Aid is needed to stem looming health crisis in aftermath of Pakistan's floods

Published: 16th September 2011

As rains continue to lash the flood ravaged Sindh province in Pakistan, international aid agency Oxfam warns of a severe risk of a public health crisis if clean water and sanitation is not urgently provided. According to the National Disaster Management Authority more than 100,000 adults and 500,000 children are at risk of contracting diseases if the international community does not provide immediate assistance.

Millions of affectees are living in extremely unhygienic conditions without access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation facilities, which if not addressed will lead to an outbreak of water-borne and vector-borne diseases like acute diarrhea, dengue, malaria and hepatitis.

“These are exceptionally overwhelming circumstances that the people are facing, many of whom are still recovering from last year’s floods. People’s natural resilience to coping has eroded with one disaster after the other. Lack of food, water, shelter and sanitation has further weakened their resistance to diseases. Women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are now more vulnerable than ever,” said Neva Khan, Country Director of Oxfam in Pakistan.

Reportedly, out of the 5.3 million flood affected people, 32 percent are women. Of these more than 100,000 are pregnant and are highly susceptible to diseases. The need for clean water and sanitation is essential if the spread of diseases is to be controlled and a further disaster averted.

Sufficient resources to meet the critical need for water and sanitation are urgently required. “The clock is ticking and with each passing day human suffering is multiplying. Oxfam urges the donor community to gear up its response and support Pakistan generously in its time of need,” said Neva.

Stagnant flood water will become a breeding ground for many diseases in the days to come. Humanitarian responses during the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the 2010 mega-floods indicate that the provision of water and sanitation is life-saving and can greatly reduce the occurrence of many diseases.

It is estimated that approximately 2.5 million people are in immediate need of clean water and sanitation. Less than a week into the crisis Oxfam and our partners have reached more than 20,000 people with clean water supplies, conducted hygiene promotion sessions to raise awareness with 5500 people, provided more than 6000 people with hygiene kits and have assisted in the search and rescue of 42,544 people, of which 22,292 are women.

Read more

Oxfam responds to fresh flooding in Pakistan (slideshow)

Oxfam's humanitarian response to Pakistan floods 2010

The clock is ticking and with each passing day human suffering is multiplying.
Neva Khan
Country Director of Oxfam in Pakistan

Notes to editors

Oxfam has been working in Pakistan since 1973. The 2010 floods were the worst ever in recorded history of Pakistan, affecting 20 million people, with 1,985 killed and another 2,964 injured.

Oxfam responded by mounting its biggest-ever worldwide humanitarian response. In the past year, Oxfam and its partners have helped 2.4 million people affected by the disaster.

Our assistance included emergency search and rescue, clean water and sanitation, cash grants and cash for work schemes, and shelter.

Contact information

In Pakistan: Bisma Akbar, Media Officer on +92 345 6969 902 or bakbar@oxfam.org.uk 

Photos from Pakistan are available on request. Oxfam staff is available for interviews.