(updated August 16, 2010)
For the millions affected by massive floods in Pakistan, the need for rapid humanitarian assistance is overwhelmeing and growing ever more urgent. Unprecedented levels of heavy rain that began in late July have triggered the nation's worst flooding on record: the situation is worsening and has become a "mega-disaster." An estimated 20 million people are now affected. Reportedly, over 1,600 are dead and 750,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. More extremely heavy monsoon rains are on the way--and officials fear the worst. Concern’s emergency team is on the ground meeting the basic survival needs of people in the worst affected areas, priortizine distribution of food, water, shelter, and emergency medical assistance.
In an August 15th statement from Pakistan, after viewing wreckage caused by the floods, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke of the "heart-wrenching suffering" he witnessed. He also announced that he was in Pakistan to send a message to the world, saying: “These unprecedented floods demand unprecedented assistance. The flood waves must be matched with waves of global support ... The people of Pakistan have been there for so many others in their time of need. Now the world must be there for the people of Pakistan."
RISING THREATS: MORE RAIN ON THE WAY
After causing huge damage and losses in KPK Province, floodwaters have surged down from the northwest through the agricultural "heartland" of Punjab Province: according to recent reports. over 1.4 million acres of land in Punjab have been devastated. Such damage to farms and crops will devastate the economy. Concern is also responding in two districts in Punjab. As the floodwaters continue steadily south, inundating Sindh and Balochistan Provinces, Concern is responding in worst affected districts there as well.
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REUTERS/Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org |
More monsoon rains are expected to hit Pakistan in the next few days, escalating the damage and triggering even more floods.
We are currently responding in four provinces [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan], reaching the most vulnerable people with the following:
- shelter
- clean water
- emergency medical assistance
- dry rations of food
- mosquito nets
- basic hygiene and kitchen items
Our emergency health teams are using mobile medical tents with facilities for men, women and children.
Floodwaters have cut off or totally submerged huge areas, particularly communities along the river Kabul in Charsadda District, making access difficult if not impossible at present.
Although access is difficult, our teams and local partners are on the ground trying to collect as much information on humanitarian needs as possible and reach affected populations. Roads and bridges have been damaged or cut off by floods, and the aid community is worried about public health threats posed by waterborne diseases.
Concern has been working in Pakistan since 2001, with a team of over 50 staff and 9 local partners, including vastly experienced emergency personnel in worst-affected areas. Concern Worldwide Regional Director Lucia Ennis says, “This is a terrible catastrophe affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the world who are living in dire poverty.”
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