Health Crisis Grows In Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND

Media Release

Health Crisis Grows In Pakistan

26th August 2010: As the floods in Pakistan continue, the full impact on people’s health in Pakistan is beginning to unfold.

UNICEF, the United Nation’s Children’s Fund, is aware of over 200,000 confirmed cases of acute diarrhoea, 263,000 cases of skin diseases and over 200,000 acute respiratory infection cases diagnosed in flood affected areas across Pakistan. The threat of further spread of these and other waterborne diseases in the flood affected areas remains a huge concern for the agency.

For example, in one health clinic in Punjab over 80% of people were suffering from acute diarrhoea

Dennis McKinlay executive director of UNICER NZ said ‘UNICEF urgently needs to be able to increase the speed of delivery and quantity of aid. In the next few days, UNICEF will be issuing a new fundraising appeal which is likely to very significantly increase the amount of money we need to continue our immediate life saving work. 3.5 million children are at severe risk of disease and malnutrition and we need to reach more of these children soon.’

UNICEF vaccination programmes have reached more than 770,000 women and children so far. 1.9 million people are receiving safe drinking water provided through UNICEF and partners who have also distributed 450,000 water cleaning tablets and sachets.

According to latest Government reports, 17 million people are affected UNICEF is still trying to reach the most severely affected population of approximately 8 million including at least 3.5 million children. Approximately 1,500 people have been reported dead and 2,000 injured.

In parts of Sindh and Balochistan, the number of affected population is expected to increase as the flood water enters new areas, submerging additional villages. In some parts of the mountainous region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan flash floods have washed away valley roads and bridges. People are cut-off and need relief supplies and services by helicopters.

UNICEF receives no money from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) or the UN budget. We rely solely on voluntary donations which can be made online at www.unicef.org.nz or on 0800 316 5353.

For more information or to donate to UNICEF's Pakistan Emergency Relief Fund, please visit www.unicef.org.nz/PakistanEmergency

ENDS

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