An estimated 18 million people have been affected by Pakistan’s most recent natural disaster, and the sheer scale of the catastrophe has been described by United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon as “almost defying comprehension.” “This is far more than a disaster for Pakistan alone,” he said earlier this week, “this represents one of the greatest tests of global solidarity in our time.”

Despite rescue and relief efforts to the most affected communities, entire villages have been severely impacted in Khyber Puktun Khwa, Punjab and Sindh. Thousands of flood-affected communities are living in unhealthy and cramped conditions, with little to no access to safe drinking water, food, sanitation or medical care. As a result, the number of people suffering from acute diarrhea, malaria, acute respiratory infections and skin infections continues to climb.

Present and working with local partners in Pakistan since 1998, ICMC medical teams are currently providing individual consultations and distributing essential medicines through both a static medical clinic in Charsadda District in Khyber Pukhtun Khwa, and a mobile medical unit tasked with serving the most vulnerable of those displaced in make-shift camps on canal embankments and road sides—especially children, women and Afghan refugees in the Utmanzai settlement.

“We’ve seen so many villages that have been demolished by the floods,” observes ICMC Pakistan Senior Programme Support and Development Manager, Ayesha Shaukat. “Entire communities have been displaced and have moved into schools, makeshift camps or—for those who are lucky—in with relatives in other areas.”

“I cannot forget these rains”

Farman, a farmer from Mirzader, says he cannot forget these rains. “I could not save the dead from being swept away in the floods in the Naalah Jundai, a canal that became a very powerful force in a matter of hours.”

Sughra, another survivor who has taken temporary shelter in a government primary school in Charsadda echoes the same. “I have lost my entire home and all of my belongings to the floods,” she says, “We sometimes get packs of food with other materials, but it is just not enough.”

Others have suffered a double shock. “My house was the total of my life’s struggles,” recalls Salman. “We moved in 2005, after our old home was totally demolished in the earthquake. After that, we again started saving money to rebuild, with the support of other community members. We had hardly finished the construction, and now everything is gone, washed away. I have nothing but my family, and the hope that there will again come a time when I am the owner of my own house.”

Essential coordination and support

ICMC is working in close coordination with government entities, UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs to respond to the immediate health needs of the most vulnerable, and to consolidate referral mechanisms with those government hospitals, health centres, private clinics and dispensaries that are still able to operate. Even so, there is an urgent need to expand the current response, especially in the areas of food, shelter and sanitation.

ICMC is continually monitoring the context and status of the situation and the needs of the people affected and will adapt response programmes accordingly over the coming months. Donor support, however, remains crucial.

“The devastating impact of this disaster in terms of the number of people affected and the degree of damage to these communities is beyond description,” says Shaukat. “We extend our appreciation to Caritas Germany for their commitment in this time of need, and hope that many more will provide a tangible expression of solidarity towards the rehabilitation and recovery of those who have been most affected.”

Click on the images below ICMC's Pakistan flood response work in action:

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