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Relief needs grow after new flooding

Devastating rains have hampered ongoing assistance efforts sparked by last year's flooding
Relief needs grow after new flooding
Survivors living on roads in flood hit rural Sindh province
Published: August 18, 2011 07:56 AM GMT
Updated: August 18, 2011 10:00 AM GMT

Recent surveys by Caritas Pakistan have highlighted a growing need for relief assistance in flood-ravaged Sindh province. “Our emergency response team is conducting need assessment visits amid torrential rains and blocked roads,” said Shamas Shamaun, executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan Hyderabad (CPH). “The disaster has burdened our rehabilitation phase for victims of last year’s floods. We need more funds to help the newly displaced.” Heavy rains, which began last week, have destroyed thousands of houses and washed away hundreds of acres of crops in six districts of Sindh province. Media reports say as many as 1.1 million people have been affected by seasonal rains in the region, where 1.8 million people are already living in relief camps after last year’s destructive monsoon flooding. Fr. James Kajo, parish priest in Kunri town, said that 30 Christian families had to evacuate the area, which is now under seven feet of water. “Their houses have been destroyed and the survivors have immediate need of boats to move to a safer place.” Franciscan Bro. Walfred Mohan said he has visited five villages in Badin district. “Heaps of mud houses are lying everywhere in empty villages. About 150 Christian families are presently living on the roadside. We are trying to contact more,” he said, adding that Franciscans and Capuchins plan to provide food items to minority victims this month. Officials with CPH said they also plan to establish at least three medical camps this week in the province and distribute food, hygiene kits and bottled water during later phases of relief work. The organization is already targeting 2,000 families affected by last year’s floods, which submerged one fifth of the country. The rehabilitation phase includes providing each of them a pair of goats, water filters and fuel-efficient stoves. Last month, CPH handed over construction materials to 500 families. Plans are in the works to prepare land for 600 farmers, to plant 50,000 trees and to provide vaccinations for 10,000 head of cattle, among other projects. Related Repots Caritas starts home-building project

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