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ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan is grappling with food shortages after deadly floods inundated the impoverished country’s agricultural belt, as authorities stepped up efforts to deliver food, tents and other items Monday, the prime minister told Turkey’s president by phone. effort.
Shahbaz Sharif spoke by phone overnight with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, thanking Turkey for delivering food, tents and medicines with 12 military planes, four trains and Turkish Red Crescent trucks.
The International Rescue Committee estimates that floods have damaged more than 3.6 million acres of crops in Pakistan.
A government statement said Sharif briefed Erdogan on the government’s rescue efforts and sought assistance from Turkey to overcome “food shortages”.
Sharif also turned to Turkey for help in rebuilding the affected areas.
More than 660,000 people, including women and children, are living in relief camps and temporary shelters after floods damaged homes across the country and forced them to move to safer places.
Pakistan, the country’s military, UN agencies and local charities are feeding the flood victims.
Pakistan relies heavily on its agriculture, occasionally exporting surplus wheat to Afghanistan and other countries. Now it is negotiating to import much-needed wheat and vegetables, including to people not directly affected by the floods.
At the same time, prices of vegetables and other food items have also started to rise.
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