Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Pakistan Update: 4 Million People Homeless!


Dear jay,

Families in south Pakistan held their breath as they prepared for more flooding that has left at least 4 million in the country homeless. So far, more people have been impacted by this flooding than the 2004 Tsunami, 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and 2010 Haiti Earthquake combined. At least 20 million people!

Many live without shelter, clean water or food as they wait for help. Flooding has been devastating the country for three weeks now, and people's lives have been turned upside down.

American Refugee Committee staff is on the ground, working hard to provide much-needed medical care, clean water and other necessities. Help us offer lifesaving assistance. Donate now.

Pakistanfloodfamily

Photo: A Pakistani family wades through floodwaters to safety (courtesy: Reuters, alertnet.org Andrees Latif)


Emergency Response Team Leader Jill McGrath Jones sent us an update from Pakistan:

I'm sure you are seeing in the news just how dire the conditions are here. It is a continuing crisis, with families lacking shelter, food, water and access to care. ARC mobile health teams have been working since day one. We continue to see daily rises in acute diarrhea; cholera has been confirmed; and skin and eye infections continue to rise, as does upper respiratory infection. Snake bites are an additional issue in Balochistan, and there have been several deaths related to it.

ARC is expanding its programming to the south, Balochistan and Sindh, where rivers are still flooding. In some areas there is 100 percent crop loss, as well as massive losses to agricultural fields and seed stocks. Livestock has been greatly diminished. In the coming month, unless more planting can occur, there will be a prolonged food crisis even as waters recede.

It’s hard to describe what I saw in Sibi and in Swat on two field visits last week. At our basic health unit in Sukton Kot in Sibi, water surrounded the clinic, and families were lined up to see the doctor for a variety of ailments. Many children were outside, but none was playing; they just seemed to be quietly waiting. This lack of play in a large group of children speaks to the trauma they are bearing. We provided many of them with small hygiene kits with soap and detergent, and will be bringing in psychosocial programming and counselors as we scale up our program.

In Swat the waters were still swiftly flowing up to the road, and major bridges and electric towers were down. Our teams continue to respond through our basic health units and through medical camps set up near the open areas where people are currently living. As I left the area, I drove by a peach orchard that was still standing, the trees bursting with fruit…it was a welcome and happy sign.

I will continue to provide updates.

- Jill


People in Pakistan are desperate for aid. Please help by making a donation now. Your assistance will mean more than you can imagine. Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

- Daniel

Daniel Wordsworth
President, American Refugee Committee


P.S. You Can Help Now:

ARC HomePage | Unsubscribe | Update Profile

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

UPDATE: Pakistan Monsoon


Dear jay,

Monsoon floods in Pakistan have left millions of survivors desperately in need of essentials like clean water, food, shelter and medical care. Floodwaters have surged through communities, destroying mud homes, crops and livelihoods. And waterborne diseases pose great risk to their well-being.

Roughly 20 million people have been impacted – about 1 in every 9 people in Pakistan.

Can you help? Donate Now to Provide Life-saving Assistance.  

kidspakistanflooding

(Photo: Children in a flood-affected area of Balochistan Province) 

Areas in both Balochistan and Swat, two regions where the American Refugee Committee operates, were devastated.

Jill, our Emergency Response Team Leader, continues to keep us informed of the situation on the ground:

     Though much of the initial floodwaters are starting to recede, there is a looming public health crisis. Stagnant, contaminated water is everywhere. In Sibi, one clinic is seeing a rise in malaria…about five new cases per day. Acute diarrhea is on the rise. Skin and eye infections are also increasing – people wade in contaminated water and mud, and small lacerations quickly get infected. In Swat, we are still operating health clinics as well as establishing medical camps where the need is great. In heavy rains, people don’t come to the facilities, so our medical teams are setting up where the people are gathered.

     The major request we are hearing is for food and clean water. People are unable to access food – availability is low, and market prices have risen dramatically in the aftermath of the destruction of crops and stores. Water systems are down. In this hot weather, people are so desperate that they are drinking contaminated water. ARC health teams are delivering milk and clean water, especially to children. Price inflation is making simple necessities out of reach. For example, a large bag of flour that once sold for 400 rupees is now more than 4,500 rupees…not realistic for most families.

     Shelter remains an ongoing need. Mud homes were destroyed, and communities are living in the open air or are squeezed together in schools or government buildings.

     - Jill

By working with authorities and other partners, Jill and the team have provided essential lifesaving medicines and treatment, as well as preventive supplies like clean delivery kits and mosquito nets. Fortunately all seven of our health units are now operational, and staff members have been assisting survivors.

Relief can’t come soon enough. Your support can truly help save lives…and provide vital assistance to survivors in desperate need. Please make a donation now. Every little bit helps.

Sincerely,

-Daniel

Daniel Wordsworth
President, American Refugee Committee


P.S. You Can Help Now:

 

ARC HomePage | Unsubscribe | Update Profile

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

UPDATE: Pakistan Flood Relief


Dear jay,

Death numbers have risen…more rains are expected…and the devastation continues in Pakistan.

More than 3 million people have been affected by flooding in Pakistan. Many have been left homeless, their mud houses carried away by the floodwaters. The floods have destroyed shops, homes and crops, stealing people’s livelihoods and sense of security. The threat of waterborne diseases looms, and health care is desperately needed.

Please Make A Donation Now to Support the Relief Effort.

(Photo: Reuters/AndreesLatif, courtesy alertnet.org)
Nowshera2

Jill, our Emergency Response Team Leader, sent us another update today:

     We have a mobile health team deploying to Sibi District in Balochistan. Needs include essential medicines and health response, and in this area, antivenin. There have already been some deaths due to snakebites.

     In Swat, mobile health teams went by boat to reach three of our basic health units that had been made inaccessible by washed-out roads and collapsed bridges.

     We are providing continuous hygiene sessions, including educating patients about contaminated water and how to protect their families’ health. In addition, we are distributing mosquito nets, especially to families with children under five or pregnant women.

     Clean water is still mostly unavailable, which means we are awaiting and preparing for the influx of waterborne diseases in coming days.

     Thanks, and I will keep you posted,

     - Jill


(Listen to Jill's interview on Public Radio's All Things Considered)

As the water recedes, the recovery effort is beginning. But we need your assistance. Please help us provide critical care to survivors by making a donation now. Your support can truly mean the difference between life…and death.

Sincerely,

-Daniel

Daniel Wordsworth
President, American Refugee Committee

ARC HomePage | Unsubscribe | Update Profile