Floods recede in Pakistan while devastation and disease impact millions

NEW YORK - Carol Forsloff - “There is a triple threat unfolding as this crisis widens and deepens.
People have lost seeds, crops and their incomes leaving them vulnerable
to hunger, homelessness and desperation."



Anthony Lake ofUNICEF
and Josette Sheeran of WFP have underlined the terrible threat of
hunger and disease, and in the words above made their call following a
joint visit to operations in the Muzzafargarh district of Punjab, one of
the worst affected parts of the country.


As the world relief organizations plead for relief for millions of
Pakistanis, the national news in the United States shows little or
nothing.  A reader asked Green Heritage News if the problem was all
over.


The floods have begun to recede, leaving in their wake what
international agencies have declared is an immeasurably severe crisis.
In fact, these same authorities declare that the lack of interest in the
developed countries, relative to the problem, may increase sentiments
that are anti-West in the country.


Lake and Sheeran continue with their request for donations of money to
international relief agencies such as the World Food Program and the
World Health Organization.  They continue,  "The situation is extremely
critical. We urgently need continued and strengthened commitment to the
people of Pakistan in this time of crisis.”


In the meantime, the World Heath Organization outlines the fact the
flood crisis in Pakistan has affected over 15 million people.  It is
estimated approximately six million are in desperate need of
humanitarian services.  Access to health care has been made more
difficult by the rains and flood waters that have damaged medical
facilities and supplies.

WHO is at the
head of the time, coordinating health efforts in Pakistan.  They, in
conjunction with other relief agencies, have already delivered medical
supplies, and thousands of people have been treated for water-borne
diseases, such as diarrhoea, skin infections, acute respiratory
illnesses and malaria.

Vaccination
programs are also underway to prevent the increase of diseases.  Health
services are working with people to help them receive not only treatment
for physical conditions but psychosocial health concerns as well.

Health care in the worst-affected areas are being established.  Food is being delivered by other agencies.

But the problem
caused by the devastating floods and rains is far from over, with
officials declaring it is almost beyond comprehension.

This photo gallery shows the impact of the floods, health problems resulting from it and some of the medical response.

UN warns of unprecedented floods, disease, food shortages in Pakistan

UN PR - GHN Editor - On Friday 49 members of the General
Assembly of the UN spoke in support of assistance to Pakistan, as
flooding continues in the country that has been described as of Biblical
proportions.

The

General Assembly spent two days discussing the need for urgent
humanitarian assistance to flood-stricken Pakistan.  Countries were
asked to increase efforts to aid Pakistan to reach the United Nations
$460 million flash appeal.

The United Nations maintains it must " heed what was indeed a moral obligation to quickly address the unfolding human tragedy."

Because
of the desperate need in Pakistan the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have been increasing their
operations, according to representatives on behalf of these
organizations.

 The IFRC has revised its appeal in order to provide humanitarian aid to more than 900,000 people over an 18-month period.

"That
$73.6 million emergency appeal more than quadruple IFRC’s preliminary
appeal," IFRC spokespeople stated.   It went on to declare, "it would
support distribution of emergency food and non-food items, and emergency
shelter, as well as owner-driven reconstruction of houses, delivery of
health services, safe water, and adequate sanitation and hygiene
promotion, among other things."

For
its part, the Asian Development  Bank’s support for reconstruction over
the next two years would be at least $2 billion.  It also planned to
establish and administer a special trust fund to provide a vehicle for
other development partners to channel their contributions for
reconstruction support.

“We
cannot remain unaffected”, said India’s delegate, noting that the South
Asian region was prone to natural disasters and, throughout it, the
vagaries of nature continued to take a heavy tool of human lives.  While
the region was familiar with the human suffering that followed, the
destruction in Pakistan was unprecedented.

Indeed,
even some parts of India bordering Pakistan had been affected by the
floods.  “We share the pain and agony and fully understand the trauma
and suffering that our Pakistani brethren are living through,” he said.