FROM THE FIELD
An emergency appeal to help people affected by severe flooding in Pakistan has been launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.Pakistan has been hit by storms for almost two weeks. An estimated 1.5 million people have been affected and around 300 lives lost across the country. Vast tracts of land in Baluchistan Province have been ravaged by floods and Cyclone Yemyin, leaving 250,000 people homeless and a further 300,000 displaced. Sindh Province and North West Frontier Provinces have also been severely damaged by flooding. Bridges and roads have been swept away in some areas, and overflowing flood canals have destroyed farmland and villages.DamageAsar ul Haq, the Federation's head of disaster management in Pakistan, said: "When you walk through areas of Baluchistan, the air smells of rotting goat carcasses and the heat is so stifling that many people are covering themselves in mud just to keep cool. "Around 50,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in Turbat alone, and people are sleeping in fields, along the roads, and in schools and public buildings. We're expecting more rain in the coming days, which will heighten the risk of malaria, and we're also seeing new cases of diarrhoea."ResponseThe Pakistan Red Crescent has been helping people affected by the flooding with the support of the Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).Water, food, shelter, sanitation, and hygiene promotion are priorities.Red Cross/Red Crescent teams have already installed four water pumps to supply water to 800 families around Turbat. They have also been distributing food, essential medicines, and items such as tents, blankets, tarpaulins, and kitchen sets.Long-termA Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) team from the Movement has travelled to Pakistan to determine people's long-term needs. Fiona McSheehy, a British Red Cross delegate from Suffolk who is part of the team, said: "The flood waters and rain have damaged lots of vital infrastructure including many bridges and more than 250 roads totalling more than 5000 kilometres. It is vital that we reach the thousands of vulnerable people affected so that we can evaluate the needs and really start to make a difference."The Federation has launched an emergency appeal to raise more than £4 million to help the Pakistan Red Crescent respond to the crisis.Donate to the Federation's Pakistan flood appealRead more about how the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is responding to the floods in Pakistan[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
