Update from VSO in Pakistan following monsoon floods

18/08/2010 00:01:00

Devastating floods have wreaked havoc in Pakistan. The flooding, triggered by monsoon rains, has already claimed an estimated 1,600 lives and 4.5 million people are still stranded in remote areas of the country. The floods have also impacted the economy, with an estimated loss of Rs 40 billion (US$467 million) in the agriculture sector.

VSO's response to the disaster

VSO immediately contacted all its partner organizations to check their status. Only one organization, the Participatory Welfare Organization (PWO) in the District Layyah Punjab Province, was badly affected. Their areas of work are near the bank of River Indus. The sudden water surge in the river destroyed hundreds of villages. PWO is a very active relief organization and started the rescue efforts by arranging rescue boats.

VSO also works closely with the National Volunteer Movement (NVM), a government body. Its national volunteers moved immediately to provide support to rescue work in Peshawar city and in northern areas.

NVM mobilised their volunteers to man the various collection points for relief goods and distribution to needy people. They have been providing cooked food to people in Peshawar, and have made a plan to arrange a crash course for local people of affected areas in coordinating the relief activities and managing the relief operations. In the next phase VSO will help identify people through our Resource Bank to provide training in damage assessment at various locations.

Now the flash flood have receded, there is fear about the looming threat of epidemics, such as malaria or cholera caused by standing slush in the affected low-lying areas.