2014-09-10 16:15:00

Caritas Pakistan grapples with worst floods in 50 years


(Vatican Radio) In Pakistan flood waters are gradually receding, giving rescue teams a chance to reach tens of thousands of villagers stranded by the heaviest rainfall in fifty years.

Floods and landslides triggered by days of rain in the Himalayan region have killed at least 450 people in India and Pakistan and cut off more than one million people from basic services.

The floods, which began in the mountainous region between the two nations a week ago, have flowed down to the plains, affecting more than 1.5 million people in Pakistan.

Amongst those bringing assistance to stranded communities is Caritas Pakistan: the local branch of the Catholic Church’s aid agency Caritas Internationalis.

Kamran Chaudhry is the communication officer for Caritas Pakistan. He told Linda Bordoni the people are in need of everything, starting with information on clear evacuation routes…

Listen to the interview:

Chaudhry speaks of the flood affected villages he visited in Punjab province which were not easy to reach because the rain has cut off roads and washed away bridges making rescue operations very difficult.

He says Caritas Pakistan built one-room shelters during the floods in 2012, but many of them are difficult to access.

On the way to reach flood survivors - he said – “we could only see flooded crops… everywhere we could see water and strong wind”.

He says the floods are not only limited to Punjab province but - he points out -  the water is reaching other areas as well and is currently flooding the South. Chaudhry foresees it is going to get worse for the affected communities.

The disaster programmes being run by Caritas Pakistan are busy informing people as to the best evacuation routes and are providing them with basic needs: “they need temporary shelters for the families, they need food, they need medicines – there is an urgent need for medical services – mosquito nets and mosquito repellents, they need safe drinking water and household items” he said.

Of course many of those affected are the most vulnerable like elderly people, women and children who are in great difficulty – Chaudhry says - as many are trapped and cannot reach assistance points.

Chaudhry says thousands have been stranded, and according to Caritas reports about 193 people are confirmed dead. Some  “1300 villages have been swallowed up by the flood waters” he said. 

The situation raises the alarm as far as health is concerned as there is a heightened risk for malaria, diarrhea and gastric diseases which Caritas Pakistan intends to tackle with information and awareness sessions.

Chaudhry says floods are a common phenomenon in Pakistan but “this time it is very serious as these are the worst rains in 50 years”.

He speaks of the loss of livestock which is particularly concerning as it represents the main source of income for many of those who are affected by the floods. 

He says the people are grateful for the help they are receiving from Caritas Pakistan, and says the army is present to help people evacuate. But he points out the government is trying “to handle too many challenges: the government protests ongoing in Islamabad; the war against the Taliban going on in the North; and now the flood emergenciy”. So – he says – “Caritas desperately needs all the help it can get to bring assistance to the people”, who will also need a long-term support plan. 

For more information and donations you can go to Caritas Internationalis
     

   

 








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