In 2011, for a second straight year, severe flooding once again forced the most vulnerable in Pakistan to flee their homes into tented camps. The floods affected close to nine million people, displacing over 640,000 people. 1.5 million homes was damaged or destroyed and more than 6.8 million acres of land was affected – with 2.2 million acres of crops destroyed. If you would like to support the work of the Irish Red Cross overseas please donate to our Emergency Response Fund.
Background
Weeks of monsoon rains that started on 9 August 2011, battered the southern parts of Pakistan, primarily Sindh province, causing severe flooding in these areas.
Close to 9 million people have been affected by the current floods in Sindh province, southern Pakistan. The floods have caused 450 deaths and 756 injuries, destroying over half a million houses and damaging a further million houses. While people are already returning to their homes, returnees face significant challenges of shelter and lost livelihoods. Floodwaters have receded in most areas; however some fields remain submerged, meaning that some families will not be able to cultivate their land increasing the risk of food insecurity in these areas.
Red Cross Red Crescent Response
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement responded immediately to the crisis. Essential humanitarian assistance has already been provided to more than 350,000 people in the form of food and non-food items that include kitchen and hygiene kits, tents and tarpaulins.
Through its network of emergency response teams, Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has provided emergency health services to more than 120,000 people. Volunteers have also reached 1,232 people with psycho-social support, and have reached over 127,000 people with safe drinking water.
Relief
• The Red Cross Red Crescent is focusing on lifesaving relief priorities, which are dictated by the most immediate and critical needs of the affected population.
• Pakistan Red Crescent with the support of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) has so far reached around 350,000 people with provision of food and non-food items that include kitchen and hygiene kits, tents and tarpaulins.
• Food parcels include staples like wheat flour, sugar, lentils and cooking oils can support a family of seven over a one month period.
Health, water and sanitation
• PRCS has deployed mobile health units to provide emergency health support to the affected including in the relief camps in Badin, Mirpurkhas and Benazirabad.
• Over 16,200 people have been provided health treatment in the affected districts of Badin, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tharparkar and Hyderabad.
• Over 34,000 water purification tablets or sachets have been distributed while over 127,000 people have so far been reached with safe drinking water.
• Three water plants are functional in Badin, Mirpurkhas and Benazirabad. Each plant is producing 3,000 litres of water/hour and the average number of beneficiaries daily is 4,000 to 4,500.
If you would like information on how your support assisted victims of the 2010 floods in Pakistan please click here to read our one year update report.
