:: Pakistan "Superflood" leaves huge numbers displaced ::

source: http://www.redcross.org.sg/Pakistan-Superflood-leaves-huge-numbers-displaced.phtml

Facts & Figures as of 16 August 2010

The disaster by numbers

The Pakistani government estimates 20 million people are significantly affected by the floods. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that in the medium term, at least 6 million people will need humanitarian assistance in the form of safe water, tents and shelter materials, and medical help.

The most recent data (15 August) from the Pakistan National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is:

• 
  
  1,463 deaths, the majority in KPK
• 
  
  2,024 injured
• 
  
  895,259 houses damaged

The flooding in the south continues to engulf new areas.

The Pakistan Red Crescent Response

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has distributed relief to more than 50,000 households, or an estimated 350,000 people, countrywide since 21 July. Their field medical teams have reached more than 30,000 people.

The PRCS has some 130,000 volunteers countrywide, including at least 25 mobile medical units with more being formed. More staff are being recruited and volunteers mobilised.

FACT

The IFRC field assessment and coordination team (FACT) is now at full strength and specialists have integrated with National Society counterparts. Detailed assessments in the field will continue this week, but it is already clear that the true scale of this disaster is immense.

ERU

Two Emergency Response Units (ERUs) are now deployed in the field, at Mardan in KPK, the gateway to the Swat valley: a Danish–Finnish logistics ERU and a Benelux–French relief ERU.

A third Benelux–Danish relief ERU is en route.

Efforts by the Singapore Red Cross

The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has collected S$155,000 from the public as of August 17 2010 towards its target of S$1 million. The SRC has made a preliminary donation of USD 100,000 to flood-ravaged Pakistan.

Efforts by other National Societies

Last week the Danish Red Cross (DRC) distributed 750 food parcels (for 5,000 people) to affected families in Swat.

The Canadian Red Cross carried out a distribution in Swat over the weekend. Beneficiaries in these areas have to carry the relief goods back to their villages in the mountains as all access routes and bridges have been washed away.

The long-standing bilateral German Red Cross project provided resources for the Red Crescent to reach isolated communities in Kohistan and Shangla in KPK province by mule train.

A first consignment of humanitarian assistance from the Turkish Red Crescent has arrived at PRCS headquarters: 1,200 food packages, 420 kitchen utensils, 1,000 blankets, 1,500 sleeping bags, 240 beds and 1,270 mattresses – together worth more than US$ 175,000.

The Qatar Red Crescent is planning a distribution of 3,200 food and non-food items in Margazar and Madyan Swat, KPK province.

Health

With IFRC support, the PRCS is providing emergency health services at its facilities in the Charsadda, Nowshera and Shangla districts of KPK. The National Society is also providing emergency health services in Baluchistan and Gilgit Baltistan.

All available PRCS mobile emergency units are working in the field and have now treated more than 30,000 people countrywide.

The four main flood-related illnesses are skin diseases in general, scabies, respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea. Snake bite has also become a major medical issue.

Water and sanitation

The PRCS is currently repairing two existing tube wells which will provide water for up to 25,000 people in KPK province.

Please contribute to ongoing relief efforts in Pakistan by making a donation to the Singapore Red Cross.

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