Lack of funding hampers humanitarian efforts in Pakistan

(New York: 10 August 2007): More than six weeks after severe flooding occurred in Pakistan, caused by monsoon rains and Cyclone Yemyin, the United Nations has received less than one third of the $38 million it has appealed for to complement the emergency activities of the Government of Pakistan, which is leading the response to the disaster.

"Lack of funding is gravely hampering the humanitarian community's efforts to assist the 2.5 million people suffering from the floods," said John Holmes, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). The floods that hit Pakistan's Baluchistan and Sindh provinces in late June and early July made more than 370,000 people homeless and killed more than 300. More than 240 remain missing.

As many as 7,500 displaced individuals have found shelter at one of 22 formal camps, while 82,000 others are living in 122 collective centres, including schools and other public buildings. Another 624,000 are scattered among 35 make-shift roadside camps, and urgently require food, medicine and other assistance.

With much of the area's water distribution systems and wells partially or totally destroyed, families have very little access to clean water, raising fears of water-borne diseases. More than one million children are at risk of contracting infectious diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. Women and children remain particularly vulnerable, as emergency assistance is not reaching some of the flood-stricken communities, leaving them without access to food, safe water, medicine and shelter.

The Government of Pakistan and the humanitarian community have successfully restored water supplies to about 300,000 people, but 728,000 others still need potable water. One third of Baluchistan's health centres and more than one out of ten in Sindh remain closed due to the flooding.

Education is becoming a casualty of the floods, as school buildings are housing families that have lost their homes to the floods. The start of the school year, scheduled for mid-August, is being postponed in some areas until mid-September. Provincial authorities in Sindh report that around 700 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and that some schools are still submerged. The Directorate of Education in Balochistan reports that 1,200 schools have been partially or completely damaged, and nearly all affected schools in the province require teaching and learning materials and school furniture.

Urgent funding is also required for agricultural recovery and for helping communities replace lost assets. At the moment, many people are spending their cash grants of 15,000 rupees ($250) from the Government of Pakistan on basic necessities rather than on restoring what they have lost. As for flood-affected communities living in more remote areas, many are not aware of their entitlements from the Government, especially women-headed households.

"For most families affected by these floods, the recovery of their livelihoods will be arduous and protracted," Mr. Holmes said. "Six weeks with nothing but uncertainty can feel like forever. I hope that donors will respond quickly and generously."

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Dizery Salim, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570.