Church World Service delivers Pakistan aid amid massive obstacles


Pakistan flood: Church World Service delivers aid amid massive obstacles

Agency's mobile health unit providing medicines, emergency health
care

***Editors, producers:

* CWS staff, aid workers in Pakistan available for interviews.

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Help listings for this disaster.

* High res downloadable photos of Pakistan flood
and relief available at: http://www.churchworldservice.org/hires

ISLAMABAD - Tuesday, August 3, 2010 -- With more than 3.2 million
displaced or affected by monsoon rains and the worst flooding in north
Pakistan in nearly a century, global humanitarian agency Church World
Service has announced a U.S. and international fundraising appeal.

The agency reports that its aid workers in the region are continuing
their initial response, providing food packages, shelter materials and
non-food supplies. In addition, one mobile health unit has been
dispatched so far, delivering emergency health services in Balakot.

CWS Pakistan team members report an increasing need for assistance, and
say blocked roadways and communications continue to hamper aid workers
from reaching cut-off survivors with vital food and supplies.

CWS Pakistan Senior Project Officer Tassaduq Hussain described the
situation in Banna, Allai Tehsil, saying lack of communications and
passable roads continues to hinder access to elevated areas of Allai.
"Here, there is major food shortage in markets, and the condition
for the people is not good."

Hussain said teams are hoping roads will reopen today, although more
rain is expected. He said the most immediate needs are food packages and
shelter materials.

Elsewhere, from Sibbi, Balochistan, CWS Pakistan Senior Project Officer
Saleem Dominic reported a similar situation. "Food is the initial,
immediate need, with hygiene and shelter next. Houses are completely
destroyed and flood water remains in the houses, which poses health
risks," Dominic said.

CWS is the first organization to distribute food in Sibbi, "for which
the people are very grateful," said Dominic.

Assessments by CWS and partners indicate survivors face grave
challenges given the loss of housing, crops and livestock. Most of the
affected villages are still inundated, and people in general have little
to eat and no means to earn money.

CWS, other humanitarian groups and Pakistan government officials are
voicing concern over the destruction of some 100,000 acres of fertile
soil along the Swat River, a main source for food for 50,000 people in
the area, which will take years to renew.

But for now, urgent rescue and relief continues. Church World Service
plans a response to a wide geographic area, subject to change in the
weeks ahead based on changing conditions and needs

Initial CWS efforts have included providing 500 food and shelter kits
in Sibbi, conducting assessments in affected areas and identifying
beneficiaries, and engaging the agencyâ??s mobile health clinic
services, now providing patient examinations, essential drugs and
prenatal care.

Based on assessments conducted by its staff and local partners, CWS
plans to provide emergency assistance to 70,000 people in Swat, DI Khan,
Sibbi and Kohistan, including food assistance to 35,000 people;
emergency shelter supplies to meet the needs of 17,500 people; and
mobile health access for 17,500 people in Mansehra and Swat.
Church World Service has worked in Pakistan for more than two decades
and is a leading agency in promoting and adhering to international
Sphere and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership standards for aid
quality and accountability, and as such, focuses keenly on the quality
and the nutritional value and mix of the foods distributed in disaster
settings.

CWS food packages will be distributed directly to affected families at
convenient food distribution points established in each community and
consist of 44 lbs. each of wheat flour and rice, 4¼ lbs. each of beans
and sugar, 10½ cups of cooking oil, 7 oz. of tea, and a box of iodized
salt.

As well, CWS will assess the particular nutrition needs and status of
children under 5 years of age in beneficiary families, to determine if
supplemental food resources will be required in later weeks.

Church World Service is working with other members of the ACT Alliance
Pakistan Forum as part of a coordinated response.  CWS Pakistan also has
planned ten introductory Sphere and HAP international standards
workshops for humanitarian organizations in different Pakistan cities,
to ensure quality and accountability in the Pakistan flood response.

How to help: Contributions to support emergency needs in Pakistan may
be made online at www.churchworldservice.org/pakistanfloods; by phone,
toll free, (800) 297-1516; or by check and mail to Church World Service,
P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

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