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Pakistan Floods:The Deluge of Disaster - Facts & Figures as of 15 September 2010

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Pakistan
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Singapore Red Cross
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The Singapore Red Cross is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and is working with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to bring aid to the survivors of the Pakistan floods.

The following update details how your donation is translated to emergency relief efforts, and how your continued giving will help the overall recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Pakistan.

Impact

- According to the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authority report dated September 14, an estimated 20 million people have been affected by the worst floods in Pakistani history. The death toll now stands at 1,781 people, with 2,966 people injured. More than 1.3 million people have been rescued and the latest assessments estimate that more than 1.89 million homes have been damaged or destroyed in 82 districts.

- The latest floods are reported around the Manchar lake in Sindh, south of Dadu, where the floodwater raised the lake water above the levees on Monday night 13 September. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated to surrounding towns and levees for further potential floods. The PRCS has sent tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits and stoves for the newly displaced population. A need of food; shelter and health continues.

- Around the country the floodwater has started to recede slowly, and displaced families are starting to return to their destroyed homes, although many will not be able to return for a long time to come. Many displaced families who have not received any form of assistance are roaming around the country looking for shelter, food, and water.

- The majority of the flood-affected people remain displaced at this time.

Singapore Red Cross' Response

- The Singapore Red Cross launched a public appeal on top of its initial donation of USD100,000 (or SGD $135,074) on 2 August 2010, for emergency relief efforts in Pakistan's flood-ravaged northwest.

- As part of its contributions to ongoing relief efforts in Pakistan, the Singapore Red Cross has purchased 260 tonnes of family food packs worth over S$260,000. Each family food pack comprises wheat flour, rice, lentil, cooking oil / ghee, sugar, tea and salt, and is sufficient to feed a family of seven for a month. The family food pack will be distributed through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to the survivors of the floods.

- Additionally, 8,000 pieces of high quality tarpaulin will also be purchased through the IFRC to be used as temporary shelters for the many survivors whose homes have been washed away by the torrents.

- Christopher Chua and Lim Theam Poh, respectively Secretary General and Director of Operations of Singapore Red Cross, are in Pakistan to handover these items to the flood survivors via Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

Relief

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, through the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, has distributed non-food relief items in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Punjab and Sindh. As at 14 September, relief has reached 280,000 people, or 40,000 families.

The items include jerry cans, blankets, hygiene kits, basin bowls, kitchen sets, soap, buckets, stoves, and hurricane lamps, based on the respective needs of the geographical areas.

Due to the large volumes of distributions in the coming weeks, distributions will shift to indirect distributions to community leaders. This process will be monitored after the distributions to ensure that the NFI reach the community. This will allow the RC to reach a larger number of flood victims with NFI. Food rations have been distributed for 653,583 people, or 93,369 families.

Health and Emergency Care

- The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, through the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, has provided emergency health services to 106,048 individuals through 34 medical health units.

- The Multan-based French-Japanese BHC ERU is assessing the needs in Sindh province to possibly set up a new base.

- Canadian Red Cross has provided emergency health care to more than 9,777 individuals through 4 medical health units as of 15 September 2010.

- German Red Cross supports free medical camps in 11 locations that have treated up to 13,038 patients to date. Also 2,204 people have received health education and awareness sessions through the trained volunteers and staff.

- Iranian Red Crescent is supporting a medical team comprising two doctors, three nurses and a technician which have established a medical camp in Thatta at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp established by IRC.

- Qatar Red Crescent has established a medical camp in Kalam and it is operational from today i.e. 16 September 2010.

- Swiss Red Cross funded the procurement of CHF 100,000 worth medicines which were provided/donated to a civil hospital in Madyan.

- Breakdown of medical conditions :

21.6% diarrhoea

16.5% respiratory infections

13.3% skin infections

6.7% Anaemia

41.6% others

Water and sanitation

- To date, more than 855,000 litres have been collectively produced by the 4 water and sanitation ERUs in the field. All water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities are carried out by PRCS staff and volunteers, supported by the ERU team members and delegates.

- The provision of purified water is done through water treatment plants, restoration of water pumps, and ditribution of water purification tablets.

Shelter

- The total number of tents and shelter kits distributed by the Movement in Pakistan since the beginning of the disaster is 19,435. 71,176 tarpaulins have also been distributed. Shelter materials have been ordered and are being delivered to regional warehouses.

- PRCS has recently sent tents and tarpaulins to the Dadu region to assist the most recently displaced people around the Manchar lake.

Early recovery and livelihoods

- 5.5 million acres of crops have lost due to the floods.

- Outline for early recovery options has been prepared by recovery coordinator. Emphasis will be placed on health, livelihoods, WASH and shelter.

Please contribute to ongoing relief efforts in Pakistan by making a donation through the Singapore Red Cross.

i) Cheque donations

Donations via cheque can be made to 'Singapore Red Cross Society' and sent to the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. Please include name, contact details and "Pakistan Floods" at the back of the cheque.

ii) Walk-in donations

Donors may make their cash/cheque donations at the Red Cross House at 15 Penang Lane (near Dhoby Gaut MRT Station) during its office hours, Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5.30pm.