The most destructive floods in Pakistan's recorded history have affected an estimated 62,000 square miles (160,000 square kilometers) of land — about a fifth of the already poor country. Around 20 million people have had their lives disrupted, and 1,500 have been killed.
The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed authorities and led to fears of social unrest, especially given the weak and unpopular government. Hundreds of thousands are living in makeshift camps or by the side of the road, soaking up monsoon rains and surviving on handouts. Many have brought their valuable livestock with them.
The disruption in food supplies is causing price increases across the country.
Hundreds of people Monday blocked a major highway with stones and garbage near the hard-hit Sukkur area in Sindh, complaining of the slow dispersal of aid. They said government officials only handed out food when media were present.
"They are throwing packets of food to us like we are dogs," said protester Kalu Mangiani. "They are making people fight for these packets."
There are more important things out there than this moronic opposition to a religious building, like say two million people homeless, some being forced to live like feral animals and millions more literally wiped out by floods in a country where political instability was already bordering on governmental collapse...in a country with nuclear weapons.
And yet the biggest story right now is "is it appropriate to build something near where 3,000 people died".
Sometimes I have to blog so I don't put my fist through things in sheer frustration.
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