Situation Update for Cyclone Phet – June 7, 2010

• January 28, 2013
• 0 Comments
• SPO

June 7,2010 at 7.30 pm

Situation Update for Cyclone Phet
Strengthening Participatory Organization

Tropical Cyclone after landfall along Sindh Coast last evening at around 2130 PST has weakened rapidly into a “Well-Marked Low Pressure Area” and has moved towards Indian Rajasthan. This system has caused heavy rainfall in lower Sindh last night, and Southern parts of Coastal areas also impacted by Storm Surge of 12-14 feet high sea waves. As the system has moved towards Rajasthan, the coastal areas of country are now safe for all activities including fishing activities. The fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan can resume their activities forthwith[1].

The cyclone Phet ended with affecting the infrastructures, livelihoods and claiming human lives in Sindh and especially Balochistan’s District of Gwadar.

SPO’s Humanitarian Team

SPO field team is frequently sending updates about current affects of Phet cyclone and relief services by government and humanitarian actors. SPO humanitarian teams are working in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Gwadar, Jawni and Turbat and their findings revealed the needs of affecteess and representation of most affected sectors. SPO staff is seeking assistance from its local partners and passing on information through email, fax, and telephonic conversation about gaps which are existed in delivering the aid to affectees.

Although, findings revealed that this time government done good job on Early Warning but limited capacity of local government in term of resources impeding relief work and taking assistance from Frontier Core (FC), Pakistan Navy and other line departments but still there are areas which need to be addressed especially return of affectess to their homes and assistance to rebuild their partially/completely damage homes in dignified way. The information also give picture that district Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan received more damages comparatively Sindh.

Cyclone Situation in Balochistan

According to fresh updates and information received from field staff and partner organizations from District Gwadar revealed the figures of affected families in following UC,

Electricity in most parts of Gwadar district is not available and road communications are blocked especially for Jiwani. The unavailability of electricity and standing water is in Gwadar city generating problems. Gwadar airport is partially operational for non commercial flights and will take next few days to offer services. In Gwadar some evacuations made yesterday afternoon by the district government Gwadar and Pakistan Navy in Jiwani. Those families are still residing in shelters provided either by Pak Navy and district government.

The most of communities are still dependent on rain water (Turbid Water) which caused of gastro and stomach problem especially in children. Another alarming problem is shortage of food since roads and available food do not cater the need of affected communities.

·Acute shortage of drinking water

·Food security

·Required medical care with special requirement for women and children

·Drainage of inundated water in affectees houses

·Require assistance in repairing and in reconstruction of houses

Province Sindh Updates

Sindh received the thrust of Phet of Cyclone which affected different cities especially adjacent to coast. Following are the updates give by Karachi team and currently in Thatta for need assessment today to get actual facts and figures. There is no electricity and local transportation available. Telephone networks are out of order.

Keti Bandar:

The camp from Keti has been shifted to Baghan with assistance of local government.

Thatta:

District government has set up 35 camps

Badin:

Government has set up 17 camps

The four worst affected union councils are mentioned below

The least affected UCs are Abdullah Shah, Bedhami,Lohari Shariff

SPO’s Response

Earlier response:

SPO teams coordinated for the any FIs and NFIs needs between the settlements where people shifted. So far SPO provided some food items in Gwadar City in GPS Kahuda Mohallah where 130 people provided cooked food, clean drinking water and other essentials focusing women and children. Since the district government and Pakistan Navy provided food and other essentials to the displaced people, SPO coordinated 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 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 made in collaboration with the district government in two school settlements in Thatta district. SPO teams along with district government contributed to evacuate people especially from Keti Bundar and Kharo Chan.

Current Response:

Currently SPO with the collaboration and coordination with district government and other humanitarian actors are providing cooked food and drinking water to some collective centers in Gwadar. Beside this our field team of Sindh is assisting communities in relief work in Thatta, Badin and other areas.

Immediate Needs

The immediate coming up so far includes clean drinking water and food in parts of Gawadar where a number of people are staying either in form of collective centers or partially damaged households.

It is estimate that there would be lot of efforts required during early recovery phase. At the moment SPO team fore see repair and maintenance of partially damaged and fully damaged households in Gwadar and Jiawani.