Brief on Pakistan Monsoon Floods 2011

Just over one year after the devastating 2010 floods in Pakistan, monsoon rains have once again caused flooding that has left massive swathes of the country’s south under water.

The unusual heavy rains in months of August and September have caused floods in 23 districts of Sindh province. The floods have resulted in 466 deaths and 756 injuries, damaged 1.5 million houses and affected 6.6 million acres of land. Over 9.1 million people are affected by floods as reported by NDMA.

By: PDMA, updated on 01-10-11

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Response:

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) along with its Movement Partners (IFRC and ICRC) and Partner National Societies (PNSs) is jointly responding to the Monsoon Floods – 2011.

PRCS, Sindh Branch responded immediately through its district branches. Response teams including staff and volunteers trained in emergency response, first aid, and healthcare were deployed to the affected areas within 24 hours of the flash floods to carry out rapid needs assessments and provide emergency relief.

• PRCS Sindh Branch sent a Rapid Assessment Team to have an idea of urgent needs to make immediate plan of action.
• Established a communication channel with District Branches-DM Cells.
• DM Cells started with support of PHQ to provide assistance to affectees.
• Established a control room at PHQ.
• Started dispatching Relief Good to District Branches to initiate necessary distributions.
• National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) from PRCS was deployed in Sindh.
• All DM Cells were put on high alert and all trained volunteers were called for the Relief Operation.
• The PHQ Officers were deployed as Team Leaders in each district to carry out the Relief Operation.

Activities So Far 

• Daily Sit Rep is being sent to all concerned from control room of the PHQ.
• PRCS, Sindh Branch however immediately deployed following teams in the field.

o   Assessment teams.

o   Relief Teams

o   Medical teams.

o   Water Purification Plant team

PRCS, Sindh Assessment teams deployed in following most affected districts:

• Khairpur
• Badin
• Mirpurkhas
• Shaheed Benazirabad
• Thatta
• Dadu
• Sanghar

PRCS, Sindh Relief teams deployed in following most affected districts:

• Badin
• Dadu
• Khairpur
• Mirpurkhas
• Shaheed Banazirabad
• Tharparkar
• Thatta

PRCS, Sindh Medical teams deployed in following most affected districts:

• Dadu (1 team)
• Shaheed Benazirabad (3 teams)
• Mirpurkhas (2 teams)
• Thatta (3 teams)
• Badin  (2 teams)
• Jacobabad (1 team)
• Tharparkar (to be deployed)
• Larkana (2 teams)
• Sanghar (4 teams)

PRCS, Sindh Health Department has deployed 18 medical teams are currently active. So far they have attended 100033 patients in 10 districts.  The major diseases being treated are skin disorders, acute respiratory tract infection, diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis. Dengue and malaria have been noted to be on the rise, though have not reached outbreak or epidemic levels.

PRCS, Sindh Water Purification Plant teams deployed in following most affected districts:

• Badin                                             (one plant)
• Khairpur                                      (one plant)
• Mirpurkhas                                 (two plants)
• Shaheed Benazirabad             (two plants)
• Sanghar                                        (two Plant)

Daily production: about 333,000 litres

Keeping in mind the dire needs of the monsoon affected people of Sindh, PRCS is in the process of deploying 7 more water and sanitation units in the following locations:

• 2 x Badin (Tando Bhago)
• 3 x Benazirabad (Nawabshah City)
• 2 x Sanghar (Shahdadpur)

Out of the 7 new WATSAN units, 5 x units are in process of deployment (3: Badin 2: Sanghar) and 2 x units in Benazirabad are in the process of being installed on the site.

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY PRCS, SINDH BRANCH

FROM AUGUST 19, 2011 TO NOVEMBER 24, 2011

Total Families Reached:                     51172 HH

Further supply of Food Parcels and b. Non food items (NFIs) is in the pipeline.

Other Red Cross/ Red Crescent Working (bilateral)

• German Red Cross is considering to support in Badin and Dadu for Relief and Health.  The Proposal is being prepared and consulted with the PHQ and GRC Team in Karachi.
• Danish Red Cross is also considering to provide Relief Items in Dadu.
• Iranian Red Crescent is supported in Food.
• Turkish Red Crescent is also supported in Food and Providing NFI’s.
• UAE Red Crescent is also supporting for 20,000 Food Parcels for affected population of Sindh
• Norwegian Red Cross is considering to support 02 MHU’s in Mirpurkhas.
• Canadian Red Cross is also negotiating with us for Health and Relief Support.