Mr. Alistair Gee, Executive Director of Act for Peace, said, “Our partners on the ground are already distributing food packages, shelter, drinking water, hygiene kits and mosquito nets for flood affected families in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Our partners have also put into action a mobile health unit to provide emergency health assistance in Mansehra. More mobile health units will soon cover areas such as Kohistan, Swat and Balakot.”
“More than 1.5 million people have been affected thus far. Families are stranded and exposed to disease and extreme lack of food. Thousands have been displaced. Other impacts include the loss of livestock and damage to agricultural crops and fields,” said Mr. Gee.
Act for Peace’s partners report that total estimated damages and affected population are yet to be determined due to inaccessibility caused by rising flood waters and disruption to communication networks.
Mr. Gee said, “Our response is in the very early stages and the magnitude of destruction is only just beginning to surface in the international media. Our local partners, which are members of the ACT Alliance, are preparing for the potential of massive displacement and relocation of residents.”
“Our partners in Pakistan have been actively working with communities to overcome the affects of war and respond with resilience to disasters. It is vital that a strong, concerted and well coordinated aid effort is carried out. This disaster threatens to undo amazing development achievements in Pakistan since the earthquake in 2005 which claimed over 80,000 lives.
How to Help:
Gifts can be made online at www.actforpeace.org.au, via Free Call 1800 025 101, or by Post: Act for Peace, Locked Bag 199, Sydney, NSW 1230. More than 90% of gifts will be sent directly to assist the victims of this terrible flooding in Pakistan. All gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible and any excess funds raised will be applied to ongoing development work in Pakistan.
For further information or interviews please contact:
Campaigns & Communication Coordinator, Edwyn Shiell 0458 303 515
About Act for Peace: Act for Peace is the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. We empower war-torn communities to reduce poverty, protect refugees, and prevent further conflict. Our project partners are currently assisting more than one million people in the world's worst conflict areas, including Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, the Middle East, Burma and Sri Lanka.
