June 6, 2010 at 8.30 pm
Situation Update for Cyclone Phet
Strengthening Participatory Organization
At the time of compilation of this update, the Cyclone Phet is about to struck coastal areas Sindh. After playing havoc in areas of Balochistan with widespread heavy rains and thunderstorms, the weather system is causing unprecedented rains in several districts of Sindh including Karachi, Tando Allah Yar, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin. Although the intensity of the storm has reduced but the rains, urban flooding and windstorm are posing grave challenge to the human lives, properties and livelihoods.
SPO’s Monitoring and Assessment Teams
A couple of days earlier, SPO sent disaster alert to its offices in Thatta, Karachi, and Turbat. SPO has placed its humanitarian teams at six places namely Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Gwadar, Javni and Turbat. Rapid assessments are being made and teams are monitoring the situation closely and sending regular reports so that the situation does not turn into any catastrophic situation. SPO response teams are also responding to the situations where the complaints of lack of coordination, food and medicines are coming up.
Cyclone Situation in Balochistan
According to fresh updates and information’s received from field staff and partner organizations from District Gwadar revealed the figures of families who shifted to safer places and shelters.
Electricity in most parts of Gwadar district is not available and road communications are blocked especially for Jiwani, Sur and areas Pasni. Since the electricity is absent standing water in Gwadar city has not been removed so far. The district government has engaged only one pump to drain out water from the areas of Gwadar city. There is dire need to urgently remove the standing water so that infrastructure could be saved and spread of disease could be avoided.
In Gwadar some evacuations have been made yesterday afternoon by the district government Gwadar and Pakistan Navy in Jiwani. Approximately, 5000 people from villages Demi Zir, Mulla Bund Warh (3 to 4 feet water rises and houses are inundated), Kohbun Warh, Gulf Usmania Warh have been moved to safer places. Details are given below. Two injured children shifted for further treatment to Karachi with the facilitation of Pakistan Navy Helicopters.
Further, some 2000 people have migrated to their relatives to the safe places in the outskirts of Gwadar, while 3000 individuals are moved to safer places with support of District government and other agencies.
• Akram Camp Naval Base Gwadar approximately 2000 individuals
• RCDC Gwadar 35 Individuals
• Government College Gwadar 50 people
• GDA school 300 individuals
• GDA hospital 300 people
• Coast Guard Camp Gwadar 60 people
• Girls Primiary School Kahuda Mohalla Gwadar 130 people
• National Hospital 40 people
Total 2,915 individuals
In above mentioned figures people who severely affected by Phet cyclone are receiving aid from local government and other agencies while SPO is supporting 130 people residing in Girls Primary School Kahuda Mohalla Gwadar. So far following major challenges are being faced by the people displaced.
• Food security and access drinkable water
• Required medical care
• Drainage of inundated water in affectees houses
• Require proper shelter
Union Council SUR – Gwadar
SUR is a densely populated of union council of Gwadar which badly affected from thrust of Phet Cyclone as 50% UC areas are inundated with flood water which has triggered sever problem for the residence of UC. Communication links have been disconnected by flood water which impeded access to area from Gwadar. Eight villages of UC severely affected are as follow,
1- Bund Sar 144 house holds
2- Baloch Ward 241 households
3- Negori Ward 221 households
4- Kangani 229 House holds
5- Kolchi Ward 293 households
6- Nokabad 166 households
7- Fisheries Ward(Pabb) 188 households
8- Shddaat 56 households
Total 1538 Households
Tehsil Jiawni – Gwadar
Around 200 households yesterday moved to shelters but still unable to get any proper support from government and other humanitarian actors. It is triggering alarming situation.
Tehsil Pasni – Gawadar
Three union council of Pasni Tehsil are also severely affected by Phet cyclone, the names with villages are follows;
• UC Shimali (North) village Babbarshoor 70 households
• Village Chakuli 30 households
• Village Kandasole 30 households
• Village Kalmat 150 households
• UC Kallag 40 households
• Village Nalant 60 households
Total 380 Households
There are authentic news that five fishermen who could not be evacuated by Pak Navy despite efforts have been rescued by Iranian coat Guards from deep sea.
Province Sindh Updates
Sindh is also receiving the thrust of Phet of Cyclone which is affecting different cities especially adjacent to coast.
Two Union Councils Kharo Chan and Kati Bundar are much exposed to affects of cyclone but despite frequent announcements by government people of UCs refused to evacuate their houses which generate challenging situation for government to handle the issue amicably. The resident of same UC were on view that they had faced same type of Cyclone in past and would not evacuate out of their homes. Government departments requested SPO to assist in evacuating the people to safer places. SPO staff with its effective mobilization convinced 1797 households in shifting to safer shelters. Here, it is imperative to note that SPO staff assisted in evacuating process. Its detailed are attached separately.
District Hyderabad
In Hyderabad rains are causing huge urban flooding especially in low laying areas. These areas include:
• American Quarter
• Areas of Qasimabad
• Sehrish Nagar
• GR Colony
• Mumtaz Colony
• Bhattai Nagar
• Marvi town
• Hur camp
• Gari Khata
So far one casualty has been reported in Sajjan Goth
SPO’s Response
SPO teams are coordinating for the any FIs and NFIs needs between the settlements where people have been shifted. So far SPO has provided some food items in Gwadar City in GPS Kahuda Mohallah where 130 people have been provided cooked food, clean drinking water and other essentials focusing women and children. Since the district government and Pakistan Navy is providing food and other essentials to the displaced people, SPO is coordinating with district government for the coverage of said settlement by the government as well. In rest of the settlements, clean drinking water and dry / cane food is also being provided by SPO where needed. District government and other agencies are focusing on health issues of the displaced people. However, SPO teams are readily available in Quetta and Turbat to move into Gwadar, if need arises.
In Sindh, some food distributions have been made in collaboration with the district government in two school settlements in Thatta district. SPO teams along with district government have contributed to evacuate people especially from Keti Bundar and Kharo Chan.