Give to Disaster Relief--Pakistan
Help provide relief to the people in the flooded areas of Pakistan
Situation Report
Flooding – Pakistan
August 17, 2010
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to the worst flooding in Pakistan’s history, which has left about 1.5 million homeless and has caused the death of more than 1,600 people.
The floods in Pakistan began in the northern parts of country and have spread to four provinces, covering about 82,000 square miles (Pakistan's total square miles: 340,132). This disaster has been described as affecting more people than the Haiti earthquake and the Tsunami combined. Most affected are the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh.
Lahore resident Jamila Hasan and her disabled daughter negotiate their way across a flooded street. Photo © Tariq Saeed, IRIN.
The extent of the damage is severe; the floods have destroyed communities — demolishing entire villages, roads and bridges, ruining fields and crops, and killing livestock. Of particular concern is the risk of waterborne diseases, a serious threat exacerbated by the fact that many stranded communities cannot access healthcare, and there is little safe drinking water.
With thousands living in makeshift shelters — many still trying to recover from previous disasters — food and shelter are the most urgent needs.
Presbyterian response
One Great Hour of Sharing funds from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) are being used to provide food, shelter and medical assistance to people in Balochistan, Khyber Paktunkwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces. Shelter items and food packages have already reached about 200,000 people.
PDA is responding in cooperation with our ecumenical partners Church World Service Pakistan and other members of the ACT Alliance.
Specific response:
Food parcels and basic non-food items such as mosquito nets and water cans to 12,000 families. Food packages are being distributed directly to affected families at convenient food distribution points established in each community and consist of 44 lbs. each of wheat flour and rice, 4 lbs. each of beans and sugar, 10 cups of cooking oil, 7 oz. of tea, and a box of iodized salt.
Winterized tents and plastic sheets (6 x 4 meters) to 3,500 families.
Hygiene kits to 8,000 families.
Preventative and curative medical care to 54,000 people through mobile health clinics. Health care includes patient examinations, providing essential drugs and pre-natal care.
An assessment of the nutrition needs and status of children under 5 years of age in beneficiary families to determine if supplemental food resources will be required in later weeks.
How you can help
Despite major issues of accessibility and further flooding, our partners are committed to ensuring high standards of quality and accountability in their relief efforts. You can stand in the gap for disaster survivors and help the church in this response. Give, Act, Pray.
GIVE. The generous sharing of your financial blessings through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering and special designated giving provides resources needed to assist with immediate emergency needs, long-term and unmet needs, and spiritual/emotional counseling.
Individuals may give through their local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) Web site or by sending their check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Please include the special designated giving account DR000038 - Pakistan.
Congregations should send donations through their normal mission giving channels.
ACT. Stay informed and share information about the need with others. Sign up to receive PDA Rapid Information Network (PDA-RIN) email notices to alert you of additional needs.
PRAY. Please lift up in prayer those displaced from their homes by the flooding, those in need of basic supplies, and those who are working to offer assistance. Pray that weather conditions improve so that delivery of much needed relief supplies can reach their distribution points.