Pakistan Floods: Humanitarian Coalition fears death toll could rise

With the first case of cholera reported in Pakistan, members of the Humanitarian Coalition are imploring Canadians to continue showing their generosity for survivors of the country’s devastating floods. 

"The massive displacement of people, potential for the spread of disease and deteriorating living conditions are increasing risks to very vulnerable infants and children,” said Mohammed Qazilbash, Save the Children's Canadian spokesperson in Pakistan. "The monsoon season could last another month, so conditions will become increasingly dire. It is no exaggeration to say that we are racing against the clock to reach people in desperate need of help."

So far, $142,000 has been raised by the Coalition to support the flood relief efforts of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada, who make up the Humanitarian Coalition.

But more is desperately needed.

“I’ve been travelling through the disaster zone and I’ve seen whole villages, riverside roads, bridges, power stations and the entire center of a town, gone. Not flooded, or damaged, but totally gone. It’s going to take a massive global investment – both from governments and ordinary people – to help this country recover. So far that investment is not forthcoming,” said Kevin McCort, a co-founder of the Humanitarian Coalition, who is currently in Pakistan.

“This is a plea to Canadians: the people of Pakistan need you now as much as the people of Haiti did in those months after the earthquake.”

Long-term, the country will struggle with rebuilding lost roads, schools and hospitals but the immediate concern is the risk posed by drinking contaminated water. With millions of survivors crammed into makeshift shelters, the risk of spreading infectious disease skyrockets.

CARE-supported mobile health clinics have treated more than 5,200 patients. Nearly 5,000 survivors in Nowshera and Charsaddah districts have received tents and non-food relief items including hygiene kits and mosquito nets. Oxfam is providing emergency clean water and sanitation facilities, hygiene kits, jerry cans and buckets to survivors. Save the Children has reached more than 40,200 people with emergency medical care and distribution of tents, shelter kits, hygiene kits, food and supplies, as well as supporting seven government health facilities and two mobile clinics.

The Humanitarian Coalition, through its member agencies, provides a widespread and effective response to emergencies, with a combined presence in 120 countries. By coming together under one banner, the Humanitarian Coalition reduces fundraising costs, increasing the impact of Canadian donations where it is needed.

Canadians can support the Pakistan relief effort by donatingto the Humanitarian Coalition  at www.together.ca or you can make a donation to Oxfam Canada's Pakistan Flood Appeal.

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For more information about the crisis, the Humanitarian Coalition or to arrange for an interview with Canadians in Pakistan or agency spokespeople, please contact:

Karen Palmer, Oxfam Canada
(613) 240-3047
karenp@oxfam.ca

Marie-Eve Bertrand, CARE Canada
(514) 458-0057
media@care.ca

Caroline Boily, Oxfam-Québec
(514) 513-0506
boilyc@oxfam.qc.ca

Denise Koulis, Save the Children Canada
(647) 291-1683
dkoulis@savethechildren.ca