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Emergency
appeals seek funds for South Asia flood victims 4 July 2007 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched preliminary emergency appeals for both Pakistan and Bangladesh, which have been severely affected by flooding and storms in recent weeks. In Pakistan, suffocating heat and a lack of clean water, food and shelter, are making life miserable in flood-stricken areas of the country. The International Federation is appealing for almost 10.4 million Swiss francs ($8.5 million USD/ €6.2 million) to support the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in providing urgent assistance to 98,000 people affected by the flooding in Pakistan. “When you walk through areas of Baluchistan, the air smells of rotting goat carcasses and the heat is so stifling that many people are covering themselves in mud just to keep cool,” says Asar ul Haq, the International Federation’s head of disaster management in Pakistan. “Around 50,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Turbat alone, and people are sleeping in fields, along the roads, and in schools and public buildings. We’re expecting more rain in the coming days, which will heighten the risk of malaria, while we’re also seeing new cases of diarrhea.” The full extent of the devastation caused by Cyclone Yemyin, which swept through southern Pakistan last week, is still unclear, although there are estimates that more than 1.5 million people may have been affected. At least 250,000 people have been made homeless and early assessments show that food, clean drinking water and shelter are in short supply. Pakistan isn’t the only South Asian country facing severe floods. Heavy monsoon rains are also taking a heavy toll on people in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. Over the past month, more than 1.5 million people have also been affected by storms, tornados and landslides in Bangladesh, in what has been described as the worst monsoon season in 25 years. The International Federation is appealing for over 840,000 Swiss francs ($685,000 USD/€510,000) in emergency funds to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in providing food, clothing, health care and shelter assistance to more than 133,000 people in Bangladesh during the next six months. “Thankfully, the flood waters have started to recede in most parts of the country, which means people who moved to higher ground can return home, although many of the mud houses have been damaged,” said Shafiul Alam, the secretary general of the Bangladesh Red Crescent. “We’ve sent assessment teams to 12 districts and we’re seeing an urgent need for food, clothing and medical assistance in the most-affected areas.” Throughout South Asia, staff and volunteers from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been helping with search and rescue operations, as well as the distribution of relief items since the monsoon season began. The International Federation has also released 250,000 Swiss francs for Pakistan and 250,000 Swiss francs for Bangladesh from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to provide immediate assistance to those in need. In addition, the International Federation has deployed a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to Pakistan, which is expected to be fully operational by Thursday. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Anna Nelson, Communications Officer for Asia & the Pacific in Geneva Tel: +41 22 730 4381/+41 79 724 2046 Stacey Winston, Regional Information Delegate for South Asia in Delhi Tel: +91 98 10 39 3178 Media Service Duty Phone (Geneva) Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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