her brothers, Shimon (Shinwari) and Levi, in response, murder not only the rapist but his father and all of his town’s residents [Genesis, 34].
Naamus (woman’s respect) the Torah refers to the woman as a mom “Honor your mother” (Commandments) and obligates a man to provide his wife food, cloth and intercourse [Numbers, 35: 10] in the case of a man raping a girl, he must marry her in order to protect her honor and pay her father compensation [Deuteronomy, 22: 28-29].
Nang – “defend the weak” – this is a key rule in the Torah: the widow and orphan are most vulnerable and the protection over them must be taken under consideration [Exodus, 22: 20-23, as well Deuteronomy 14: 28-29, 17: 9-14 and 14: 17