UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Martin Mogwanja, has just returned from an emergency assessment of flood devastated areas. He writes about what he saw and the recovery efforts.
Flood waters are creating a risk of diarrhoeal disease.
We could see a lot from the air and the population is in a very desperate situation. At least a third of the two districts I visited have been flooded.
We saw houses that were literally swimming in the midst of muddy water, while some walls of buildings had crumbled and fallen. The roads were covered with water and cars were unable to move. Crops had been washed away and destroyed, or were completely under water. Trees were pushed down by the strength of the water.
There were people trying to save their lives by climbing trees or roofs of buildings. I heard extremely sad stories of people whose relatives had died and there is no possibility of burying them in the midst of this flood. They had to take their remains up into trees and tie them to the trees to hold them there until they can be buried.
It is a very difficult situation to assess in detail because bridges, roads, even main highways are blocked or broken, and there are many places that are not accessible on the ground. But there are going to be great needs in terms of water, sanitation, shelter, assuring the healthcare of the population because of water-borne diseases, and food security.
UNICEF’s main focus right now is to limit the spread of diarrhoeal disease as much as possible, because diarrhoea in young children contributes to dehydration and mortality. To do this we need to make sure that the population only drinks clean water. But this is very difficult because hundreds of thousands of people are surrounded only by dirty, muddy water and all their water systems have been damaged or polluted by the flood waters.
UNICEF is working with the Pakistani authorities to repair tube-wells and drinking water systems as quickly as possible. To date, 73 tube-wells have been repaired, benefitting 800,000 people. We are also providing emergency clean drinking water, water purification tablets, and hygiene kits. UNICEF is supporting 24 medical camps in affected areas that will help up to one million people, as well as providing high-energy biscuits for thousands of children.
Support UNICEF’s aid efforts by donating to our Emergency Fund
"I'm a UNICEF supporter, and I'd love you to join me."
UNICEF photo exhibition ‘A Far Cry’ launches September 6
This month sees the launch of ‘A Far Cry, Children in Emergencies’ – a UNICEF photo exhibition.
Opening September 6, Children in Emergencies is an exhibition of UNICEF’s photographs that show the impact of emergencies on children in the developing world.
Each year, UNICEF responds to more than 200 emergencies around the world. It is children who all too often experience the worst consequences of these man-made and natural disasters.
Many of the photos at the exhibition, located at the Wellington Central Library have a profound story behind them.
For example the exhibition’s signature photo is of three girls leaving the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people near El
Fasher city, in North Darfur, to gather firewood. The journey is a seven hour trek.
Gruelling enough you might think, for children and teenagers – but girls as young as eight have been attacked, raped or killed walking this route. Two million people were displaced, fleeing terror attacks that include killings, abductions, gang rapes, looting and the burning of villages during this civil conflict, which began in 2003. (Photographer Ron Haviv)
The third photo (by Giacomo Pirozzi) shows a Palestinian boy taking a photo of a teenage girl Jamila Al-Habbash, 15.
The exhibition runs from September 6-20th. It will be launched by David Shearer MP, former deputy head of UN Iraq.
Tell us what you think of the photos in this blog; we’d love to hear your opinion.