2010-12-04 13:26:41

Pakistan’s flood-affected people in need of more assistance, says UN official


(December 04, 2010) The United Nations humanitarian chief on Friday visited the flood-ravaged area of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh to review relief efforts among people still suffering from the effects of the deluge that cut a swathe across the country four months ago following torrential rainfall. Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs during her visit confirmed that this disaster is far from over. Millions of people in Pakistan are still living without basic necessities after their homes and sources of livelihood were washed away or damaged by the floods that swamped several provinces along the Indus River basin following heavy monsoon rains that began in July. “A lot has been done, but there is much more to do,” said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Four months on, there are still long lines of tents along dykes and dams. Even the strongest are growing weary. It is critical that we continue to assist the people of Pakistan during this devastating emergency.” Out of an estimated 18 million people affected by the floods, close to 7.2 million are in Sindh. Ongoing relief efforts have made it possible for more than two million people in Sindh to have access to safe water, and more than 4.3 million others have received food assistance, according to the UN Office Reports. High levels of malnutrition and a risk of an outbreak of disease, however, remain a concern, with children and pregnant women being the most vulnerable.







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