Flood-ravaged Pakistan cancels independence day eventsBy the CNN Wire Staff
August 14, 2010 -- Updated 0918 GMT (1718 HKT)
No end in sight to Pakistan floods
Officials fear hundreds of thousands could be stranded
Many residents are ignoring warnings to evacuate the area
More flooding is expected this weekend, Pakistani officials say
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan canceled independence day celebrations Saturday as a second wave of floods continued to put millions in peril, the nation's prime minister said.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said the devastating floods had affected 20 million people, a figure much larger than officials had given earlier.
Gilani said some religious events connected to Ramadan were also canceled.
"In solidarity with the flood victims, all independence day celebrations have been canceled and moreover, all Iftar dinner events and celebration of eid by government ministries have been canceled so that these resources can be utilized in the affected areas," Gilani said.
A second wave of floodwater is expected to wash through southern Pakistan this weekend, adding hundreds of thousands of people to the number already stranded by a first wave earlier this month, Pakistani officials said.
At least 1,392 people have died and 1,985 more have been injured by flooding that has damaged or destroyed 8,300 Pakistani villages so far, according to Ahmed Kamal, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority.
The United Nations said it was racing against time to reach the suffering.
"Relief supplies must reach women, men and children as soon as possible, in order to avoid further death caused by waterborne diseases and food shortages," said Martin Mogwanja, the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan.
"The death toll has so far been relatively low compared with other major natural disasters, and we want to keep it that way," he said.
Pakistan emergency officials predicted the second wave could reach Sukkar on Saturday evening.
Hundreds of thousands of people living along the Indus River in northern Sindh could be stranded, along with the tens of thousands stranded by the first wave, said Lt. Cmdr. Jawad Khawaja of the Pakistani navy.
Many residents have ignored government warnings to evacuate the area, causing a big concern, Khawaja said.
It estimated that 875,562 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
