ID :
210068
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 18:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210068
The shortlink copeid
Islamic Relief providing food and health support for 30,000 Sindh flood victims
Islamabad, September 28, 2011 (PPI): In response of the devastating rains and floods in Pakistan, Islamic Relief, a UK-based relief and development agency has launched its relief operations to reach 30,000 flood victims in the districts of Badin, Mirpurkhas and Thatta the worst-affected districts, Islamic Relief Country Director Fadlullah Wilmot said here on Wednesday.
Sindh, the hardest hit province has lost 1.6 million acres of crops and more than 1.8 million people are living in makeshift camps, without proper sanitation or access to safe drinking water, he said.
Fadlullah Wilmot stated that the monsoon flooding has caused a major humanitarian emergency with around 6 million people needing help. Food insecurity and malnutrition were already at emergency levels before this year’s rains and is worsening.
He said that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to rapidly upscale their activities to implement urgently needed relief activities in the flood-hit areas of Sindh.
“We had already started supply of food items, drinking water, medicines and non-food items (NFIs) to the affected communities on priority basis in Badin and Mirpurkhas. We have established a tent village in Thatta where 300 displaced families are being provided shelter and basic necessities with 700 families provided with food items and other basic necessities.”
The Head of Humanitarian Program Umair Hassan said one of the biggest challenges on the ground would be de-watering in the affected areas. The region was still recovering from the devastating floods that hit the entire country in 2010, so it will be more difficult to rehabilitate these communities with limited resources. The loss to human life and livelihoods as a result of heavy rains was irreparable and Islamic Relief stood by the government and people of Pakistan in these tough times and will continue its efforts not only to provide relief but will also provide support during rehabilitation phase.
Umair said the ongoing relief operations need to rapidly gear up in order to provide for the nutrition needs of mothers and children whose vulnerable condition needs to be addressed immediately. Malnutrition among children in flood-affected areas of Sindh is alarming and all stakeholders must aim to reduce child and maternal mortality and address malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, he urged.
“The affected people need life-saving humanitarian assistance, including health care. Access to health care, including routine services, is difficult in a number of the areas as the monsoon rains and flood waters have damaged or destroyed the government Basic Health Services.” He pointed out that water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea, skin infections, acute respiratory illnesses and malaria are increasing. Vaccination campaigns not only required for humans but the surviving livestock which provide an important source of income to people in the area.
Tackling these issues, Islamic relief has started mobile health units and installed 40 water tanks with water purification units to provide clean drinking water for flood victims as well as distributed over 5000 hygiene kits and 5000 hand-held water containers, he added.
Sindh, the hardest hit province has lost 1.6 million acres of crops and more than 1.8 million people are living in makeshift camps, without proper sanitation or access to safe drinking water, he said.
Fadlullah Wilmot stated that the monsoon flooding has caused a major humanitarian emergency with around 6 million people needing help. Food insecurity and malnutrition were already at emergency levels before this year’s rains and is worsening.
He said that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to rapidly upscale their activities to implement urgently needed relief activities in the flood-hit areas of Sindh.
“We had already started supply of food items, drinking water, medicines and non-food items (NFIs) to the affected communities on priority basis in Badin and Mirpurkhas. We have established a tent village in Thatta where 300 displaced families are being provided shelter and basic necessities with 700 families provided with food items and other basic necessities.”
The Head of Humanitarian Program Umair Hassan said one of the biggest challenges on the ground would be de-watering in the affected areas. The region was still recovering from the devastating floods that hit the entire country in 2010, so it will be more difficult to rehabilitate these communities with limited resources. The loss to human life and livelihoods as a result of heavy rains was irreparable and Islamic Relief stood by the government and people of Pakistan in these tough times and will continue its efforts not only to provide relief but will also provide support during rehabilitation phase.
Umair said the ongoing relief operations need to rapidly gear up in order to provide for the nutrition needs of mothers and children whose vulnerable condition needs to be addressed immediately. Malnutrition among children in flood-affected areas of Sindh is alarming and all stakeholders must aim to reduce child and maternal mortality and address malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, he urged.
“The affected people need life-saving humanitarian assistance, including health care. Access to health care, including routine services, is difficult in a number of the areas as the monsoon rains and flood waters have damaged or destroyed the government Basic Health Services.” He pointed out that water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea, skin infections, acute respiratory illnesses and malaria are increasing. Vaccination campaigns not only required for humans but the surviving livestock which provide an important source of income to people in the area.
Tackling these issues, Islamic relief has started mobile health units and installed 40 water tanks with water purification units to provide clean drinking water for flood victims as well as distributed over 5000 hygiene kits and 5000 hand-held water containers, he added.
