Responding to the devastating floods in Pakistan
Published on 07 October 2022 02:50 PM
DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal
Millions of people have been affected by growing conflict in the Middle East. People across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region are in urgent need of support.
Earlier this year, 33 million people were affected by devastating flooding in Pakistan. Thousands were killed or injured, and homes were swept away.
The UK public has responded with remarkable generosity to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, raising over £25 million.
But more assistance is needed as many older people continue to live in makeshift shelters in unsanitary conditions as winter approaches.
In the immediate aftermath of the flood, many older people were stranded on dry patches of ground, sleeping out in the open air and cut off from any help. During a disaster of this scale, older people are sadly not always treated as a priority. Many needed support to leave their flooded homes and find shelter but struggled to access mass distributions of humanitarian aid due to mobility issues or health conditions.
With our partners, we responded quickly to reach older people in need in the worst-affected regions. Our colleagues at CDF even waded through water that was shoulder-high to get essentials to the most in-need older people. We have also spoken to older people affected to build our understanding of their needs and ensure our response meets them.
Shamal is one of the people our partner CDF was able to reach with support. Displaced from her home, she is living in a tent with her two sons and 12 grandchildren.
“My land is all gone. I don’t have anything. For god’s sake, please look at my area, it’s all demolished. Allah saved us.
I am unable to work, my one eye is almost of no use. Wherever I go and whoever’s house I am staying in, I am just sitting around.
I’ve got some items from CDF including cooking pots, food, sugar, soap, a mattress, a pillow, and a mosquito net. These items were very helpful.”
Like Shamal, many are still sheltering in temporary camps and public buildings. They will need further help as colder weather approaches. Thanks to appeal donations, we can distribute shelter kits with bamboo, tarpaulin, nails and tools to older people and their families to build shelters, as well as bedding and mosquito nets to keep them warm and safe from illnesses like malaria and dengue fever. We'll also distribute essentials like wheelchairs, walking sticks and commodes, and items like flashlights and whistles to help them stay safe.
In some areas, the flooding has not receded. Standing water and unsanitary conditions have left older people at risk of health problems and waterborne diseases. Essential infrastructure such as health facilities and roads were damaged and destroyed, leaving the country poorly equipped to support the vulnerable. Whilst we already hope to help thousands of older people and their families, many more are still in need.
Please, continue to support our appeal so that older people in Pakistan can get the help they need.
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