Hunza River (Urdu: دریائے ہنزہ) is the principal river of Hunza, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is formed by the confluence of the Kilik and Khunjerab nalas (gorges) which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar River before it flows into the Indus River.
The river cuts through the Karakoram range, flowing from north to south. The Karakoram Highway crosses the Hunza River near Hunza and Nagar valleys.
Main Article: Attabad Lake
Thousands are fleeing their homes amidst fears of flooding as a breach of the Attabad Lake in northern Pakistan looks imminent.
An estimated 13,935 people (1,747 families) from 39 villages have been displaced following an avalanche which blocked the Hunza River forming a 19km by 80-metres deep artificial lake in Attabad, Hunza, located 130 km north of Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.
A large number of cattle and standing crops on hundreds of acres of land were also buried under tonnes of earth that blocked the flow of the once fast-flowing river and a 22 km stretch of the Karakorum Highway.
Threatening water levels owing to rapid melting of glaciers now fast approaching the Lake's mouth, and just a two to four feet gap from the spillway are sparking fears of a massive flood that will affect many more villages.
Already the villages of Ainabad, Shishkat and Gulmit in the upstream areas of the lake have been completely inundated and 1,000 people from these villages have been moved to camps in safer locations. At least 36 villages situated downstream on the River Hunza are still considered to be at risk. A total of 18 relief camps have been set up in Gilgit and Hunza, with nine of the camps in Hunza Nagar and nine in Gilgit.
Meanwhile, it is being feared that the leakage or busting of the Lake's bank could affect all of the five districts of Hazara Division*. According to a news channel, the people living on the bank of the Indus River have been directed to vacate the area.
The displaced families are facing the daily challenge of obtaining clean drinking water, food and clothing as they seek refuge with relatives or in the tented camps perched amid the terraces of high snow capped mountains on one side and the Indus River on the other side. Although World Vision is not currently operational in the area it has established a preparedness team to conduct an initial assessment in accessible locations (Gilgit Chilas, Besham/ Shangla, Mansehra) as soon as the waters recede. These locations have longer alternate access routes to the Karakoram Highway, which may be damaged by a sudden breach and subsequent flash flooding.
Once on the ground World Vision can determine accessibility to cut off areas in coordination with local disaster management authorities in these more easily accessible locations.
Pending the assessment, World Vision would support the evacuation, survival and return needs of 5,000 individuals with a focus on shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the provision of non-food items including clothing and cooking equipment.
World Vision will compliment these with World Food Programme- supported food distributions where we possible, or will coordinate with food distributions in the same area. The short-term relief response will also involve psychosocial assistance, recreational activities for children and health checks. It has a mean annual flow of almost 320 cubic meters per second (740mm). The drainage area of Hunza river is almost 13733 square kilometres.