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CHILDREN’s safety and health are at risk as flood waters rise in Pakistan, warns global children’s charity Plan International.
Half a million families across Badin district have lost houses, animals and belongings and are living in desperate conditions in makeshift camps.
“Our biggest concern now is for thousands of children who are living in temporary camps by the side of the road. Clean water is scarce and there is a real risk diseases will spread. Children, especially girls are extremely vulnerable to abuse in these crowded camps and parents need help to ensure their children are protected”, said Plan Pakistan Country Director Haider Yaqub
Plan has established a camp for 2,000 people displaced by the floods in one area of Badin and its emergency teams have begun providing clean water and child protection support to over 22,000 people in the surrounding communities. This district has seen 810mm of rain in the last months compared to the normal trend of 30-40 mm per year.
“While the normal monsoon season is now over, the flood water is expected to remain for months to come making the prevention of water-borne diseases a top priority, especially for children under 5. Our teams are distributing hygiene kits, installing latrines and providing mosquito nets to families in Badin”, said Mr. Yaqub.
Last year, 7.5 million people in Sindh province were affected by devastating floods.
“Our experience of responding to the mammoth floods last year has helped us to respond quickly to the needs of those displaced and affected by floods. However, we are all worried that we will see a repeat of last year’s devastation just as some communities were beginning to return to normal”, says Mr. Yaqub.
Plan is appealing for $2 million dollars to support the emergency relief. To donate please go to www.plan-international.org
Editor's notes:
- Haider Yaqub, Country Director for Plan in Pakistan is available for interviews.
- Plan has been operating in Pakistan since 1997, helping marginalised children to access their rights to health, education, livelihood support and protection. Through long-term programmes we work with around 150 communities across the country, benefiting over 50,000 children.
- Founded over 70 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty.
For further details and interviews contact:
In Pakistan:
Ghazala Farid
Communications Coordinator
Tel: +92-51-2609435-41
In UK:
Louise Finan
Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 7739325807
louise.finan@plan-international.org
