Weather Conditions Cause Challenges in Pakistan
13/08/2010 2:32:26 PM
Credit: CWSP/A
Background
Torrential rains along with excessive water flows form the swelling Indus River have caused massive destruction to millions of people in Pakistan. The floods which began in the northern parts of country have spread to four provinces covering over 132,000 square kilometers.
According to media sources the flow of the Chenab River is still increasing and forced about 750,000 people to evacuate last week from Muzzaffargarh. While hundreds of people in Bala Nari, Bolan District in Balochistan called for resources efforts as water levels increased rapidly. Several villages from the districts of Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Harnai, Ziarat, Bolan, Loralai, and Kohlu reported large-scale devastation.
In Sindh, most villages in the area of Dadu and Mehar Taluka have been flooded. Rescue efforts by the army continue in villages near river embankments.
In Peshawar, twenty-five bridges have washed away in addition to destroying homes and crops. Such extensive damage has made many areas throughout the country inaccessible by road. Challenges and obstacles in relief efforts to flood affected families have accelerated due to stormy weather, landslides, broken roadways, and disrupted communication channels which also delays relief work. Even roads which are open often are closed due to poor weather conditions and rains, thus, making traveling in these areas uncertain.
Bad weather conditions also grounded relief helicopters on Monday, August 9 in Mingora, Swat District. Even when aid reaches the communities through helicopter, challenges exist. Recently, media has shown footage of relief items being dropped from helicopters and crowds of people running to collect the items.
While the needs of affected people may be extensive, concerns about insufficient or no access to healthcare and sanitation facilities are also increasing. The longer people remain without shelter, food, and safe drinking water, the higher the risks are for illness.
Because of the inaccessibility of many places by road, relief efforts are centralized in selected areas. Recipients of relief goods travel, by vehicle and by foot, to reach the distribution points to receive aid. However, delay in relief items reaching the distribution points means that the affected communities must wait longer for the shelter, food, and other items which are immediately required for their survival.
The Response Continues
Act for Peace’s partners have stated their commitment towards a transparent and accountable response. Quality and accountability are essential for responding to this widespread devastation especially with many uncontrollable factors currently affecting relief efforts.
Our partner’s relief efforts continue during this time of crisis in providing immediate relief to families affected by the worst floods in Pakistan. As of August 6, distribution of approximately 70 tons of food items for 500 households in Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa is complete. The procurement for an additional 630 tons of food items for 4,500 households in these provinces as well as in Sindh is currently underway for immediate distribution. An additional 700 tons of food will be distributed the following month. 2,500 tents will also be dispatched to Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa in the coming week. Another 70 tons is expected to be distributed to 500 flood affected families in Allai District.
Our partners are currently in the process of procuring 420 tons of food items for distribution to 3,000 affected families in Naseerabad, Balochistan Province. An additional 420 tons of food items will be distributed the following month.
Our partners are also providing emergency health assistance through mobile health units in Balakot, Mansehra District. The mobile health team has already treated hundreds of flood-affected patients in Punda Balla Village and Shah Ismailabad in Mansehra. Two additional mobile health units for Swat and Kohistan are expected to be mobilised in the next couple of days.
With the onrush of floodwaters in the community, occurrence of water-borne diseases has risen dramatically in these areas and staff members have been working non-stop in assisting the community in addressing these issues through health education, sanitation materials, and chlorination of water sources.
