August 8, 2008
At least 60 people have died this week from flooding in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan. Heavy flooding washed away hundreds of houses, leaving thousands of local residents homeless. More than 3,000 homes have been either damaged or destroyed. Roads have washed away or are impassable, crops and agricultural lands are destroyed, livestock have been killed, and communications have been interrupted.
RESPONSE: Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan is conducting assessments and has already begun distributing both food and non-food items, including food packages, tents and hygiene kits to 250 families. Plastic sheeting is being provided to 500 families.
The food packages contain the following items: wheat flour: 80 kg; rice: 40 kg; cooking oil: 10 liters; sugar: 7 kg; tea leaves: 2 kg; milk: 2 kg; salt: 1 kg; match box: 1 box; bath soap: 1 box; pulses: 7 kg.
The hygiene kits contain mosquito nets, soap, antibacterial wash, sanitary and hygiene accessories, a spouted jug, and a towel.
CWS expects to issue a forthcoming appeal for this emergency.
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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