Pakistan Update: situation and response

15/09/2010

Ottawa, ON - Six weeks since the onset of unprecedented flooding in Pakistan, the situation remains dire. It's estimated that at the height of flooding nearly a fifth of Pakistan was under water. More than 20.5 million people have been affected, and over 1.8 million homes and 13,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

Following the recent announcement made by the Canadian Government to extend the matching fund program to October 3rd, the members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION are poised to expand relief activities. Operations already underway include:

  • Save the Children has provided assistance to more than 500,000 children and adults through emergency medical care and distribution of shelter materials, hygiene kits, water purification sachets, food and other supplies.
  • Save the Children has established 63 child-friendly spaces to meet the needs of children in affected areas and are working with communities to address issues which threaten children's well-being. Important concerns remain for the health of the floods' youngest survivors as their medical teams are seeing increased cases of pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition and malaria-major killers of children in the developing world.
  • CARE's work in water distribution, healthcare delivery, distribution of food, and shelter materials has reached 90,568 people so far.
  • CARE's outreach includes mobile and stationary health camps, and health and hygiene awareness raising sessions. Reviving livelihoods is CARE Pakistan's mandate and work has started through a vaccination of livestock program, in which 735 animals have already been vaccinated in the Sindh province.
  • Oxfam's programs have reached 1 million people across the affected areas, with the delivery of water, food and shelter materials. 
  • Oxfam is holding meetings with affected farmers to assess their needs and begin planning for next planting season. This is part of an overall livelihood-rejuvenation plan that will support survivors to open bank-accounts, buy farming tools and seeds.

The HUMANITARIAN COALITION, through its member agencies, provides a widespread and effective response to emergencies, with a combined presence in over 120 countries. By coming together under one banner, the HUMANITARIAN COALITION reduces fundraising costs, increasing the impact of Canadian donations where it is needed.

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For more information about the crisis, the HUMANITARIAN COALITION or as an alternate means to arrange an interview with agency spokespeople, please contact:

Kieran Green, CARE Canada
(514) 458-0057

Alexandra Lopoukhine, Oxfam Canada
(613) 850-9723

Justine Lesage, Oxfam-Québec
514 513-0013

Denise Koulis, Save the Children Canada
(647) 273-7134