Flood in Pakistan 2010 (part 11) - EID in Refugee Camps

1. Flood in Pakistan Eid in refugee camps

2. Pakistan flood trauma dulls Eid festive spirit Pakistani Muslims on Saturday took part in low-key celebrations for the Eid al-Fitr festival, as millions still languish without shelter after the nation's worst-ever floods. Eid is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar -- marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan -- but celebrations were muted Saturday as the fallout from devastating floods continues. The deluges have left 10 million people without shelter nationwide, according to UN figures, with UN spokesman Maurizio Giuliano describing it as "one of the worst humanitarian disasters in UN history." In a normal year Pakistanis would have been scurrying home last night for a weekend of gluttony-tinged indulgence marking Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and Islam's near equivalent of Christmas. But this is no normal year. With 21 million people - almost one-eighth of the population - affected by the worst floods in memory, which began more than six weeks ago , and broad swathes of the country still under water, many have no homes to go to, and no mosques to attend, and have dragged on through Ramadan, with more than eight million reliant on aid handouts for survival. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani mentioned the "miseries and grief" of the flood victims in their separate Eid messages to nation. "We cannot celebrate the day with traditional fanfare and festivities when millions of our countrymen have been rendered shelterless as villages, towns and cities have been destroyed by the floods," Zardari said. Away from the flood-ravaged areas, in the main cities, sparkling Eid lights still drape the streets. But inside homes a new austerity has curtailed the festive spirit.

3. Reuters Pictures - Flood victims reach for aid distributed to their relief camp during Eid al-Fitr in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 11, 2010. Starting nearly six weeks ago, Pakistan's worst ever floods killed more than 1,750 people and inflicted nearly $43 billion (28 billion pounds) worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the mainstay of the economy.

4. AP Photo A Pakistani girl who survived floods wears a pair of sandals provided by a charity organization on the occasion of Eid, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, at a camp set up for displaced people in Nowshera, near Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.

5. Reuters Pictures Razia, a flood victim whose husband died earlier this week is comforted by an aid worker visiting her village during Eid al-Fitr in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 11, 2010. Starting nearly six weeks ago, Pakistan's worst ever floods killed more than 1,750 people and inflicted nearly $43 billion (28 billion pounds) worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the mainstay of the economy.

6. A Pakistani girl makes hair-styling of her fellow next to the rubble of a collapsed house on Eid al-Fitr day in a flood-hit area of Ghazi Ghat near Multan, Pakistan, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Millions of Pakistani flood victims celebrated Islam's most joyous festival in donated tents and makeshift shelters on Saturday as the country's leaders, criticized for an inadequate response to the disaster, pledged more aid.

7. Reuters Pictures A flood victim takes a bath outside his tent as he prepares for Eid-al-Fitr celebrations while taking refuge in a relief camp for flood victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province on September 11, 2010.

8. Reuters Pictures A flood victim baby sleeps in a hammock as a man reads the Koran during Eid-al-Fitr celebrations while taking refuge in a relief camp for flood victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province on September 11, 2010.

9. Reuters Pictures Flood victims offer Eid-al-Fitr prayers in a makeshift mosque while they take refuge in a relief camp for flood victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province September 11, 2010.

10. Reuters Pictures A flood victim shows her henna decorated hand as she prepares to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr while taking refuge with her family in a relief camp in Sukkur, Pakistan's Sindh province on September 10, 2010.

11. Reuters Pictures A flood victim shows her henna decorated hand as she prepares to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr while taking refuge with her family in a relief camp in Sukkur, Pakistan's Sindh province on September 10, 201

12. Reuters Pictures A flood victim takes a bath outside his tent as he prepares for Eid-al-Fitr celebrations while taking refuge in a relief camp for flood victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province on September 11, 2010.

13. Reuters Pictures Nine-year-old Safia, a flood victim, shows her henna decorated hands as sheprepares to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr while taking refuge in a relief camp inSukkur, Pakistan's Sindh province September 10, 2010. Getty Images An internally displaced Pakistani young boy sits on the ground at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

14. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected people get ready to celebrate the Eid, ending ofthe fasting month of Ramadan, in a camp set up for displaced people inKarachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected people prepare to celebrate the Eid, ending the fasting month of Ramadan, at a camp setup for displaced people in Karachi,Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.

15. Getty Images Pakistani villagers ride a donkey cart in Sukkur on September 8, 2010.Pakistan's devastating floods have left 10 million people without shelter,the United Nations said Tuesday, as authorities rushed to bolster riverdefences to save two towns from catastrophe. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected children show currency notes they received as agift to celebrate Eid, ending of fasting month of Ramadan, in a camp setupfor displaced people in Charsada, near Peshawar, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.

16.  AP Photo Pakistani flood affected women and children decorate their hands as they prepare to celebrate the Eid, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, at a camp setup for displaced people in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.

17. An Internally displaced Pakistani girls shows her palm decorated with henna or mendhi as she queues to receive a package for Eid Al-Fitr at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010. Pakistan's devastating floods have left 10 million people without shelter, the United Nations said on September 7, as authorities rushed to bolster river defences to save two towns from catastrophe. - Getty Images

18. Getty Images Flood affected Pakistani children read books at a makeshift school onahigher ground in southern Sindh province's flood-hit Kandkot on September 8, 2010.

19. AP Photo A Pakistani baby takes a bath at a camp for people affected by floods inMuzaffargarh district, Punjab province, Pakistan on Friday Sept. 10, 2010.

20. AP Photo A Pakistani boy plays with a toy race car that was given to him as a gift for Eid at a camp for people affected by floods in Muzaffargarh district, Punjab province, Pakistan on Friday Sept. 10, 2010.

21. Internally displaced Pakistani children show off their new clothes which they received as part of a package for Eid Al-Fitr from donors organised byInstitute Business and Administration (IBA) at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010. While most of the Muslim world celebrated Eid on September 10, the festival falls on September 11, in Pakistan. Bringing an end to the fasting month of Ramadan, it should be an occasion for family celebration and gift-giving, but for Pakistan's poor and hungry flood survivors, this year's holiday offers more rain and little joy. - Getty Images

22. Getty Images Internally displaced Pakistani people walk as they receive a package for EidAl-Fitr from donors organised by Institute Business and Administration (IBA)at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

23. Getty Images An internally displaced Pakistani young girl stands next to her mother aspeople queue to receive a package for Eid Al-Fitr from charities at a campin Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

24. Getty Images An Internally displaced Pakistani boy (R) looks on as father checks at-shirt after receiving a package for Eid Al-Fitr from donors organised byInstitute Business and Administration (IBA) at a camp in Sukkur on September10, 2010.

25. Getty Images Internally displaced Pakistani women queue to receive a package for EidAl-Fitr from charities at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

26. Getty Images An Internally displaced Pakistani woman feeds her child as she queues with others to receive a package for Eid Al-Fitr from charities at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

27. A Pakistani girl who survived floods wears a new dress provided on the occasion of Eid, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, at a camp set up for displaced people in Nowshera, near Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

28. Getty Images An Internally displaced Pakistani man walks towards a tent after receiving a package for Eid Al-Fitr from donors organised by Institute Business and Administration (IBA) at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010.

29. Reuters Pictures A young boy looks on as he sits in a line with fellow villagers and floodvictims during an Eid al-Fitr mass outdoor prayer ceremony near a reliefcamp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September10, 2010.

30. Reuters Pictures Flood victims have their Eid meal after an Eid al-Fitr outdoor mass prayerceremony near a relief camp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwestKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September 10, 2010.

31. Reuters Pictures A flood victim prays during an Eid al-Fitr outdoor mass prayer ceremony neara relief camp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ProvinceSeptember 10, 2010.

32. AP Photo Pakistani flood survivors eat rice on the occasion of Eid, which ends thefasting month of Ramadan, at a camp set up for displaced people in Nowshera,near Peshawar, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.

33. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected people offer Eid prayers, which ends the fastingmonth of Ramadan, at a camp set up for displaced people in Nowshera, nearPeshawar, Pakistan on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.

34. An internally displaced boy receives a package for Eid al-Fitr from charities as other queue at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010. Pakistan's devastating floods have left 10 million people without shelter, the United Nations said on September 7, as authorities rushed to bolster river defences to save two towns from catastrophe. The Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, has been declared on September 10 for most parts of the world including Pakistan. - Getty Images

35. Getty Images An internally displaced Pakistani family open their Eid al-Fitr packagedonated by charities during the Muslim celebrations at a camp in Sukkur onSeptember 10, 2010.

36. An internally displaced young Pakistani girl holds up her new dress received from charities as others queue for their Eid al-Fitr packages at a camp in Sukkur on September 10, 2010. - Getty Images

37. Reuters Pictures A volunteer who works for a Pakistani humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO) distributes an Eid meal to villagers and flood victims after an Eid al-Fitr mass outdoor prayer ceremony near a relief camp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September 10,2010.

38. Reuters Pictures A Pakistani humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO) volunteer (front) adjusts a cooking fire under a steel container as villagers and flood victims line up to receive an Eid meal after an Eid al-Fitr mass outdoor prayer ceremony near a relief camp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September 10, 2010.

39. Reuters Pictures A young flood victim waits for a Eid al-Fitr mass outdoor prayer ceremonynear a relief camp in Nowshera, Pakistan's northwest Khyber-PakhtunkhwaProvince September 10, 2010.

40. Reuters Pictures Flood victim Hussain Bux, 70, takes care of his grandchild outside his tent while taking refuge in a relief camp for victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province September 9, 2010.

41. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected people wait to get food in a camp setup for displaced people in Charsada, near Peshawar, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9,2010.

42. A flood victims sit outside their family tent while taking refuge at a makeshift relief camp in Nowshera in Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September 9, 2010. Pakistan, whose economy has been battered by the worst floods in its history, needs to abide by terms of an IMF bailout loan by enforcing fiscal austerity, the chances of which happening appear closeto zero. - Reuters Pictures

43. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected children show their gifts to celebrate Eid, ending of fasting month of Ramadan, in a camp setup for displaced people in Charsada, near Peshawar, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.

44. Reuters Pictures A Flood victim waits with others for aid to be distributed during Eid al-Fitr to their village in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 11, 2010. Starting nearly six weeks ago,Pakistan's worst ever floods killed more than 1,750 people and inflicted nearly $43 billion (28 billion pounds) worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the mainstay of the economy. Reuters Pictures Pakistani flood victims wait for aid to be distributedduring Eid al-Fitr at their relief camp in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 11, 2010. Starting nearly six weeks ago,Pakistan's worst ever floods killed more than 1,750 people and inflicted nearly $43 billion (28 billion pounds) worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the mainstay of the economy.

45. In this photo taken Thursday Sept. 9, 2010, Pakistani children affected by floods react, seen from a hole on a wall as they line up to receive relief goods in preparation for Eid in Muzaffargarh district, Punjab Province, Pakistan. Millions of Pakistani flood victims celebrated Islam's most joyous festival in donated tents and makeshift shelters on Saturday as the country's leaders, criticized for an inadequate response to the disaster,pledged more aid. - AP Photo

46. AP Photo Pakistani flood affected children receive rice as they prepare to celebrate Eid, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, at a camp setup for displaced people in Muzaffargarh district, Punjab province, Pakistan on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.

47. Reuters Pictures Flood victims stretch their hands towards aid workers distributing gifts, as Pakistani Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, at their relief camp in Pakistan's Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 9, 2010. Pakistan, whose economy has beenbattered by the worst floods in its history, needs to abide by terms of an IMF bailout loan by enforcing fiscal austerity, the chances of which happening appear close to zero.

48. Reuters Pictures A flood victim bakes bread on a tray at a relief camp in Charsadda,Pakistan's northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province September 9, 2010.

49. Getty Images Internally displaced Pakistani grandmother Janal holds the hand of her three-day-old grandchild at a camp in Sukkur on September 9, 2010. Pakistan's devastating floods have left 10 million people without shelter, the United Nations said on September 7, as authorities rushed to bolster river defences to save two towns from catastrophe.

50. Reuters Pictures A flood victim collects leftovers in an empty pot at a food distribution point while taking refuge with her family in a relief camp for flood victims in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province September 9, 2010.