Asia's Wet Hell

A humanitarian catastrophe is looming in south Asia. Upwards of 19-million have been displaced by heavier than normal monsoon rains. The deluge has also destroyed massive amounts of crops in the countryside.

Now rescue workers are bracing for an epidemic of fever, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and snake bites among refugees. Simply finding food and water for the displaced is nearly impossible with stocks described as "perilously low."

Words alone cannot convey the tragedy that is unfolding. The Guardian has run a photo essay on the devestation from which the pictures below were taken. The first five photographs were taken in India. The bottom picture shows Beijing police linking arms as they conduct a search along a flooded street.