They have caused billions of dollars of damage to the economy and more than 1,300 deaths.
Now, the Pakistan floods have led to more misery after washing away an Afghan refugee camp in a remote north-western province.
The grim situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has left the camp's inhabitants at the mercy of the elements, living under open sky without government support as winter closes in. Night-time temperatures in northern Pakistan drop sharply in November.
We were looking to the sky, crying for food like birds waiting for their mother to bring food to its beak
Bushra Bibi,
refugee
Nargis Bibi, a 60-year-old mother of 10, was shocked to learn of the flooding when someone from the neighbourhood knocked on her door at night, telling her that waters in the Kheshgi village camp were rising.
Many of the buildings in the camp are basic but semi-permanent dwellings that stood little chance against torrents of water.
The camp is in Nowshera city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on the bank of the river Kabul, which overflowed and inundated the town.
Traumatised by the flood alert, Ms Bibi called for local youths to rescue her paralysed husband and children from the flood.
“For God’s sake help me save my husband and children, forget about the goods and items,” she recalled telling locals that night, her voice shaking.
Her husband and children were evacuated to a safe place nearby, from which she saw her house destroyed in an instant in a torrent of water.
Pakistan’s recent flooding was caused by torrential rains and has wreaked havoc across the country, injuring more than 12,000 people — in addition to the 1,300 killed — and affecting 33 million, according to the country’s National Disaster Management Authority.
More than 1.7 million houses have been partially or fully damaged by the flood, the NDMA said.
“I have nothing in hand except for the temporary shelter that is now swept away by the flood, I have nowhere to go now, Ms Bibi said, looking at her children and ailing husband.
Her plight is identical to that of the 2,000 registered Afghan refugees who live in temporary shelters in Kheshgi village camp.
A legacy of war
About 1.3 million Afghans live in Pakistan, refugees from decades of conflict.
In an attempt to compensate those affected by the floods, the government has distributed relief packages to hard-hit communities, but the Afghan refugees are not eligible for compensation.
Some of them have migrated several times, fleeing invasions and civil wars in their home country.
Mirza Ahmad, 65, who lost everything in the flood, has been displaced twice before.
In the early 1990s, he was forced to leave Jalalabad province in Afghanistan, when the country was slipping into civil war, following the end of Soviet occupation and the collapse of the Russian-backed government.
He first migrated to Akora Khattak refugee camp in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
However, that camp was hit by flooding in 2010 and he was displaced again.
Digging through shattered wood, debris and mud in the scorching heat, he struggled to recover his possessions while people sat in the shade of nearby trees.
“I have nothing left as everything has been swept away by the flood. Only the memories flash in my mind,” he said.
The only breadwinner for his 11 member family, Mr Ahmed says he lost two shelters in the flood.
“I have to find another place to live, because the owner of this land will not let us build this home again. I’m old and weak now. It would be difficult for me and my family to spend the rest of our lives under the open sky.
“We are waiting for a miracle to happen. We were in serious need of water and food. No government institution has come to our help.”
Mr Ahmad has received support only from non-profit organisations. He lamented that the government had yet to ask about their plight.
“The locals have supported and helped us, but that too was not sufficient,” he said.
Hearing of the plight of the refugees, social media activists highlighted the issue, finally leading to support from the UN High Commission for Refugees and local welfare organisations, which have provided tents, food and water.
Another woman from the refugee camp, 55 year-old Bushra Bibi, said her daughter-in-law was seven months pregnant.
“After the flood, my daughter-in-law hasn’t eaten anything for several hours because there was nothing to curb the hunger,” she added.
She begged for any food available, Ms Bibi recalled, even bread soaked in water.
“We were looking to the sky, crying for food like birds waiting for their mother to bring food to its beak,” Ms Bibi said.
The UN Population Fund says nearly 650,000 women are stranded in flood affected areas, requiring immediate maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth.
Taimur Ali of the provincial disaster management authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed that the government had not announced any special grants or help for the refugees.
By contrast, he said the UNHCR had reached the refugees, distributing tents, food, cooking stoves, blankets, solar lamps, sanitary products and sleeping mats.
However, the refugees say the items provided are still not sufficient to meet their food and shelter needs.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
