Muslim Aid extending life-saving support to help survive 3,500 households of district Mirpur Khas
Karachi, (September 23, 2020) – Muslim Aid under the Food and NFIs Flood Response Sindh project has initiated emergency response in the flood-affected districts of Sindh through providing 500 WASH NFIs and 500 food packs to 3,500 people in district Mirpur Khas.
Worst Flash floods have hit Pakistan leaving at least 400 dead and causing extensive damage to housing, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
The Head of Programme in Islamabad, Fahad Iqbal Haidri said, “Muslim Aid with support from Pakistani diaspora in the UK launched a rapid response in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh to carryout need assessments and providing essential life-saving supplies to people in need in Karachi and Mirpur Khas District.”
Our initial response consists: 1) Handing over dewatering pumps to PDMA, to pump out the flood/rainwater from the affected areas of Karachi 2) Deployment of ambulance services to rescue affected people in Karachi 3) Provision of WASH and hygiene kits for 500 families of district Mirpur Khas to reduce the risk of a disease outbreak 4) Provision of food baskets for 500 families of district Mirpur Khas to survive while they are staying in temporary shelters.
He further said, “The devastating floods have increased the vulnerability of those affected amid COVID19. They are in dire need of basic humanitarian services including food, shelters and medicine. I’m pleased to see the emergency response that has provided support to more than 500 flood-affected families in District Mirpurkhas of Sindh.” He said that Muslim Aid is based close to the affected areas and has pre-existing relationships and connections with local authorities and the affected communities. Muslim Aid continues to assess the immediate needs in the most critical areas to ensure relief for those most affected in these difficult times.
Baber Ali, the Humanitarian Manager leading the response activities said, “The floodwaters provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and an increased risk of diseases such as dengue, malaria. Muslim Aid’s Emergency Response Team is running an awareness raising campaign on hygiene and cleanliness to prepare affected population against potential outbreaks.” Muslim Aid has launched a Flood Emergency Appeal in the UK, which will channel funds towards Pakistan. Muslim Aid is relying on this Appeal to scale up its response outreach.
Enabling them to buy temporary shelters, WASH NFIs and food packs for the most affected families. “We believe we need to give tangible items as our priority to make people survive, safeguard and prepare them against potential outbreaks,” explains Mr Haidri. “We will then move towards rehabilitation work.”
For more information please contact:
Qasim Ali Khawaja, Manager Communications & Influencing at qasim.ali@muslimaid.org.pk (0334 058 058 4).
Notes to Editors
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Muslim Aid is one of the top 20 UK relief and development agencies and a member of Bond, the British international development network, and Start Network. It was set up in the UK in 1985 to provide humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected countries and to help poor communities overcome poverty. Muslim Aid covers 21 countries, working with all communities irrespective of faith, ethnic origin or political system.
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In Pakistan, Muslim Aid started working in 2005, under the Trust Act with registration no. 24340. Our strategic thematic working areas are improving integrated water resource management, access to education, sustainable livelihoods, health, emergency response and resilience building. Our country programme comprising of dedicated experts is always been striving to alleviate the sufferings of the most marginalised and vulnerable segments of society affected either because of natural calamities or man-induced disasters.