Floods in Pakistan: Handicap International instensifies its emergency relief activities

The situation in Pakistan has seriously deteriorated over the last week, with heavy rainfall worsening the flooding in the north-west and south of the country. The Pakistani government has recognised that it is facing a natural disaster on a far greater scale than the 2005 earthquake. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates the number of victims at around 14 million in the provinces of Baluchistan, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Sind and Punjab. The disaster has so far claimed more than 1,500 lives and destroyed over 290,000 homes. “During a natural disaster like the one currently affecting Pakistan, you’re faced with an ongoing emergency”, explains Stéphane Lobjois, head of mission for Handicap International in Pakistan. “For the last 13 days we have experienced a highly critical situation in which the population’s suffering has shown no signs of abating and the situation is not improving.”
On 2 August, Handicap International decided to release about $135,000 in general funds to ensure a swift response to the natural disaster.

Handicap International’s Emergency Response Department acted very quickly to organise the distribution of clean drinking water, a key factor in preventing the spread of epidemics, in particular cholera. Drinking water is still being distributed in the area. Handicap International is also helping people access water by repairing water supply systems (pumps) destroyed by the flooding.
The organisation has also begun distributing 7,000 kits*, enabling families to purify and store water, and to wash and cook.

A clean-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. This project should soon be extended to other areas.

Present in the country since the 2005 earthquake, Handicap International runs several projects in Pakistan and has launched two large-scale emergency operations in the past, most recently in 2009 when three million people fled fighting in the Swat Valley. The organisation was therefore already present in the regions affected by the flooding. Handicap International currently has a team of around 150 people on the ground.

* 3,000 hygiene packs (soap, towels, toothpaste, cotton wool, mosquito repellent, etc.); 3,000 water treatment and storage packs (bucket, jerrycan, glasses, etc.); 1,000 cooking packs (saucepans, plates, etc.)