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Alert
Pakistan
2012 Monsoon Season: Flash Floods and Drought
Geneva, 30 August 2012
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
As of late August, the 2012 monsoon season has brought less than average rainfall (40% below average) causing drought and drought-like conditions in areas across the country, particularly in Sindh but also Balochistan and Southern Punjab. On 23 August 2012, the government announced flood warnings at the start of a heavy spell of rain across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, and parts of Balochistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), which caused flash floods. Affected areas include 10 districts in KPK, 6 districts in Punjab, and 3 districts in AJK. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), as of 28 August, at least 28 deaths and 15 injuries have occurred while more than 1,200 houses and shops have been partially or completely damaged. More rain is predicted for the coming days in KPK, Punjab and AJK.
At the same time the provincial government of Sindh has declared Tharparkar District a calamity-hit drought area, deferring all payments of outstanding government dues including agricultural taxes and loan payments. It further declared the drought situation beyond its capacity to respond and called upon the federal government and international community to respond to the people’s needs. 95% of Tharparkar has had no rain and 1.2 million of its population of 1.3 million is affected by the drought. Major parts of Umerkot District and some areas of Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar, Kohistan region of Jamshoro, and ‘Kachho’ area of Dadu District are also facing severe drought.
2. Why is an ACT response needed
Taking into consideration the extent of the combined damages and threats from the flash floods and drought, the huge area and population affected, and the continuing struggle to recover from previous years’ floods, the poor and unprepared communities are at a high risk of losing their property, assets and agricultural and livestock based livelihoods. A lowered availability of food and employment opportunities will further exacerbate the deterioration of food security and other basic needs throughout the worst affected areas. Based on the previous years’ experience, the likelihood of a rapidly deteriorating situation also increases the risk of the provincial and national government not being able to meet all needs.
3. National and international response
Provincial and district disaster management authorities along with other government bodies, local organizations, and community based organizations are providing humanitarian assistance to the affected people in KPK and Punjab. The humanitarian community, collectively and individually, has worked on contingency plans for the 2012 monsoon season and coordination to respond to needs when and where needed.
4. ACT Alliance response and planned activities
The ACT Pakistan Forum comprising Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), ICCO and Kerk in Actie and Christian aid (CA), meets regularly and has coordinated on a contingency plan for floods and drought relief. It is prepared to respond, if funding permits, as soon as the federal government requests international assistance. The Forum is closely monitoring the situation and regularly communicates with its partners and staff in the field as well as participates in coordination and cluster meetings. Planned activities include: food and non-food packages, shelter kits, WASH, health and protection.
5. Constraints
The lack of funding or delayed response to funding will extremely limit the ACT Pakistan Forum’s ability to respond.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)
