ACT Appeal Pakistan: Floods in Peshawar and NWFP districts - ASPK81

Appeal Target: 895,664 US$

Geneva, 31 October 2008

Dear Colleagues,

In late July and early August, heavy monsoon rains caused flooding in many areas of Pakistan, particularly affecting Peshawar District in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Rajanpur District in Punjab Province. Flooding has affected over 500,000 people in these two provinces.

In Rajanpur District and the Taunsa Tehsil of Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab province, hundreds of mud houses were swept away by the flood water. About 150 villages are reported to be badly affected rendering thousands of people homeless. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have taken temporary shelter on the roads, banks and other higher places. The approximate number of affected/ displaced persons is 375,000. People were evacuated from nine villages in three tehsils (sub-districts) Rojhan, Jampur and Rajanpur.

In NWFP/FATA, the torrential rains in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) caused 41 deaths in different parts of the province and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) region. About 50 people were reported missing. In addition to this, many including women and children were injured due to destruction of houses. District Peshawar, Kohat and adjoining Khyber agency areas of Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal were the worst affected areas. Over 100 villages including settlements and hamlets were inundated with flood waters affecting 25,000 families. One health and 18 education facilities were also damaged.

ACT member Church World Service (CWS) has responded through the Rapid Response Fund in the affected areas. CWS-P/A with the support of its implementing partner SARHAD provided food packages and non food items including hygiene kits, shelter and plastic sheets for 250 families affected by flood at Peshawar Town II and Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency. NCA, using own funds, provided non-food items to vulnerable flood affected families in Union Council Mathra, Khalisa 2 Latifabad, and Regi in Peshawar district, through its two partners (PVDP and PakCDP) to address the immediate needs. ACT members CWS and NCA assessed the situation in the affected areas and identified further needs of the population. The damage is still significant, the population is in need of reliable potable water sources, of support of rehabilitating the agricultural production and, in particular the youth, of mitigating the effects of traumatic shocks of youth.

ACT members CWS and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) plan to respond in those affected regions, where they are operating.

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

CWS plans to assist over 12,600 individuals (1,800 families) with: the supply of 150 Jiapo hand pumps and 3,600 jerry cans to improve the access to safe drinking water of the flood affected community; with 1,800 hygiene kits to promote the health hygiene and with 20 regular hygiene awareness sessions to enhance the hygiene practices. Further, CWS intends to extend agricultural inputs and technical backstopping to 500 poor flood affected farmers and provide trainings in Standards in Disaster Response to Humanitarian Aid workers.

NCA plans to provide flush latrines for 800 marginalized people in 13 flood affected villages in Peshawar, to improve safe drinking water facilities for 2,340 families, and raise the awareness of these families in preventive health and personal hygiene practices.

The members have coordinated the proposals to avoid duplications and ensure complementary support to the population.

Project Completion Date: 30 April 2009

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar
Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro
Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Michelle Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org) ,of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or

ACT Program Officer, Michelle Yonetani (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916)

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office