ACT Alliance

Men carry a tent from an ACT distribution site.
Photo: ACT Alliance/CWS-PA

In the two and half months since rains started generating Pakistan’s worst floods, ACT has delivered thousands of tonnes of food, health kits, household goods, and health care to well over 100,000 people.

The floods uprooted people who even before the disaster suffered tremendous hardships. For many people, life has come to a standstill as they wait to return to their villages, find jobs or restore means of earning a living – and to live even one day without aid.

With over 38 million people living below poverty in Pakistan and between five and 10 percent of the population suffering a disability, the aftermath of floods has caused tremendous suffering. Access to food, health services and other basic needs are still out of reach of thousands of families.

Responding to communities’ needs presents huge challenges, especially reaching people in far-flung areas. Health issues have been prevalent since the beginning and continue to rise. The number of ailments people suffer is huge. With damaged hospitals, schools, roads, and a lack of infrastructure, many communities can no longer provide services. Many people lack the means to travel to the nearest health facilities. Meanwhile, cases of skin diseases, acute diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are evident throughout the affected areas.

Winter is the main concern of many people in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, especially people in makeshift shelters and tents. As well as increasing the burden on health facilities, winter poses many threats to people without proper shelter, especially children, the elderly and the ill.

Government and humanitarian agencies continue providing relief. Preparing communities for winter, as well as meeting urgent health needs, will be essential for preventing deaths. Coordinated efforts and attention to quality and accountability will make the difference in the lives of millions of people.

ACT Members’s Response
Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan has so far distributed 12,340 food packages weighing 1631 tonnes to 91,200 people. In Swat, it distributed an additional 450 food packages donated by the National Disaster Management Authority. Other relief items have been delivered to 75,500 people. CWS-P/A plans to distribute food and other items to an extra 3000 families in Sukkur and Thatta. It has distributed 500 tents in Thatta.

CWS-P/A is also planning early recovery assistance by assessing survivors’ health and livelihood needs. It plans to build three Construction Trade Training Centers, similar to those developed after the 2005 earthquake. Other initiatives include cash for work schemes and cash grants to help re-establish income for farmers at high risk of food insecurity. CWS-P/A continues providing preventive and curative health services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh regions. Three mobile health units work in Swat, Kohistan and Mansehra districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An extra mobile health unit recently started in Khairpur while one more mobile health unit is planned for Sukkur in Sindh. CWS-P/A health teams have also conducted more than 300 health education sessions on issues related to personal hygiene, HIV, skin infections, safe drinking water, sanitation, and local endemic diseases.

Norwegian Church Aid is providing technical help to its implementing partners. It includes distribution of food and other items for 2500 families in Nowshera and Charsaddah in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while 1181 patients have received medical help from mobile health units.

Another NCA partner has provided mobile health clinics offering care for 2000 patients. Food and other items have been distributed to 1500 families. Around 450 families are benefiting from a water treatment unit in Nowshera district for 2500 families. Another unit is benefiting about 1500 families in Mohib Banda. Winter tents for 260 families have been distributed in parts of Lower and Upper Dir. In addition, 260 families also benefit from the distribution of food and non-food items in the same regions. A water treatment unit has been providing safe drinking water to 1250 in Swat District.

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe has installed 20 water tanks and 12 temporary latrines in Nowsherra and Charsadda. Debris-cleaning continues in Nowshera and Charsadda districts. DHK continues distribute tents, tarpaulins, bamboos and ropes. In total, 1250 winter tents with plastic floor mats, 934 bamboo sheets and 780 tarpaulins have been distributed.

Teams have also continued providing 140,000 meals for 5000 people for 14 days, and seed and animal feed distribution. Distribution of 1250 kitchen sets has taken place to families in Nowsherra and Charsadda. In Bakkar and Layyah districts, 2400 food packages have been distributed out of a total of 3500. A total of 1200 kitchen sets have been provided and a temporary medical camp has been established in Bhakkar district.

The full situation report can be found here.