Pakistan: Cyclone Yemyin/Floods Appeal MDRPK001 Operations Update No. 4

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In Brief
Operations update no. 04; Period covered: 13 to 18 July 2007; Appeal target: CHF 21.34 million (USD 17.3 million or EUR 12.9 million); Appeal coverage: 9%; Outstanding needs: CHF 19.4 million (USD 15.8 million or EUR 11.7 million)
Appeal history:
- Preliminary appeal launched on 04 July 2007 for CHF 10.38 million (USD 8.5 million or EUR 6.2 million) for six months to assist 14,000 families.
- A revised emergency appeal was launched on 17 July 2007 for CHF 21.34 million (USD 17.3 million or EUR 12.9 million) for six months to assist 51,500 families.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 250,000 on 02 July 2007.
Operational Summary:
The floods operation is in the emergency phase as the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Federation work hand-in–hand to provide relief to the affected people in Baluchistan and Sindh Provinces. The Federation's field assessment and coordination Team (FACT) has completed its preliminary assessments, consequently a plan of action was developed and the emergency appeal revised on 17 July. Under the new appeal, five Emergency Response Units (ERUs): logistics; health; water and sanitation; mass sanitation; and specialized water and distribution will be deployed in Sindh, while Baluchistan will be supported by PRCS/Federation national staff.
To date, the PRCS has provided medical assistance to more than 10,000 people while a total of 9,500 food parcels have been distributed in Sindh and Baluchistan. Non-food items have been distributed to more than 1,300 families (9,100 people), while the PRCS water and sanitation team is active in Turbat (Baluchistan).
Background
Severe flooding resulting from heavy rains that were exacerbated by a cyclone in late June 2007 has affected over two million people in Pakistan. The Baluchistan Province is the worse hit, with 23 of its 29 districts affected. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed the number of affected people in that province alone at two million, with 130 deaths. The Sindh Province, where at least 311,570 people have been affected and 115 deaths confirmed, was also hard hit. Five of its districts have been affected. Infrastructure has been severely undermined with roads and bridges damaged or destroyed and telecommunications out in many areas since 26 June 2007.
In addition to the considerable loss of life, thousands of people have been displaced as their homes were either washed away by floodwaters or are inundated. In Baluchistan, 5,000 villages have been affected while in Sindh, 173 villages are submerged. Over 67,500 houses have reportedly been damaged across these two flood-affected provinces.

Relief activities by Army troops continue in flood hit areas

RAWALPINDI, July 20 (APP): Relief activities by Army troops continue in various flood hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh.
Army Troops are carrying out relief activities in Khuzdar, Nal, Gawadar, Sibbi, Jacobabad and Turbat, Naushki and Kharan in Balochistan, said an ISPR press release on Friday.
In Turbat, 9.3 tons of rations, 21 tents and 73 cartons of water bottles were distributed on Thursday.
In Naushki and Kharan eight medical camps have been established to treat thousands of patients. 5.45 tons of ration items were also distributed. In Dalbandin 5.4 tons of ration items were distributed.
Army Engineers have been moved to Ustar Muhammad for construction of Bund.
In Kamber Shadadkot (Sindh) 4,268 bags of dry ration, 7,765 kg of mixed dry ration, 5,190 kg of cloths, 1,313 water bottle cartons have been distributed, whereas 5,024 patients were provided treatment in medical camps established by Pakistan Army. Relief operation was also carried out in Sanghar and Mehr district Dadu.

Satellite Identification of Flood Water in Kharan District, Balochistan Province, Pakistan

Source: UNOSAT
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This map illustrates satellite detected flood water over the affected district of Kharan, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan. Those areas likely covered with flood water are shown in blue and were identified from an analysis of MODIS-Terra & Aqua imagery recorded on 17 June & 3-4 July 2007. This flood detection is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. This map was produced through a joint collaboration among UNOSAT, WFP and ITHACA. Approximate flooded area visible in map extent as measured on 3-4 July 2007 is 4,650 square kilometers.





Pakistani soldiers evacuate villagers from a flooded area in Khairpur Nathan Shah, 480 km (298 miles) from Karachi July 18, 2007. Pakistani rescue workers are using boats to reach to hundreds of people still stranded in the country's south after severe flooding, while army helicopters are trying to evacuate them, officials said on Wednesday.

Spain donates relief goods for flood-affected people

Tuesday July 17, 2007 (1619 PST)


ISLAMABAD: The Government of Spain has donated relief goods to the Government of Pakistan for the people affected by cyclone/floods in Balochistan and NWFP.
According to a press release, the Government of Spain has donated relief goods to the Government of Pakistan for the people affected by cyclone/floods in Balochistan and NWFP.

Jose Maria Robles Fraga, the Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan handed over the relief goods to Sohaila Mushtaq, Director General (ERC) in a formal ceremony held in the Rawal Lounge of Islamabad Airport on 16th July 2007.

The relief goods were comprised of Tents, Tarpaulins, Trauma Kit, General Kits and medicines.
On the behalf of Government and the people of Pakistan, the Director General (ERC) thanked the Government and the people of Spain for their kind gesture.

Hundreds of thousands of flood survivors in Southwest Pakistan in desperate need of assistance

Geneva, 18 July 2007 - The United Nations launched a USD 38 million Flash Appeal today in Geneva to assist hundreds of thousands of people in southwest Pakistan struggling to survive widespread flooding in the aftermath of cyclone Yemyin, which ravaged Balochistan and Sindh in late June.

An estimated 2.5 million people have been affected by the flooding which followed four days of drenching cyclonic rains leaving 296 people dead, 195 missing and over 377,000 people displaced. While some have found sanctuary with friends and relatives, others are living in school buildings, or in improvised roadside shelters enduring scorching heat, dust storms and severe deprivation.

"United Nations agencies and NGOs are working closely with the Pakistan authorities to bring urgent assistance to those affected by this disaster," said John Holmes, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, speaking at the launch of the appeal in Geneva. "I urge the world to respond urgently and generously to this appeal. If we don’t act quickly their plight is likely to deteriorate further."

The Flash Appeal is the result of collaboration between the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan, NGOs (local and international) and the United Nations. The projects identified in the appeal will provide urgent assistance over the next three months, focusing on shelter, water and sanitation, health, food security and early recovery activities. Detailed needs assessments were carried out jointly by the Government and humanitarian community during the second week of July.

Many people are living in makeshift spontaneous settlements, camps and public buildings. There is an urgent need for emergency shelter materials that can also later be used to reconstruct homes.

Damaged and contaminated water systems and wells have caused an acute shortage of safe drinking water. Clean water must be supplied while efforts are made to repair water sources. Ensuring adequate access to sanitation and hygiene will prevent possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases. Support must be provided to ensure access to basic health care and other essential services for the most vulnerable.

Damage to crops, food stocks and livestock has caused food insecurity, while measures must be taken now to prevent malnutrition. Furthermore, most of the population relies on farming for food and for their livelihoods. Early recovery interventions should begin now to help affected communities restore livelihoods and regain normal living conditions.

"The humanitarian community is relying on international donors to fund this Flash Appeal to ensure that the impact of this disaster is contained, and that the most vulnerable receive the assistance they need," said Jan Vandemoortele, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan. "The cyclone has hit one of the poorest parts of Pakistan. The needs and challenges are immense"

CWS Appeal: Pakistan 2007 flood response

July 18, 2007
Since late June, southern Pakistan has been hit by several cycles of poor weather, including rains affecting the coastal regions of Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, was hit by rains that resulted in floods that destroyed at least 500 homes; most seriously tropical cyclone Yemyin hit southern Balochistan and another storm struck Karachi, killing more than 230 people; strong wind gusts brought down houses of many residents living in the city’s slums. Up to 250,000 people in Balochistan were affected by the cyclone and killed at least 17 people.


The situation by 30th June worsened, with provincial and army officials now estimating that 10,000 people have perished -- an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 houses have been destroyed in Balochistan alone. The total numbers affected range from 1.5 to 2 million people. Many live in makeshift shelters, in the patched up ruins of their homes or out in the open.

Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan has conducted assessments in several of these areas and reports:

Noor Bibi lost her house and two goats in Gadap, in Sindh Province.
Photo: CWS-P/A

Sindh Province (Gadap Town, suburbs of Karachi)
In this area, approximately 1,000 houses have been either severely damaged or completely destroyed. 24 people have been reported dead and 250 injured, including a high number of women and children. 400 livestock are reported missing, though this is considered a low figure and in general, agriculture has been badly affected by the storms, with an estimated economic loss of $3.5 million - a figure that is expected to rise. Among the problems facing survivors of the disaster is that of water contamination. The displaced have been moved to temporary camps, and Church World Service has begun distribution of relief items.

Thatta District
Rains have continued along the costal belt of Thatta and Badin, disrupting life and causing serious damage to agricultural crops; as well, entire villages have been inundated by heavy rains. In one area, 5,200 homes have been destroyed; at least four people have been killed; in another area, 400 villages are reported affected by heavy wind storms and rains. 21,400 families are reported shelterless. 9,730 houses are partly damaged while 5,730 houses are completely destroyed.

Balochistan Province (Turbat District)
Rainfall on 26th June in Turbat, coupled with the floodwater that entered Turbat city and inundating large sections of the city, caused more than 33,000 people to evacuate their houses. In some areas, water supply and drainage systems have been completely destroyed; there are acute food shortages; skin diseases, malaria and other water born diseases are common, with children and women being the most vulnerable and at-risk.
Because CWS has a significant operational presence in the region, it is not anticipated Pakistan's deteriorating political situation (such as hostilities between anti-governmental and military loyalists) will hinder humanitarian response to the flooding.

Response
Church World Service and local partners have been conducting rapid assessments in Gadap Town, Karachi, Sindh Province; Thatta District, Sindh Province; and Turbat District, Balochistan Province. CWS is responding by providing assistance to more than 20,000 households in the three target areas, with the specific objectives of:

Providing house reconstruction materials to 1,000 families in Turbat District, and to 300 families in Thatta District and Gadap.

Providing medical assistance to affected individuals in Turbat, Thatta and Gadap through five mobile health clinics, including preventative and curative services to 33,750 persons, and vaccinations to 15,000 persons.

Fulfilling the hygienic needs of the 2,000 selected families by providing 2,000 hygiene kits and conducting awareness sessions on health and hygiene.


Providing community services and psychosocial support to selected storm/rain affected families.
Providing safe water, safe sanitary facilities to 12,000 families in the target areas.
Training 500 aid workers through two “training of trainers” sessions, one in Karachi and one in Quetta, and four introductory workshops, two in Sindh and 2 two in Balochistan, on Sphere standards.

UN reports improvements in flood-hit Pakistan but warns challenges remain

UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (APP): The UN refugee agency, which has shipped thousands of relief supplies to areas in Pakistan devastated by floods in late June, has reported that conditions are improving there but serious challenges remain.
“As the water subsides, life is slowly returning to normal in the camps and families are starting to rebuild their mud houses,” Jennifer Pagonis, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said Tuesday.
“But access to these areas is still difficult as the roads have been washed away,” she told reporters in Geneva, according to a press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York.
The UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 2.15 million people in more than 6,000 villages in Balochistan and Sindh provinces have been impacted by flooding and Cyclone Yemyin, while there have been 246 deaths and 186 people are missing.
UNHCR and its partners are stepping up relief efforts in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan that are hosting Afghan refugees, and expect that by the end of the week it will have transported more than 250 tons of emergency supplies from stocks in Peshawar to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, the press release said.
Aid distribution started on 2 July in Balochistan’s Chagai district, where heavy rains destroyed houses and compound walls in three refugee camps. “Tents, plastic sheets, sleeping mats, quilts and kitchen sets were provided to the affected Afghans and their Pakistani host community,” Ms. Pagonis said. In all, 1,600 tents, over 3,000 plastic sheets, 5,000 sleeping mats and 3,000 jerry cans are being distributed in Balochistan, benefiting Afghans and Pakistanis alike.
UNHCR is requesting over $622,000 through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to replenish and procure shelter items such as plastic sheets, sleeping mats and blankets for 150,000 flood victims, especially in refugee-hosting areas.
The efforts by UNHCR build on those of other agencies which have been assisting Pakistan, it said.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has provided nearly 60 metric tons of food, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied 60 metric tons of UNIMIX - food for vulnerable children, and lactating and pregnant women.
The Government and humanitarian partners are assessing the needs as well as damages in the areas impacted. As of yesterday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that over 900 metric tons of supplies have been delivered via airplane and helicopter.
Authorities have established 70 relief camps in the Sindh town of Shahdadkot, and there are eight medical camps and 12 mobile medical teams operating in the area.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Provincial Government has dispatched 162 staff in 72 medical camps, as well as 25 mobile teams.
According to OCHA, in Balochistan, electricity, water and communications have been severely disrupted in approximately 5,000 villages. Almost the entire population of 140,000 of Jhal Magsi district was forced to leave their homes, and efforts are being made to prioritise aid there despite its inaccessibility via road. There have been media reports that 30 villages in the district of Jafferabad have been submerged, with diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and skin diseases on the rise.
Meanwhile, OCHA said that the water is receding in Sindh, where over 16,000 houses have suffered damage, over 100,000 people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been inundated.

Pakistan: Floods/Cyclone OCHA Situation Report No. 6

This situation report is based on information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority, the National Disaster Response Advisor of OCHA in Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Clusters, The American Refugee Committee, and media sources.
1. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the deep depression over India has weakened and is likely to move in a Westerly direction towards Pakistan. Under its influence strong monsoon moisture currents are penetrating into upper and southern parts of Pakistan.
Figures confirmed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 6th July 2007
Balochistan
Sindh
Total
Deaths
135
111
246
Homeless
100,000
50,000-60,000
160,000
Affected
2,000,000
150,000
2,150,000
Balochistan
2. The Provincial Government has initiated a survey of the post-cyclone status of the province’s infrastructure, medical facilities and social support.
3. In the daily meeting, NDMA reported that water is receding in the cyclone/flood affected districts of Balochistan. However, there is still an urgent need for drinking water, shelter kits and health & hygiene intervention in the districts of Turbat, Kharan, Khuzdar, Jhal Magsi, Sibi, Jaffarababd, and Gwadar.
Sindh
4. According to NDMA, the situation in flood affected districts of Sindh has improved significantly.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
5. As of 8th July, NDMA reported that communication links of all major roads have been restored. Presently 26 helicopters and C-130 airplanes are conducting relief activities in Balochistan.
6. Daily General Coordination Meetings, integrating the entire community response as well as government, cluster heads, military, UN Agencies, and NGOs are now taking place, replacing the coordination meetings by Balochistan Rural Support Programme.
7. Balochistan Provincial Government has requested for tents to establish two tent villages in the districts of Jal Magsi and Gandawa, which will have around 5,000 people in each camp. The Relief Commissioner informed that this request would be routed through NDMA, Islamabad.
8. Sindh Government has set up 47 relief camps for the displaced population of Shahdadkot in Qambar District. Larkana is being developed as the main logistic base for the district.
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
9. The Joint Assessment Missions to both Quetta and Karachi have commenced as announced in the OCHA Situation Report dated 6th July 2007. Details from the assessment will start to filter early next week.
10. UNDAC Team members are now fully deployed in three main centers (Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta). Today, 8th July, the UNDAC teams situated in Quetta and Karachi have been involved in meetings with government officials, NDMA and joint assessment participants as a prelude to the planned field visits.
11. The UAE Government has pledged 3,000 tents for the districts of Karan, Balochistan and are expected to arrive within a week.
12. Contrary to what had been reported in the OCHA Situation Report of 5 July, the Government of Canada announced that it will contribute up to CAN Dollars 2 million (and not US$ 2 million), in immediate relief to the flood/storm-affected people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The humanitarian aid will be provided through trusted international and local partners involved in the response.
13. On 6 July China donated USD 200,000 to the Government of Pakistan.
14. The IFRC launched on 04 July 2007 an appeal for CHF 10,380,000 (USD 8.5 million) for six months to assist 98,000 beneficiaries (14,000 families). Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) were allocated amounting CHF 250,000 on 02 July 2007. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) teams are currently performing initial assessment. These findings will be shared with the field assessment and coordination team (FACT), who are arriving in Islamabad and Karachi. The FACT will play a vital role in coordination and liaison.
15. Muslim Aid has responded to the cyclone by providing aid in the region of £250,000 to help those in need, with the assistance of its partner organisation, Global Medic of Canada. CRS is working with Caritas Pakistan and other Caritas members to respond to the floods. Malteser International distributes survival kits to 1000 families affected by the flood disaster in the south of Pakistan
16. Church World Service has distributed 320 plastic sheets for shelter in Gadap Town in the outskirts of Karachi. According to CWS P/A assessment out of 8 Union Councils in Gadap, four were badly hit. The overall cost of damage to the area is USD 3.5 million according to government estimates.
Cluster Activities
17. With the cluster system already operational in Islamabad, four clusters have started functioning in Quetta, including Health, Education, Protection and Water/Sanitation. Efforts are underway to establish the remaining clusters by engaging the relevant line departments.
Food Cluster
18. According to UNICEF situation report, a rapid assessment indicates that 300,000 people need ready-to-eat food rations, of whom 160,000 have been rendered food insecure due to 1) lack of access to markets and other food sources resulting from damaged/severed secondary and tertiary roads; and 2) loss of household food stores, livestock, crops and sources of income. As of 11 July, the number of food insecure persons will be verified by the Joint Assessment Mission.
19. Reports from NGOs and the government indicate sufficient food has been delivered to cover food insecure households in main population centers for 1-2 weeks. Based on information presently available, a total of 25,660 metric tones of bulk and ready-to-eat food commodities would be required to meet the minimum daily caloric requirements of 300,000 persons for 3 months at varying ration scales.
20. There is sufficient standing capacity (personnel, logistics, and food reserves) to meet immediate food requirements of 150,000 persons for one month. However the existing reserves need to be replenished through the appeal process.
21. Total cost of food and associated storage, transport and handling costs would amount to USD 17.5 million. On the assumption that at least 55 percent of the needs can be met through local sources, a draft appeal for 45 percent of requirements (USD 7.8 million or 11,550 MT) has been prepared and will be adjusted against the on going Joint Assessment.
22. Under the guidance of NDMA, the Food Cluster consisting of national and international NGOs is ready to support Pakistan relief efforts with e.g., food rations, logistics support, (trucking fleets, prefabricated storage, pallets, tarpaulins etc) vulnerability and Logistics Assessment and Mapping, and staff support.
Shelter Cluster
23. Shelter Cluster meetings are currently being held in Islamabad in conjunction with the Camp Management Cluster. IFRC has assumed the lead role for the Shelter Cluster.
24. Coordination services may need to be duplicated in Karachi and-or Quetta in order to better support Provincial Authorities and agencies active in shelter provision. This will be re-assessed in the light of findings from the common rapid needs assessment.
25. Information Management systems are under review, with consideration being given to commodity tracking, 3W mapping, google groups, and sectorspecific web-sites.
Health Cluster
26. NDMA has reported 305 cases of snake bites (230 in Sindh and 75 in Balochistan). ASV was given but ASV reserves are rapidly diminishing. WHO has been requested to arrange for more ASV.
27. Among the needs, there is urgency for drinking water, increased number of mobile health teams to serve the large displaced population. In addition there is a need to address duplication by improving coordination of distribution of relief items and services.
28. Around 2,000 cases (1,800 in Sindh and 140 in Balochistan) of diarrhea have been reported in health facilities. Also, 30 cases of skin diseases and 13 cases of acute respiratory infection have been reported in Gawadar.
29. NDMA has sent a team of 130 doctors from Punjab to Turbat, Balochistan and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Services PIMS has prepared the 1st batch of medicines as per requirement sent by DG Health, Balochistan to be delivered to Quetta through NDMA.
30. WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has facilitated the establishment of Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) at Quetta and Kech districts. A Health department official would coordinate with the Emergency cell. The Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) has been activated in Karachi.
31. WHO has also facilitated the provision of Emergency Medical Kits, water purification tablets and capacity building of health department for collecting and compiling data to identify outbreaks of communicable diseases.
32. Health Cluster Coordination meetings are being held at the Provincial Health Directorate under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services in Balochistan.
33. UNICEF has 29 district support officers in Balochistan who are working with WHO. A Joint WHO and UNICEF team is also supporting Qamber authorities in the distribution of medicine and other supplies as well as assessing the flood situation, health delivery system and living conditions of the affected people. Medical Camps have been established by the health department, Army, and Police in Qabu Saeed Khan, district Qambar Shahdadkot in Sindh.
34. The American Refugee Committee is providing health services in districts Naushki. Care International is sending teams to Turbat for assessment to plan services. SC-US is providing services in district Bolan.
Protection Cluster
35. Eight persons from the Protection Cluster have joined the inter-cluster assessment team. The Assistant Director of the Ministry of Social Welfare of Balochistan will be the protection focal point for the flood response for the Ministry. Furthermore, Provincial Commission on Child Welfare and Development (PCCWD) will become the monitoring body of all the protection activities being carried out in the flood-affected areas.
36. NDMA has requested the Ministry of Social Welfare (MSW), UNICEF and partners to execute a separate in-depth assessment of the situation of orphans, separated children and single females. Plans and research tools are being developed for the execution of the assessment.
37. In Islamabad, the Cluster is chaired by UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Welfare and 12 partner organizations. Protection Cluster Meetings are now being held in Quetta. A mapping exercise is being done to coordinate who is doing what and where in Protection in Balochistan.
Education Cluster
38. Education Cluster meetings are taking place in Islamabad and Quetta. The Quetta Education Cluster is being led by the Director of Education, Balochistan and supported (co-chaired / facilitated by UNICEF and SC-US).
39. Coordination between the Education Cluster and other Clusters is strong, particularly at the Quetta level. The Cluster has representation by key sector partners including, UNICEF, UNESCO, NGO (e.g. Strengthening Participatory Organisation etc) and international NGOs (SC UK, SC US, Care International).
40. UNICEF is carrying out an assessment of the damaged schools. First consignment of 400 SIBs (School in a Box) shall arrive in Quetta within 2-3 days.
41. Once the preliminary data from the common assessment is analysed, the Education Cluster will reorganize and finalise its flash appeal document to meet the current needs on ground.
Logistics Cluster
42. Information related to logistics gaps, needs and capacity from different organizations is being consolidated. WFO is ready to assist in augmenting logistics services and capacity if required. Most organizations, so far, are responding from prepositioned stock in country or local purchase.
43. In the last Logistics Cluster meeting, 7th July, IOM, ACF, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, Mercy Corps, WHO discussed issues such as supply dispatch, pipeline, stocks, customs facilitation, suppliers of relief items, road access, and air operations.
44. This situation report together with further information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OSOCC Internet Website. http://www.unocha.org/vosocc and on the OCHA Internet Website http://www.reliefweb.int/

Save the Children Assists Children and Families Still Under Threat from Pakistan Floods

Westport, CT (July 10, 2007) — Save the Children is continuing to provide vital humanitarian relief, including food and shelter materials, to thousands of children and family members left homeless by some of the worst flooding Pakistan has seen in decades.
More than 2.1 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the disaster, and more than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their villages, according government officials. Thousands of families have lost homes, food stores, crops, livestock and the ability to earn a living.













REUTERS/Stringer Pakistan: Flood victims wait for relief workers at a flooded neighbourhood near Jhal Magsi, 550 km (344 miles) from Karachi June 29, 2007. Pakistan police fired teargas on Friday to break up a protest by angry cyclone survivors as rescuers struggled to reach communities cut off by floods affecting 900,000 people. REUTERS/Nadeem Soomro (PAKISTAN)

The southwestern provinces of Balochistan and Sindh have seen the greatest destruction.
Save the Children is providing assistance to communities in five districts in Balochistan and one area in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The aid agency is distributing family food packs, which contain one-week rations, in Balochistan — where in the coming weeks it plans to reach more than 5,000 families with food, shelter materials, and necessities such as hand soap, water purification tablets and kitchen equipment. Save the Children also will distribute food, water and hygiene kits to affected families in Khyber district.
"Children have lost their homes and schools — all that is familiar to them — and we have immediate concerns for their health and safety," said Rudy Von Bernuth, who heads Save the Children's emergency response team. "In some areas where Save the Children is working, 80 percent of homes have been damaged. This means children are living in the open, and the threats to their health and safety are increasing."
Save the Children teams are continuing to assess the situation for children in the flood zone. In areas where schools have been destroyed or are being used as shelters for displaced families, the agency is working with local communities to resume school-based activities and identify areas where children can safely play.
With more than 20 years of experience assisting children in Pakistan, Save the Children also responded to the deadly earthquake of 2005, assisting thousands of children and their families through the immediate emergency. The agency continues to assist families in the earthquake zone.

Flooding in Pakistan

Berlin Following heavy flooding in Pakistan, members of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe are onsite to explore possible relief efforts. Johanniter has sufficient medication and medical consumables standing by to care for 30,000 people. In addition, Johanniter can also provide tents to house flood victims.According to the Pakistani government, approximately one million are affected by flooding in the south-western part of the country, and over 100 have lost their lives.Johanniter previously assisted Pakistan after the earthquake in 2005, when it set up a field hospital, and physicians and nurses were stationed in the country for several months. Johanniter also delivered tents and assisted in building earthquake resistant housing.Johanniter is asking for emergency aid donations.


Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf addresses flood victims in Kambo Saeed near Larkana, 480 km (300 miles) from Karachi July 7, 2007. Musharraf told Islamist militants barricaded in a mosque on Saturday to surrender or die, while concern grew for hundreds of women and children inside the beseiged compound in the Pakistani capital.

Cyclone floods in Pakistan leave thousands displaced and desperate

By Amy BennettNEW YORK, USA, 2 July 2007 – Wading through waist-high water, families in Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan Provinces are looking for remnants of their homes and belongings – and sometimes for their lost loved ones.According to official estimates, more than 1 million people have been affected by floods since Cyclone Yemyin struck the region last week. Thousands fled to higher ground during the flooding, perching atop mosques and in trees to avoid being swept away.At least 100,000 people – and perhaps as many as 500,000 – have lost their homes in 14 of Balochistan's 29 districts. The Balochistan Provincial Government has confirmed 110 deaths and 200 missing, though the unofficial death toll exceeds 150. In Sindh, six districts are affected.The cyclone did extensive damage in the port city of Karachi as well, leaving an additional 200 or more dead and thousands without water and electricity.Lack of access causes concernGiven poor communications and the remote location of many affected areas, Cyclone Yemyin’s destruction cannot yet be fully tallied. But witnesses report scenes of devastation, with crops, livestock, roads and bridges destroyed. There are also reports of people still stranded in outlying areas of Balochistan, waiting to be rescued.Indeed, a great cause for concern at this stage is the lack of access to many of the affected areas in Balochistan. The province is largely cut off from the rest of Pakistan due to infrastructure damage and continued flooding. So far, only army helicopters and planes have been used in the relief operations.In the district of Turbat, one of the worst-affected areas, relief efforts are hampered and civilians urgently need help. Riots have broken out there among flood victims desperate for aid. Like many other districts, Turbat also has seen its water supplies contaminated and electricity disrupted.UN and UNICEF respondAs the UN mobilizes its resources in response to the Pakistan flood crisis, UNICEF has been tasked to lead several teams focusing on water and sanitation, education, child protection and communication, and to assist with the health response.By Saturday, 30 June, in response to initial requests from the authorities in Balochistan, UNICEF had already delivered the following urgently needed relief supplies:- 740,000 water-purification tablets- 33,600 blankets- 4,000 jerry cans- 12 tents- 50 metric tonnes of Unimix (a nutritious fortified flour)- Two new emergency health kits designed to provide for the immediate health needs of 20,000 people for three months- 20 water bladders- 56,000 packs of soap- 12 bales of cloth for water filtration- 2,000 fibreglass toilet slabs.In addition, the provincial government received support for local procurement of medicines and for trucking safe water to flood-affected communities.Sindh and Balochistan Provinces were not the only areas affected by Cyclone Yemyin. Storms and floods spread havoc over large parts of South Asia during the past week – including India, Afghanistan and other parts of Pakistan – creating an even more critical need for aid from UNICEF and other international humanitarian agencies on the ground.

Cyclone floods in Pakistan leave thousands displaced and desperate

By Amy BennettNEW YORK, USA, 2 July 2007 – Wading through waist-high water, families in Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan Provinces are looking for remnants of their homes and belongings – and sometimes for their lost loved ones.According to official estimates, more than 1 million people have been affected by floods since Cyclone Yemyin struck the region last week. Thousands fled to higher ground during the flooding, perching atop mosques and in trees to avoid being swept away.At least 100,000 people – and perhaps as many as 500,000 – have lost their homes in 14 of Balochistan's 29 districts. The Balochistan Provincial Government has confirmed 110 deaths and 200 missing, though the unofficial death toll exceeds 150. In Sindh, six districts are affected.The cyclone did extensive damage in the port city of Karachi as well, leaving an additional 200 or more dead and thousands without water and electricity.Lack of access causes concernGiven poor communications and the remote location of many affected areas, Cyclone Yemyin’s destruction cannot yet be fully tallied. But witnesses report scenes of devastation, with crops, livestock, roads and bridges destroyed. There are also reports of people still stranded in outlying areas of Balochistan, waiting to be rescued.Indeed, a great cause for concern at this stage is the lack of access to many of the affected areas in Balochistan. The province is largely cut off from the rest of Pakistan due to infrastructure damage and continued flooding. So far, only army helicopters and planes have been used in the relief operations.In the district of Turbat, one of the worst-affected areas, relief efforts are hampered and civilians urgently need help. Riots have broken out there among flood victims desperate for aid. Like many other districts, Turbat also has seen its water supplies contaminated and electricity disrupted.UN and UNICEF respondAs the UN mobilizes its resources in response to the Pakistan flood crisis, UNICEF has been tasked to lead several teams focusing on water and sanitation, education, child protection and communication, and to assist with the health response.By Saturday, 30 June, in response to initial requests from the authorities in Balochistan, UNICEF had already delivered the following urgently needed relief supplies:- 740,000 water-purification tablets- 33,600 blankets- 4,000 jerry cans- 12 tents- 50 metric tonnes of Unimix (a nutritious fortified flour)- Two new emergency health kits designed to provide for the immediate health needs of 20,000 people for three months- 20 water bladders- 56,000 packs of soap- 12 bales of cloth for water filtration- 2,000 fibreglass toilet slabs.In addition, the provincial government received support for local procurement of medicines and for trucking safe water to flood-affected communities.Sindh and Balochistan Provinces were not the only areas affected by Cyclone Yemyin. Storms and floods spread havoc over large parts of South Asia during the past week – including India, Afghanistan and other parts of Pakistan – creating an even more critical need for aid from UNICEF and other international humanitarian agencies on the ground.

Floods in Pakistan

A dual disaster hit Pakistan in the final week of June 2007. On June 23, rare heavy rains and winds swept over much of the country, and three days later, on June 26, Cyclone Yemyin (03B) blew ashore in southern Pakistan. The two storms caused extensive flooding in the country’s southwest from the Arabian Sea coast to the border with Afghanistan. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) captured this image of flooding near the Indus River on July 2, 2007. The large image shows additional flooding along the coast.In this type of false-color image, made with infrared and visible light, water is dark blue or black. The lighter blue color in the north is either water-soaked land or mud-laden water. The desert landscape is tan-pink, while cropland near the Indus is green. Clouds are pale blue and white. The lower image, taken on June 23 before the storm moved in, shows normal conditions. The white streak near the right edge of the image is sunlight reflected off the wetlands around the Indus River.In the area shown here, more than 100,000 people were displaced when 800 villages were submerged by floods, said Relief Web. As of July 4, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated that approximately 300 lives had been lost throughout Pakistan, and 550,000 people had been displaced.You can download a 250-meter-resolution KMZ file of the flooding and comparison imagery from June 23, suitable for use with Google Earth.NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team.

UN reports improvements in flood-hit Pakistan

Warns challenges remainUNITED NATIONS: The UN refugee agency, which has shipped thousands of relief supplies to areas in Pakistan devastated by floods in late June, has reported that conditions are improving there but serious challenges remain.“As the water subsides, life is slowly returning to normal in the camps and families are starting to rebuild their mud houses,” Jennifer Pagonis, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said. “But access to these areas is still difficult as the roads have been washed away,” she told reporters in Geneva, according to a press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York.The UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 2.15 million people in more than 6,000 villages in Balochistan and Sindh provinces have been impacted by flooding and Cyclone Yemyin, while there have been 246 deaths and 186 people are missing.UNHCR and its partners are stepping up relief efforts in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan that are hosting Afghan refugees, and expect that by the end of the week it will have transported more than 250 tons of emergency supplies from stocks in Peshawar to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, the press release said.Aid distribution started on July 2 in Balochistan’s Chagai district, where heavy rains destroyed houses and compound walls in three refugee camps. “Tents, plastic sheets, sleeping mats, quilts and kitchen sets were provided to the affected Afghans and their Pakistani host community,” Ms Pagonis said. In all, 1,600 tents, over 3,000 plastic sheets, 5,000 sleeping mats and 3,000 jerry cans are being distributed in Balochistan, benefiting Afghans and Pakistanis alike.UNHCR is requesting over $622,000 through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to replenish and procure shelter items such as plastic sheets, sleeping mats and blankets for 150,000 flood victims, especially in refugee-hosting areas.The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has provided nearly 60 metric tons of food, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied 60 metric tons of UNIMIX - food for vulnerable children, and lactating and pregnant women.The Government and humanitarian partners are assessing the needs as well as damages in the areas impacted. As of yesterday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that over 900 metric tons of supplies have been delivered via airplane and helicopter.Authorities have established 70 relief camps in the Sindh town of Shahdadkot, and there are eight medical camps and 12 mobile medical teams operating in the area.Meanwhile, the Balochistan Provincial Government has dispatched 162 staff in 72 medical camps, as well as 25 mobile teams. According to OCHA, in Balochistan, electricity, water and communications have been severely disrupted in approximately 5,000 villages. Almost the entire population of 140,000 of Jhal Magsi district was forced to leave their homes, and efforts are being made to prioritise aid there despite its inaccessibility via road. There have been media reports that some 30 villages in the district of Jafferabad have been submerged, with diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and skin diseases on the rise.Meanwhile, OCHA said that the water is receding in Sindh, where over 16,000 houses have suffered damage, over 100,000 people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been inundated.

ERD responds to flooding in Pakistan

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency aid to people in Southern Pakistan after flooding caused severe damage in the region.Heavy rains caused flooding in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, in the Sindh Province and surrounding areas. Over 300 people have died from storm-related damage and flooding. Many areas of Karachi are without electricity and basic amenities, and there is concern of the development of water-borne diseases due to slow cleanup efforts. In the Balochistan province, 200 people are missing and two million people in 15 districts were affected by flooding.Gadap, the city worst affected by flooding, is located 34 miles outside of Karachi. Over 24 people were killed, over 200 others were injured, and one thousand homes were heavily damaged or completely ruined. The destruction was caused by 69 mile per-hour wind gusts followed by torrential rain that caused many of the homes and buildings in less developed areas to collapse. Residents are now dependent on contaminated water after the covers of the town's concrete water tanks were blown away. The floods killed livestock and destroyed 75 poultry farms. So far, the storms have caused damage estimated at 200 million rupees, close to $3.5 million U.S.ERD is working in partnership with Church World Service to provide emergency relief to 250 of vulnerable families in Gadap. Critical food supplies such as wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, tea leaves, iodized salt, powdered milk, and matches will be distributed to each family, particularly those most vulnerable such as widows, children, and the elderly.To help people affected by disasters, please make a donation to the "Emergency Relief Fund" online at http://www.er-d.org/, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. ERD's programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.With the exception of public UN sources, reproduction or redistribution of the above text, in whole, part or in any form, requires the prior consent of the original source.

Emergency relief and immunization

Khan Zadi, 40, a mother of four in the flood zone, had been struggling since her husband abandoned the family। Now the floods have inflicted yet more hardship।Although they all survived the floods, Ms. Zadi had to send three of her children – the eldest 12 years of age and the youngest only 4 – to a nearby town to stay with relatives. She has had no contact with them since they were separated. Her 10-month-old baby Amis, who remains with her, is suffering from diarrhoea and skin disease.








A vaccination team protects children against measles at the all-girls Gulshan Public School in Quetta, the capital of flood-stricken Balochistan Province.

Because of the flood emergency, two of Balochistan’s seven districts have been unable to participate in a nationwide measles campaign supported by UNICEF। The largest-ever vaccination effort in the country aims to reach more than 63 million children by March 2008.

Homes and belongings lost

In Najma’s village, almost every family was affected by the recent cyclone floods – the first in the area in 30 years. Many villagers lost their homes and belongings, and are now seeking refuge in basic shelters on the high ground.








Najma carries water from a pump back to her family’s shelter, but for many displaced by flooding in Sindh Province, access to safe water is a luxury।




Najma’s family saw their cattle drowned and their rice crops ruined। They sleep on the road under a neighbour’s tractor.Across the floodwaters, which have yet to recede, Najma can still see her village. But the mud walls of her home are slowly collapsing before her eyes.