United Nations deploying emergency team to Pakistan

(Geneva/New York: 3 July 2007): A five member United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is being deployed to support the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Pakistan in the wake of the severe flooding and cyclone Yemyin that have affected the country since 23 June. In addition, the Regional Office of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Bangkok will deploy two staff on 5 July to support the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Pakistan.

"The Government of Pakistan is doing everything possible to provide aid under extremely challenging circumstances," said John Holmes, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator. "The United Nations is ready to supplement their efforts as required, as are non-governmental organizations (NGOs)," he added.

The provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are the two most affected areas. The flooding has already driven some 250,000 from their homes and has affected more than 1.5 million people overall. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on 3 July confirmed the death toll at 236, although unofficial reports estimate 500 dead and missing.

A massive relief effort is underway led by the Pakistan army, but the weather remains an impediment to relief operations. Some 12 helicopters are being mobilized in Balochistan and Sindh. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has expressed an urgent need for additional helicopters to help increase sorties of supplies to affected areas. Aerial relief operations will be intensified, weather permitting. Highest priority needs are for shelter and potable water, although medicine, water purification tablets, emergency health kits, anti-snake venom, and mosquito nets are also needed. According to the NDMA, there is an urgent need for the deployment of health assessment and emergency treatment teams to prevent epidemic outbreaks.

UN relief agencies are gearing up their activities in parallel to NGO mobilizations. Two field coordination hubs will be established in Quetta and along the coast. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing tents, blankets, medicine and water purification tablets as well as food supplements. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provided eight trauma kits and one cholera and health emergency kit, among other supplies. A convoy of relief items from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with 270 tents and 100 quilts left Quetta on 30 June. UNHCR is also rushing 15 tons of emergency supplies to thousands of Afghan refugees and surrounding communities in south-western Balochistan. Relief items are currently being airlifted from UNHCR stocks in Peshawar to Balochistan's capital Quetta.

In addition to sending the UNDAC team, OCHA released an emergency cash grant of $100,000 for local procurement of emergency relief.

While the Government of Pakistan has not requested international assistance, it welcomes assistance, if offered.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.