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Pakistan businesses suffer in flooding

2011-09-23 89 Dailymotion

Residents of this flood-ravaged village in Pakistan's Sindh Province struggle to carry on with their day to day lives.
But many people have left the village, farmers have lost their livestock, and crops such as chilli and onions have been spoiled.
Shops are shut, and those that stayed open have seen a drastic drop in business.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SHOPKEEPER LIAQUAT ALI:
"The rainwater had seeped in, so we could not open our shops. Most people have left the village because of the rain, so we have very few customers. Our business has dwindled down to 2 or 3 percent of our normal business. Nobody comes to the shops. We are suffering huge losses."
But with monsoon season nearing its end, people hope the ordeal will soon be over.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) RESIDENT MOHAMMAD SHAHID:
"The water has receded somewhat. Hopefully it will dry out within a few days and life can return to normal, and those who have left the village can return home."
The floods, caused by heavy monsoon rains, have displaced more than 300,000 people and destroyed or damaged nearly two million acres of land in Sindh Province.
Despite all the losses, some experts see a silver lining in the disaster, saying the rains could lead to a bumper harvest next year.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.