UN RESPONDS TO FLOODING IN PAKISTAN

(New York, 2 August 2010): In support of the tremendous relief work carried out by the Government of Pakistan, United Nations agencies in Pakistan are responding to humanitarian needs in areas of the country that are currently accessible.

The worst floods to hit Pakistan since 1929 have left at least one million people in need of emergency assistance. In addition to a rising number of deaths, injuries and displacements, there is major damage to housing, roads, bridges, infrastructure in general, and livelihoods, while communications and utilities are also affected. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), the worst affected province, estimates of the numbers of those who have died are over 1,110. The worst affected areas in KPK are Nowshera, Charsadda, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Dera Ismaili Khan and Tank. Tens of thousands of people have gathered in public places seeking shelter and assistance.

"The United Nations is working flat out to complement the assistance provided by the Government," said John Holmes, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator. "While we are still trying to get a full picture of the situation, we are also acting immediately on what we do know now to bring much needed relief to those affected. We are prepared to do so during the duration of this monsoon season if required," he added.

Other areas of the country have also been affected by flooding. In the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), 28 deaths have been reported, while Gilgit-Baltistan is cut off from the rest of the country. Landslides and floods have hit Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing 39 people and damaging or destroying over 1,700 homes. The Government is also warning of flooding in Sindh and Punjab.

Over the weekend, a rapid assessment mission headed by Martin Mogwanja, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, visited Nowshera and Charsadda districts by helicopter, confirming widespread damage and urgent humanitarian needs. Due to bad weather the mission could not reach Swat and Shangla districts. The World Food Programme (WFP) conducted a rapid assessment in Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan and Peshawar, which put the figure of those who have lost their homes or who are displaced at 980,000. The assessment found that around 80,000 homes have been destroyed and 50,000 damaged in these four districts alone.

Search and rescue operations, which the Government is undertaking, are currently the most urgent need. In terms of relief assistance, the Pakistani authorities have requested support in providing food, clean drinking water, emergency shelter, and health care. Access continues to be the main problem hampering relief efforts. Initial estimates are that 150,000 will require emergency assistance, and there is continuing concern about the risk of water-borne diseases.

The Government is leading the relief efforts with support from the Pakistan Army and the authorities of the affected provinces. WFP has started distributing food for 35,000 families in KPK, and numbers of those reached continues to increase; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided tents and non-food items to the provincial authorities, while the World Health Organisation is providing support to the medical sector and UNICEF to the water sector.

The Pakistan Emergency Response Fund, managed by OCHA, which currently contains $8 million, has been activated to provide funding to partners, and the UN Secretary-General has announced that up to $10 million can be provided by the Central Emergency Response Fund.

For further information, please call: OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; 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

For more information about CERF, please see http://cerf.un.org