TEAR Fund prepared for Pakistan Floods

20 September 2011

TEAR Fund prepared for Pakistan Floods

When massive floods devastated Pakistan last year affecting over 20 million people, TEAR Fund New Zealand recognised that this was a complex and protracted disaster which required both emergency action and long term rebuilding of infrastructure.

TEAR Fund Programme Officer Kevin Riddell visited the badly affected Sindh province of Pakistan in May. “I noted that there was a serious possibility of more severe flooding during the mid summer rainy season (July to September).” Kevin reported. “In response to this threat, TEAR Fund NZ released a second grant of funds in June to assist recovering communities and increase their emergency response capacity.”

The heavy rains started in August and have continued destroying villages and crops. About 5 million people are affected by the flooding in Sindh province with 22 of the 23 districts overwhelmed. So far the death toll stands at 210. However, this tragedy had been lessened because TEAR Fund’s partners in the area had been able to swing immediately into action, Mr. Riddell said.

“Our partners are aiding 1,750 families in Sindh with food, health kits and plastic sheeting and will shortly extend assistance to over a thousand more.” Mr Riddell said another 10 days of rain were predicted before the clean up and recovery could begin again.

“TEAR Fund will be there working with local partners to ensure that there’s food, medicine and clean water but more than that TEAR Fund are committed to the making communities stronger and more resilient.”
Donations for this vital disaster relief work can be made on the TEAR Fund website - www.tearfund.org.nz.

TEAR Fund NZ is a Christian aid and development organisation which works in close partnership with indigenous non-government organisations and churches in Asia, Africa, Central and South America. TEAR Fund actively changes the lives of the poor and oppressed through disaster relief, community development, Microenterprise, and child sponsorship. In NZ since 1975, TEAR Fund is a member of the Council for International Development, the NZ Disaster Relief Forum and has representation on the Government’s project funding allocation committee.

ENDS

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