UNICEF providing assistance for children in wake of Pakistan floods
Donate now to support UNICEF's disaster relief efforts
for children in Pakistan.
NEW YORK (August 1, 2010) — Having completed its early assessment of the situation in northwest Pakistan, UNICEF is now working to deliver much needed aid for children and families.
UNICEF has supplies pre-positioned and will use them to respond to this emergency. The organization’s country office is providing assistance in the areas of water and sanitation, health, and nutrition. UNICEF is distributing clean water and water purification tablets. Outbreaks of disease like measles are common during the aftermath of an emergency. Thus, vaccinations are being administered.
At present, the Pakistan government has requested support for some 20,000 families (120,000 persons) affected by the floods. This figure is likely to increase as access to other devastated areas becomes possible. Meanwhile, air and land rescue efforts by the government continue while roads towards and from Peshawar remain inaccessible.
In much of the affected areas there is damage to private homes, government infrastructure (buildings, bridges and roads). Families who were already internally displaced were affected as well. The sanitary facilities, water distribution points and health services within internally displaced camps have been flooded. Prior to this flood, UNICEF was already providing emergency relief to some 2 million in Pakistan people displaced by conflict.
UNICEF will continue to monitor the situation. Once a full assessment is completed UNICEF will determine if a fundraising appeal is needed. In natural disasters the most urgent humanitarian needs are typically food, water, tents, shelter, clothes, blankets, quilts, essential household items, medical supplies and rescue equipment.
If you would like to support UNICEF's disaster relief work in Pakistan, please donate online at www.unicefusa.org/pakistan.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.
UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For more information, please contact:
Kiní Schoop, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2634, (m) 917 415 6508, kschoop@unicefusa.org
Marci Greenberg, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2464, mgreenberg@unicefusa.org
