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With torrential monsoon rains and flash floods claiming at least 80 lives and displacing more than 80,000 people in Pakistan in recent days, Christian Aid has sent funds to provide emergency food for worst-hit communities.
More than 300 villages are affected with almost 2,500 homes completely destroyed. Ruined crops have deprived farmers of income, and the means to feed their families.
With heavy rainfall expected to continue in the coming weeks, almost half the country’s districts are said to be at flood risk.
Ginny Robins, Christian Aid Emergency Officer for Pakistan said: ‘As the rivers flood in the north, there is concern for low lying areas as flooding spreads further south, particularly in the Sindh, where floods are often heavy.
Monsoon floods are a seasonal occurrence in the region. However, in the last few years, rains of increased intensity have brought the worst flooding on record, causing devastation and misery.’
‘Working through partner organisations we will help some of the worst affected families to recover’ she added.
Those particularly vulnerable include families stranded as roads have been submerged, as well as women, the elderly, children and the disabled.
Christian Aid food packages will be distributed to more than 2,500 of the most vulnerable people in Thatta, Sindh, providing supplies for a month including rice, wheat flour, pulses, tea, cooking oil, sugar and salt.
Christian Aid partners have been carrying out relief and rehabilitation work in Pakistan for the past three years. In total, more than 200,000 people have been reached, with £5.6 million made available for the programme. Our on-going work includes disaster risk reduction work to help protect vulnerable communities from harm from future floods.
