Floods in Pakistan: 30,000 victims have already received aid but the needs are still great

Although Handicap International has already supplied aid to 30,000 flood victims in Pakistan, its work is being hampered by a lack of resources.
Montréal, 19 August 2010 – In response to the devastating floods in Pakistan, since 1 August Handicap International has helped 30,000 victims as part of its humanitarian emergency relief effort. The organisation released $135,000 in general funds to immediately launch its emergency programme on the ground, however this amount is far from adequate to cover current needs. In order to extend its support to the most vulnerable people, Handicap International is counting on everyone to support its relief effort.

Although Handicap International has already supplied aid to 30,000 victims...
The worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history has affected 20 million people, equivalent to two thirds of the Canadian population, destroyed 300,000 homes, killed 1,500 people and raised fears of an epidemic. The population is in desperate need of aid.

Handicap International has already supplied aid to 30,000 people since 1 August and is continuing its work on the ground. Three expatriate staff will shortly arrive in the region to support our 100-strong emergency response team. This team is currently working in the province of Khyber Pashtoun Khan (KPK), and particularly in the cities of Kohat and Mingora (Swat) and in rural areas.

Handicap International’s Emergency Response team is distributing drinking water in the northwest of the country, a key factor in preventing the spread of epidemics, in particular cholera. Handicap International is also repairing water supply systems - pumps and water reservoirs - destroyed by the flooding. The distribution of emergency packs enable families to process and store water, to wash and to cook. A clear-up project has also begun in the districts of Hangu, Swat and Kohat. Handicap International is involving local people in clearing away the waste and debris swept along by the floods, and removing stagnant water from towns, enabling the population to return to the area and limiting the spread of disease.

The organisation is planning to open an additional base in the district of Tank next week.

...the response to our fundraising campaign has been insufficient to effectively meet current needs in Pakistan
From 1 August 2010, Handicap International mandated its team in Pakistan, present in the country since 2005, to set up an emergency response and to coordinate the aid effort with other organisations. Handicap International took the risk of releasing $135,000 in general funds to immediately launch its relief effort, but this is nowhere near adequate to continue and extend its relief effort in aid of the Pakistani population.

“Handicap International, like many other NGOs, has not received enough funding for its relief effort in Pakistan, and, without sufficient support, is not in a position to take all necessary action,” says Stéphane Lobjois, Handicap International’s head of mission in Pakistan.