RCA to launch second phase of relief operation in Pakistan

Islamabad - Officials from the UAE Red Crescent Authority discussed yesterday with their Pakistani counterparts arrangements for launching the second phase of a relief programme in favour of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Swat Valley who were affected by current events in the region.
The UAE RCA will run in the coming couple of days a convoy of electronic sets and sheltering supplies to the north west region of Pakistan in support of the population there.
Head of the RCA Khalifa Mohammed Al Suweidi met Secretary General of Pakistan Red Crescent Mohammed Al Yas and briefed him on the second phase of the relief programme. The Pakistani RC is operating displaced camps housing about 10,000 persons.
Al Suweidi said the RCA would intensify its relief operations based on field studies by his teams who found acute shortage of essential needs for living in the region.
“We have sensed the magnitude of suffering the IDPs have been experiencing since they left their homes and arrived to camps,” he said, adding that the health care sector would be lent more attention to save lives. The Pakistani Red Crescent chief admitted that his society was facing daunting challenges at the current circumstances.
“As the number of IDPs exceeded 2 million, it has become difficult to meet their needs without coordination of humanitarian efforts on the ground,” he added.
Al Suweidi inspected progress of work at the vocational training centre for girls which is being executed by the RCA at Muzaffarabad. He said that construction work is 65 per cent complete and the centre would be ready in two months. When operational, it will welcome more than 100 poor girls to receive vocational training to earn their living