Facts and figures as of 1 September 2010

The Singapore Red Cross is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and we are working with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to bring aid to the survivors of the Pakistan floods.

The following update details how your donation is translated to emergency relief efforts, and how your continued giving will help the overall recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Pakistan.

The disaster

• The latest figures from the Pakistan National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) indicate a continued rise where, 1,677 people have died; with 2,605 people reported as injured; 1,248,704 homes damaged and an estimated 17.4 million have been affected.

• This is a disaster that continues to unfold. Floodwaters may be receding in some areas but new areas continue to be affected, particularly in the southern province of Sindh. The monsoon rains are predicted to continue for at least a few more weeks.

• Floodwaters continue to sweep southward and the situation in Thatta is now considered very serious. More than 500,000 people have been evacuated in Sindh province. In Sindh, the current spate of flooding is affecting low-lying areas of Thatta and Hyderabad districts. The city of Hyderabad city appears to be safe, but in the areas surrounding the city, the Indus River has swelled from its normal width of 200-300 metres to almost three and a half kilometres. Sindh is now the worst affected Province with 19 of its 23 districts ravaged by flood waters. It is now estimated that floodwaters could take a week to reach the sea.

• Immediate relief needs continue to be shelter, clean water, food and emergency healthcare.

The response of the Singapore Red Cross

• The Singapore Red Cross made a donation of USD100,000 (or SGD $135,074) in contribution to the immediate relief efforts in Pakistan's flood-ravaged northwest on 2 August 2010.

• As part of our contributions to the on-going relief efforts towards Pakistan, the Singapore Red Cross has purchased 260 tons of family food packs worth over S$260,000. Each family food pack which comprise of wheat flour, rice, lentil, cooking oil / ghee, sugar, tea and salt is sufficient to feed a family of seven for a month. The family food pack will be distributed through the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies to the survivors of the flood situation.

• Additionally, 8,000 pieces of high quality tarpaulin will also be purchased through the IFRC to be used as temporary shelters for the many survivors whose homes have been washed away by the torrents.

Water and sanitation

• Access to clean drinking water continues to be a major relief need, particularly in the south of Pakistan where communities remain displaced from villages.

• The Red Cross and Red Crescent is currently providing clean drinking water to more than 79,625 people through its ERUs, infrastructure repairs where waters have receded, and the provision of purification tablets and household filters.

Health

• More than 75,000 people have received treatment through PRCS medical health units since 31 July. Diarrhoea followed by acute respiratory illness are the main illnesses being treated.

• The reach of health care services will be increased this week when two Red Cross Red Crescent basic health care ERUs are expected to begin treating patients in and around Larkana (Sindh) and Multan (Punjab). These units complement the 32 PRCS medical health units already providing services in five provinces.

IFRC & PRCS

• The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, working through PRCS has provided food to 58,191 families (more than 400,000 people) and non-food items including tarpaulins, tents, blankets, jerry cans, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, stoves and bowls to 21,628 families (just over 150,000 people).

• Two relief ERUs are currently in operation – one in Mardan (KPK) and a second in Multan (Punjab).

Shelter

• An estimated 1.2 million houses have been severely damaged or destroyed and the majority of the families – roughly eight million people – are living under harsh conditions in makeshift tents on embankments and in relief centres.

• Tents will remain necessary in the south (Sindh) especially in camps, as well as in the north (KPK) with the upcoming winter and as materials are quite inaccessible. Local building materials will not be immediately available in big numbers to directly help out with the huge displacement in the south.

Early recovery – bridging the gap between relief and recovery

• Planning for the recovery and rehabilitation phases has begun following early recovery assessments in a number of communities (predominantly in the north where floodwaters are receding).

• The floods have had an immense impact on livelihoods; destroying crops and seed stocks, killing large numbers of livestock, damaging small businesses and leaving a shortage of tools for replanting and reconstruction.

• Livelihood priorities identified through assessments include provision of skills training, developing/strengthening market linkages, micro finance schemes and rebuilding small businesses, provision of equipment and tools for farmers and small business, support for the establishment of local committees and integration of psychosocial support across all sectors of recovery activities.

Please contribute to ongoing relief efforts in Pakistan by making a donation to the Singapore Red Cross.

Donors who wish to contribute towards this public appeal may do so through the following:

• Cheque donations

Donations via cheque can be made to ‘Singapore Red Cross Society’ and sent to the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. Please include name, contact details and “Pakistan Floods” at the back of the cheque.

• Walk-in donations

Donors may make their cash/cheque donations at the Red Cross House at 15 Penang Lane (near Dhoby Gaut MRT Station) during its office hours, Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5.30pm.

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