Urgent Flood Donations Required

Update: August 23, 2010

The HOPE team has just arrived from Peshawar after holding medical camps from August 21 to 23. The three-day camps treated almost 1200 men, women and children in the Pir Sabak, Risalpur and Pabbi villages of Nowshera, and Dargai Mukarram Khan village in Charsadda.

Peshawar August 20 to August 23

With the guidance of the Assistant Commissioner of Peshawar, Mr Habib-ur Rehman, and Human Concern International, we were able to identify the hardest hit areas with water levels reaching as high as 20 feet in Pir Sabak when the flooding first occurred.  HOPE provided ration, bedding, blankets, medicine and healthcare for 300 families deep in the heart of the worst affected Nowshera and Charsadda districts.

Dargai Mukarram Khan, a remote area neighboring the Kabul River suffered widespread damage with the collapse of 220 homes and receiving little to no aid. The conditions in Peshawar were different from the urgent situation in Muzzafargarh and Sukkur as more time has lapsed since the disaster first occurred, and more and more families are returning home to rebuild their lives.

However, there is a dire need of food supply, safe drinking water and medical care. Thousands of displaced persons are still living in tent cities, such as in Risalpur and hundreds are housed in government schools and buildings.

At the moment, HOPE is coordinating a safe drinking water campaign with PuR water purifying sachets. They aim to reach 40,000 families in Sukkur, Muzzafargarh and Peshawar, where HOPE teams will demonstrate the usage of PuR, provide the sachets and give coolers, buckets, stirring spoons and straining cloth. Each family will receive enough supplies to last them for 45 days.

As phase one of HOPE’s immediate relief operation nears an end, we will keep you informed on our ongoing efforts in the near future.

We thank you for your generous donations. We couldn't do this without you.

Update: August 21, 2010

A HOPE team left for Peshawar yesterday, August 20, to set up medical camps, distribute food and shelter items, and hold safe water demonstrations in the areas of Nowshera and Charsadda, check out the update from below from Muzaffargarh.

Muzaffargarh - August 16 to August 20

 A 20-person HOPE team, including five doctors (two female gynecologists, two male doctors and one child specialist) and three paramedics arrived in Muzaffargarh city to set up medical camps, distribute essential food supply and shelter items, and to provide safe drinking water to the worst affected areas of the Muzaffargarh district.

 HOPE set up medical camps in Mahmood Kot and Baseera Village, treating a total of close to 1000 patients. On the first day, the HOPE team treated more than 350 men, women and mostly children in the town of Mahmood Kot. On the second day, 550 patients--over 300 male and over 200 women and children were treated in Baseera village that was accessible only after crossing the flooded DG Khan road, parts of which were submerged with up to four feet of water.

 Patients in both camps were treated for water-borne illnesses like diarrhea, gastroenteritis, skin-related infections, respiratory infections, and dehydration. Emergency cases such as severe dehydration were also treated, with one case of gangrene and 30 drips being administered on day two. The patients were also given high-energy biscuits and personal hygiene products, such as Pampers, Always and Safeguard.

HOPE distributed relief packages to 300 families, which included essential food supplies that were meant to last each family of 7-8 people for 45 days. They also gave out tents, blankets and bedding. In addition, HOPE conducted safe drinking water demonstrations where they distributed PuR water-purifying sachets, coolers, buckets, stirring spoons and straining nets.

Schedule:

  • August 13-16: Sukkur (see update below from August 17th)
  • August 16-19: Multan/Muzzafargarh (see update above from August 21st)
  • August 20-23: Peshawar/Nowshera/Charsadda

Update: August 17, 2010

HOPE teams headed to Multan on Monday, August 16 to set up medical camps and to deliver relief packages for the Muzzafargarh evacuees that are encamped outside Multan.

Packages include essential food supplies (pulse, sugar, flour, rice, tea, cooking oil and dry milk), and personal hygiene products that will last each family of 7-8 people for 45 days. HOPE will also provide shelter for displaced people, including blankets, bedding and cooking utensils. Simultaneously, HOPE will be running medical camps and conducting safe drinking water demonstrations.

Sukkur update:

The HOPE team comprised of 17 members including five doctors and disaster response coordinators arrived in Sukkur on August 13. They found the area in poor condition with most of the villages submerged underwater and water levels as high as rooftops. There were few organized camps and most people were encamped on the roadside with some living on the edge of the flooded water. Key roads and the main highway were also submerged. Access to the main city was only available through boats. HOPE set up medical camps and treated 350 patients on the first day and 550 patients on the second day, providing them with medicines and personal hygiene products. Most of the patients were children and some adults, suffering from diarrhea, gastroenteritis, skin infections and malnourishment. In two days HOPE catered to 7,000 people, providing medical care, distributing PuR (water-purifying sachets), soap, diapers, and sanitary napkins as well as holding safe drinking water demonstrations.

Thank you for your generosity.

Further updates can be found at: http://hope-ngo.com/Emergencies/FloodRelief2010/MedicalCamps.aspx

August 14, 2010

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused widespread destruction. Millions have lost their homes and thousands have lost their lives. The displaced population is currently living in makeshift camps and government buildings, while some are still stranded in flooded areas.

The evacuees are in dire need of food, shelter, medical care and safe drinking water. Karachi-based non-profit HOPE is currently mobilizing a flood relief operation by sending emergency response and medical teams to the worst affected areas of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 HOPE's efforts, starting August 14 in Sukkur are four-part. We will:

  • Distribute essential food supply packages to families
  • Provide shelter, bedding and cooking utensils
  • Set up medical camps and provide medicines free of cost
  • Conduct a safe drinking water campaign

Your donations will be greatly appreciated in this time of need.