Pakistan: Clean Water Available Daily to 2.5 Million, More in the Pipeline

(New York / Geneva / Islamabad: 25 August 2010): Thanks to the concerted efforts of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners, an estimated 2.5 million people in flood-devastated areas of Pakistan have access to clean water. But meanwhile, an estimated 3.5 million only have contaminated water to drink, bath and wash.

"Clean water is vital", said Martin Mogwanja, Humanitarian Coordinator in the South Asian nation, "In the affected areas, people still do not have enough of it. They are surrounded by contaminated water instead, which promotes the transmission of infectious diseases".

Since the onset of the floods in late July, UNICEF and its partners have been delivering clean water through tankering to 750,000 people, while an additional 1.8 million have been able to access clean water thanks to the rehabilitation of the water system - totaling over 2.5 million who now have access to clean water daily. This figure is 42% of the six million people to whom the humanitarian community initially aims to provide clean water.

"We are working as fast as anyone could, but this is not enough. Millions of people are still faced with the dilemma of drinking contaminated water, putting them at risk of diarrheal diseases", explained Karen Allen, Deputy Country Representative of UNICEF in Pakistan. So far, five litres per person per day is currently provided to those in receipt of tinkered water. This quantity needs to be increased, in order to meet the minimum health requirements.

"The only way to reach the millions in need of clean water is through the introduction of large-scale water purification systems", said Ms. Allen. As of this week, 13 water treatment systems provided by UNICEF will be installed in Punjab - one of the hardest-hit flood areas. Each unit yields an impressive 90,000 litres per day of clean drinking water, for up to 18,000 people. To complement the delivery of clean water, hygiene kits have been delivered to more than 325,000 people, buckets to more than 268,000, jerry cans to more than 78,000, and soap to more than 76,000.

The risk of waterborne diseases, especially diarrhea, is growing sharply due to the increase in stagnant flood water. The World Health Organization (WHO), in support of the Ministry of Health and together with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is racing to provide medical supplies, and to open diarrhea treatment centres in flood-affected areas. "Lack of clean water leads to poor sanitation. This awful combination puts people at greater risk for contracting disease", said Paul Garwood of WHO, "Sanitation in the flood areas is a major concern. Waste is building up. All this leads to heightened risk of disease".

The humanitarian community is also addressing poor sanitation in the flood areas by conducting hygiene awareness education. "Without clean water, people are unable to wash their clothes. If they are in wet dirty clothes for days on end, this may lead to rashes which can turn into more serious ailments", said Mr. Garwood. Overall, 3.2 million people have received medical attention in the flooded areas since the onset of the floods, with 462,000 cases of diarrhea, 596,700 cases of skin diseases, 441,000 of acute respiratory infections. Malaria is also on the rise with almost 65,000 cases reported in southern areas, especially Baluchistan and Sindh, where water has been stagnating for weeks, thereby providing ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

For further information, please call: OCHA Islamabad: Maurizio Giuliano,+92 300 8502397 giuliano@un.org; Stacey Winston, +92 300 8502690, winston@un.org; OCHA New York: Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org; OCHA Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int