Save the Children Increases Efforts to Reach Families Stranded

4 August 2010 – Save the Children New Zealand welcomes the announcement the New Zealand Government is providing $2 million emergency aid to Pakistan following the severe flooding in the northwest of the country.

‘While we welcome the New Zealand Government’s generous response, the need in Pakistan is great and growing as the monsoon rains continue to trigger deadly floods and mudslides. With latest estimates of three million people displaced and a high risk of waterborne diseases, children are at greatest risk and desperately need our help,’ says Save the Children New Zealand CEO Liz Gibbs.

Save the Children New Zealand launched its emergency appeal for Pakistan yesterday to help the children and families in the flood affected areas.

‘Save the Children has been working on the ground in Pakistan for the more than 30 years delivering education, healthcare and other essential programmes for their children and their families. Save the Children New Zealand has already committed $20,000 as an immediate response and, given the high level of need, we call on New Zealanders to dig deep to help the children of Pakistan and give to our appeal today,’ says Ms Gibbs.

Save the Children has deployed its rapid response team to the worst-affected and hardest to reach communities in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The team navigated the rushing waters using rafts linked to ropes and pulleys in order to distribute temporary shelters and supplies to stranded children and their families.

‘In nearly all the flood-affected areas, water supplies have been contaminated,’ says Annie Foster, Save the Children’s associate vice president for humanitarian response.

‘There are confirmed reports of diarrhoea and cholera that may spread rapidly among the hundreds of thousands who have lost their homes. In this type of environment, children – especially those under five years of age – are the most vulnerable to severe illness and even death.

‘People are stranded and are rapidly using up their supplies of stored food,’ says Ms Foster. ‘There is a critical need to get more clean water, food and medical assistance to thousands of children and their families in the next few days.’

New Zealanders can make donations at www.savethechildren.org.nz or by calling 0800 167 168.

ENDS

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