The International Catholic Migration Commission
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
Pakistan ICMC Pakistan flood response: Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable   Display at the bottom of :
page(956) --> Pakistan flood response: On the ground for early recovery
Pakistan
GENEVA, 6 August 2010—Humanitarian disaster faces Pakistan in the aftermath of the heaviest monsoon rains in the country’s history. Heavy flooding due to these rains has left over 1500 dead and has affected at least 6 million people, most of whom are in urgent need of food, safe drinking water, as well as medical services. Serious damage to infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, homes and buildings has further implicated and obstructed emergency relief efforts. Many areas are still cut off and whole communities have limited access to basic aid. According to the UN and other sources, needs continue to largely outstrip the response. “The sheer scale, in terms of the number of people affected, and the damage to property, crops and livelihoods, has serious immediate implications,” observes Ayesha Shaukat, ICMC Pakistan’s Senior Programme Manager. “Emergency relief is very badly needed, now. The highest need for humanitarian assistance in the immediate term is required in the form of food and clean drinking water, hygiene kits, shelter, and medical services. The threat of water-borne diseases remains high in all affected areas. We need to reach out quickly, provide relief and help rebuild”. Already present and working with local partners in Pakistan, ICMC has mobilized to respond to these new urgencies. “With continuous assessments of the situation, together with our local partners we have established a plan of action that provides us with accessibility, and ensures that the needs of the most vulnerable will be met first,” states Walter Brill, Director of Operations at ICMC Headquarters in Geneva. Given the scale of the damage, ICMC intends to contribute to relief efforts in different parts of the country. The initial response will include some of the hardest hit areas such as Charsadda and Swat located in the Province Khyber Pakhtun khwa, as well as some parts of Province Punjab. ICMC has been working in Pakistan with refugees, IDPs and the most vulnerable since 1998. Following the earthquake in 2005, ICMC has been working in affected areas with local communities for village level planning and disaster preparedness, with a special focus on strengthening the participation of the most vulnerable individuals in community life. ICMC’s work with these communities has been supported by Caritas Germany, Caritas Italy and CAFOD. For those wishing to support ICMC in its relief efforts, please click here<. For more information, please contact: Ms. Alanna RYAN
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