Pakistan: Humanitarian Workers in Action Around the Clock to Save Lives

(New York / Geneva / Islamabad: 19 August 2010): As World Humanitarian Day is commemorated worldwide, humanitarian workers - who are the focus of this year's Day - are working around the clock in flood-hit Pakistan, to provide life-saving assistance to at least six million people in need. According to current estimates, the figure is more likely to be closer to eight million than to six, although assessments are ongoing and response plans have not yet been technically revised.

"There is no better way to highlight the work of humanitarian workers, than through our solid effort in the emergency flood response", said Martin Mogwanja, Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan, "Thousands of humanitarian workers - Pakistanis and foreigners from across the globe - are working tirelessly to save lives, as one of the world's worst natural disasters in living memory is still unfolding".

At this time, thanks to the United Nations and its partners, health supplies covering the potential medical needs of 1.8 million women, men and children have been provided across the country, while over 2.5 million people have received clean water.

Nearly one million people have received one-month food rations, and as many have received either tents or plastic sheets to serve as emergency shelter. The combination of these supplies is necessary to save lives, in a context where some of the most vulnerable are already dying due to lack of clean water and subsequent diseases.

"As we work at the highest possible speed to save lives, we hope that our work can underline the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence", said Tammy Hasselfeldt, Chair of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF). The PHF is a network of 40 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) working in Pakistan, all of which take part in the floods response effort together with the United Nations.

The relief activities of the United Nations and its partners, which are envisaged in the Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan (PIFERP), have been possible thanks to the support of 25 governmental donors. So far, out of $ 459.7 million requested for these relief efforts, $ 252.9 million has been received, while a further $ 42.9 million has been pledged.

"This is certainly the right time and place to reaffirm our demand that humanitarian principles, as well as the protection of humanitarian workers, be respected", said Mr. Mogwanja, "Saving lives is a global imperative that spans across borders". Mr. Mogwanja is currently in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh, where he is overseeing relief operations.

Since floods started to deluge Pakistan in late July, 15.4 million persons are estimated to have been affected to different extents. Entire villages and towns have been evacuated and washed away. The area ravaged by the water is estimated to be at least 160,000 square kilometers - larger than the size of England.

For further information, please call: OCHA Islamabad: Maurizio Giuliano, +92 300 8502690, giuliano@un.org; Stacey Winston, +92 300 8502397, 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