More Rains in Flooded Pakistan

The current fierce floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces have left millions of people helpless. At least 1800 people lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands are rendered homeless. The magnitude of this disaster is enormous. We estimate that at least 4 to 5 million people are affected, directly. The monetary losses have become unbearable for the poor communities.

We are receiving phone calls and letters from our members and public living in different parts of the country. Now, some people start weeping when they explain the tragedy they are going through. The floods have badly affected Swat valley, Noshehra, Charsadda, Azakhel, Layyah, Mianwali, Muzaffargarrh, Rajan Pur so far and reportedly 900,000 cusecs of flood water is moving in Southern Punjab and adjacent Sindh. There are reports of heavy floods in Kashmir too. The Neelum Valley and one of our project areas Gurais Valley is still cut off since we haven't received any report from there.

Due to unhygienic conditions in the affected region and lack of clean drinking water, the symptoms of Cholera, Diarrhea and Skin infection are becoming visible now. If carcasses of the animals remained in the streets the health related problems will intensify in next couple of days.

We have been distributing food items and water purification tablets. There is an urgent need of jerry cans, kitchen utensils, stoves and food items. Furthermore we need more medicines to send medical teams in affected areas. It’s a race against time and with a network of experienced volunteers we can make a real difference.

International and national media is giving due coverage to the current disaster yet there are fewer organizations that are responding in the affected region. There is frustration and anxiety because the losses are enormous and aid given to people in need is like peanuts.

Once again our nation is victim of lack of contingency planning and poor emergency response. An early warning system could have saved precious lives. These floods have reminded that there is immense need of disaster prevention and preparedness both at public and government levels.

Since the current disaster has become out of capacity of local organization we invite international NGOs especially Pakistani Doctors and professional living abroad to extend hand of cooperation.

Another series of rains has started and its going to make the current situation overwhelming. The affected people wonder what they will do in Ramadhan without any food and household items. After these floods people of Pakistan may face crisis of food as crops have also been damaged.