Flood Situation 2014 Update – 3
23:00, 15th September 2014 Presently, River Chenab is flowing in High Flood at PanjnadHeadworks with inflow/outflow of 380,000 Cusecs. It is at Low Flood Stage at Trimmu where inflow/outflow is 154,000 Cusecs. Rivers Indus at Guddu, Jhelum at Rasul and Ravi at Sidhnai are flowing in Low Flood, whereas River Sutlej is flowing at normal level. Civil and military administration has been put on red alert in Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur districts of Punjab as flood water is heading Guddu Barrage. For rest of the current week, there is no forecast for any significant weather event across the country. Shershah (N-70) – Mechanical breaching of road at kilometre 19-20 was done on 12 September 2014 in the evening. Due to breaching of Shershah Bund, floodwater is flowing over top the road on two and a half kilometre length between kilometre 19-21. The road is closed for all types of traffic since 1830hrs on 12 September 2014. In last 24 hours, 23 individuals lost their lives and death toll has touched the mark of 312 (232 in Pujab, 66 in AJK and 14 in GB) while the figure of injured person has also increased in last 24 hours. The total figure of injured persons is so far 540. 42676 houses have been fully or partly damaged across all the affected regions and only in Punjab the figure is 32243. The overall figure of directly affected population has also increased and now current figures are 2.275 million people. Pak Army and civil administration has evacuated more than half a million people from flood affected districts of Punjab. NDMA has distributed 72100 tents among displaced and affected population of 26 districts of Punjab till the filing of this update. For detailed maps of damages and exact locations of floods, please visit below link; http://www.ndma.gov.pk/new/Documents/Sitrep_Maps%20_12_9-14.pdf
Flood Situation 2014 Update – 2
23:00 14th September 2014 High flood discharge at Shershah Railway Bridge and Panjnad Head Works in River Chenab and Jhelm is playing havoc with the lives and property of rural communities in the districts of southern Punjab. The flood flow level at Head Trimmu is gradually receding now and total flow is 152,000 cusecs.Multan – Mianwali Link Road (connecting Multan City) has been breached at Head Muhammad Wala Bridge at Km. 5+900 (11:30 AM) and at Km. 6+000 (03:00 PM) on 12th September 2014 to reduce the flood water pressure on Head Muhammad Wala Bridge and Akbar. Death toll has touched the mark of 289 (209 in Punjab, 66 in AJK and 14 in GB) and accumulatively 507 persons have been injured so far. Today in an unfortunate incident 17 members of a family drowned in floodwaters in Multan, when their boat capsized in River Chenab. The other 20 passengers were rescued by the army and local people. According to NDMA figures 5240 houses have been fully demolished due to torrential rains for river flooding in GB, AJK and Punjab. The total figure of partially damaged houses is 38852 and 30021 are only in Punjab. The overall figure of affected population has crossed 1.5 million who have directly hit by the flood in Punjab, AJK and GB. Pak Army and civil administration have been rescued 232,266 persons in 22 districts of Central and Southern Punjab and the operation is still underway. SPO has already mobilized its regional offices and partner organizations in the affected districts of Punjab and would issue situation updates on daily basis. A rapid damage assessment is going to be launched within a couple of days and findings would be shared soon.
Drought in District Tharparkar-Sindh – Situation Update 3
12:00 noon on 21 March 2014 According to NDMAsituation update of 20th March 2014, the medical services have been reached to 60222 persons that include 20197 children, 21772 females and 18253 males and relief services are being carried out across the district. 40 paramedics and 10 doctors from Hyderabad and other districts have been reached Thar for emergency medical duty. So far 2044 cattle heads have been reported perished and 2.39 million have been vaccinated against the deadly disease of Sheep Pox. BBC Urdu reported the launch of a 30 million Euros long term food security program in Sindh; the EU Ambassador Mr. Lars announced the program. BBC also reported death of 2 children in Mithi Hospital and total death toll has touched the mark of 150 since the onset of severe drought in the district. According to Sindhi Newspapers reported 6 deaths have been reported in this week. Pakistan Emergency Food Security Alliance (PEFSA) released a statement on 16th of March 2014 about the overall situation of malnourished children in Sindh. According to the statement there are 57% malnourished children under 5 years of age are stunted. National electronic media reported the announcement by PM for cash grant provisions to the affected families of Thar. Almost 78000 people will receive cash assistance and get benefit of the scheme, PM house sources said. SPO has allocated PKR One million for rolling out emergency operation in Village and UC Dhaklo of Tehsil Chahchroo. The initial assessment has been done and operation would be kicked start within a couple of days. The immediate needs of the area are food, health services, clean drinking water, dry fodder and vaccination of livestock. Distribution of food packs for 300 families in village Dhaklo is planned on 23rd March 2014.
Drought in District Tharparkar-Sindh – Situation Update 1
23:00 hours at 11 March 2014 Government of Sindh has announced drought emergency in district Tharparkar and officially launched a request to UN humanitarian Coordinator was requested by Sindh government to organize a joint UN mission to review the reports of high number of child deaths in the district.[i] NDMA has declared Chahro, Islamkot, Khinser and Mithi as worst affected areas and total 20 UCs are declared as severely affected areas.[ii] The Pakistan Army has distributed 45 tons of food, established four medical camps and a team of doctors including 3 lady officers and 3 child specialists have treated 1,625 affectees. PDMA Baluchistan has dispatched 1,000 rice bags (50 KG each) for distribution. PDMA Sindh has dispatched 5,000 ration bags for distribution, while medical supplies and teams of doctors have also been sent to the affected areas. Officials of NDMA and PDMA KP are also on ground to assess the situation[iii] National Humanitarian Network (NHN) Sindh Chapter holds a meeting in Hyderabad for taking all the members on board regarding situation in Thar. According to NHN, they are going to launch an advocacy campaign for exerting pressure on provincial government for fulfilling their commitments as well as ensure transparent distribution of food assistance to the affected population.[iv] SPO is collecting information from the ground and formulate a course of action by March 13, 2014. According to various on ground sources the acute needs are food distribution, access to health facilities, nutrition stabilization services, drinking water and vaccination and fodder of livestock against sheep pox that is on rise in the area. [i]Tharparkar UN Joint Report – March 10, 2014 [ii] http://www.ndma.gov.pk/new/Documents/Drought_%20_Situation%20Report%20_11%20Mar_14.pdf [iii]Tharparkar UNI Joint Report – March 11, 2014 [iv] Minutes of NHN Meeting held on 10th March 2014 at Hyderabad The National Humanitarian Network (NHN), a network of national non govern mental organization, express its concern on the inadequacy of the response to the disaster in Balochistan and called upon the government to expedite, also plan and implement rehabilitation of affected population and reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure.
Drought in District Tharparkar-Sindh – Situation Update 2
12:00 noon on 18 March 2014 NDMA has declared Mithi, Chachroo, Diplo, Islamkot and Nagarparkar as most affected parts of Thar district. According the situation update of NDMA, Rs 30 Million have been released by provincial government for Mithi DHQ. 40 composite medical camps have been set up in the area and they are assessing the situation to reach out 100% population and vaccinate the livestock. As of today, 18469 persons have received direct medical aid from different camps, DHQ and THQs of the district. According to Sindhi Newspapers, relief material of worth Rs. 50 Million has been reached at Thar donated by Punjab Government. 86000 families have been deprived of free wheat provision and available wheat stocks are not reaching at the doorsteps of affected rural population because of dysfunctional distribution mechanism and machinery present on the ground. BBC Urdu service has reported that Government Sindh as declared of 21 villages of two districts Sanghar and Khairpur as “calamity hit area”. This news clearly indicates the spiral effects of drought to other adjoining districts of Thar. SPO has allocated PKR One million for rolling out emergency operation in Village and UC Dhaklo of Tehsil Chahchroo. The initial assessment has been done and operation would be started within a couple of days. The immediate needs of the area are food, health services, clean drinking water, dry fodder and vaccination of livestock.
Drought in District Tharparkar-Sindh – Situation Update 4
12:00 noon on 27 March 2014 According to NDMAsituation update of 26th March 2014, the medical services have been reached to 96054 [i]persons that include 32537children, 34004 females and 29441 males. So far 2044 cattle heads have been reported perished and 2.649 million have been vaccinated against the deadly disease of Sheep Pox in Tharparkar, 173,708 in Umerkot, 101,368 in Sanghar and 77,077 cattlehead in Khairpur have been treated/vaccinated till 26th of March 2014. According to PDMA Sindh damage and losses report issued on 25th of March 2014, the death toll has reached to 191 that include 112 children, 30 females and 49 males since last 3 months. SPO has launched its emergency response in drought hit TaluqaChachroo and distributed food among 300 marginalized and widow headed families Dhaklo village of UC Rajoro. The food pack contained following items and will meet the nutrition need of a family of 7 for two weeks; Wheat Flour 15 Kg, Rice 5 kg, Cooking Oil 2.5 Ltr, Milk 7 Ltr, Pulses 3 Kg, Sugar 2 Kg, Tea 400gm, Biscuits 2 packs of half roles and spices. Total weight of the food pack was around 35 Kg and approximately 10 tons of foods have been distributed. 190 food packs were distributed among religious minority of Hindu Community (Mainghwar, Bheel and Thakur) and 110 packs to Muslim marginalized families. Priority was given to widows, female headed families, elderly and marginalized families. SPO allocated PKR one million from its own meager resources for extending the relief assistance to drought hit population and SPO staff also contributed generously. [i] Figure includes both government and armed forces treated persons.
Earthquake Situation Update 3 (14:30, 25 September 2013 )
The deadliest earthquake of 2013 is crossing the record of fatalities by earthquakes in this year and death toll has touched the figure of 283 and feared to increase in coming hours while 400 have been reported seriously injured, estimated 40 thousands houses have also been collapsed, according to USGS updates. Village wise data has also been started coming from the ground. So far SPO managed to retrieve initial damage assessment report of 11 villages of all three tehsils of the district. The total death toll is 211 and number of damaged houses is 10400 only in 11 villages, local organization said. Affected population in dire need of medicines, medical assistance, shelter, food, clean drinking water and NFIs. Affected area is still receiving aftershocks with varying intensity and magnitude. These aftershocks are adding damages to the vulnerable and shaken structures in rural and urban areas of the districts. According to Mr. Qudus Bazinjo, deputy speaker of Balochistan Assembly, 90% of rural and 50% of urban areas of the districts have ravaged by the deadliest earthquake. Today SPO dispatched a team of 3 staff members in the area for developing an initial damage assessment report with the help of local organizations.
Earthquake Situation Update 4 (23:00, 25 September 2013 )
The death toll is rising as it was expected, the count has reached the mark of 350 and hundreds of injured reported according the USGS updates. 20 bodies of students recovered from a religious seminary in district Awaran. According to NDMA the number of causalities in Kech district is also on the rise with reporting 43 deaths and 73 seriously injured. According to PDMA estimates, tentatively 21000 families are affected and similar number of houses has been damaged only in Awaran district. The damages of Kech district yet to be included in these estimates thus the number expected to increase in coming hours. NDMA has placed 5000 tents at the disposal of PDMA Balochistan and mobilized some resources to send 7000 food packs for the affected families of Awaran and Kech districts, said in a press release issued by NDMA on 25th of September 2013. PDMA Balochistan organized a meeting at 03:00pm in its office in Quetta, NHN representatives and other civil society organizations participated in the meeting. According to the press release of PDMA, 2600 tents, 1700 food bags, 300 jerry cans, 1700 plastic mats and other relief assistance have been dispatched to the affected districts. 8 Ambulances, 26 doctors, 16 paramedical staff and a truck of medicines and medical aid have also been sent for providing quick medical assistance to injured persons. 80% of the total mud houses in the district have been damaged or completely collapsed. Communication and road infrastructure has also been badly damaged in the area and majority of rural areas are inaccessible.
Earthquake Situation Update 7 (12:00, 01 October 2013 )
International media, government and local sources are reporting contradictive number of deaths in 24th September earthquake. According the NDMA, total death toll is 375, Reuters reported 515 and a careful estimation of local sources[i] indicate the death toll will rise in coming days and may cross one thousand. Estimated of directly affected families have reached to 37000 (32000 in Awaran and 5000 in Kech) while the number of affected population has reached to 185000 people. Awaran Disaster Response Forum decided to act as a local coordination body so that duplication of efforts and wastage of resources can be avoided and decided to meet on daily basis at 19:00pm in Awaran City. Field office of SPO is sharing the data of rapid assessment of 4 UCs (Teertaj, Ghiskor, Pawar, Awaran) of tehsil Awaran, data showed significant damages in the area and total 11112 houses have been completely or partly damaged. UC Dandar of Kech district is situated 145 Km in north east of Turbat city and SPO is the first organization that approached the area and captured a snapshot of the damaged done so far. In Dandar UC of district Kech, there are 24 villages and number of affected population is 5442. 41 deaths and 177 persons with compound injuries and fractured bones were also recorded during the assessment. Affected population is forced live in the open, shelter/tents, food, NFI and medical assistance are the immediate needs. __________________________ [i]Awaran Disaster Response Forum (ADRF)