Pakistan Floods: "Conventional aid delivery just isn’t an option"

Some 800,000 survivors of Pakistan’s floods are completely cut off by rising waters and are only reachable by helicopter, making relief efforts significantly more challenging as the death toll rises and rain continues to fall.

“We are working against incredible odds,” said Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director Robert Fox. “Conventional aid delivery just isn’t an option here and we’re working as hard as we can to stay ahead of a public health crisis.”

Despite daily reminders to avoid contaminated water and soil, living conditions for evacuees are dire and the number of people with skin and eye infections is growing. Some 200,000 people are being treated for diarrhea, prompting worry amongst health officials about a looming cholera outbreak.

More than 17 million people are directly affected by the floods and the death toll has risen to 1,539 with 2,055 people confirmed as injured. More than a million homes have been damaged or destroyed.

The situation in Sindh continues to deteriorate, with evacuations reported from Thatta and Shahdadkot districts in recent days, as the second wave of floodwaters moves into the south of the province.

For interviews in Pakistan, please contact:
Louise Hancock
Mobile: +92 (0) 308 555 9694
Skype: lou-hancock
Twitter: @louiseinkabul
lohancock@oxfam.org.uk

For interviews in Canada, please contact:
Karen Palmer
613-240-3047
karenp@oxfam.ca