The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 186 countries.
In Brief
Operations update no. 04; Period covered: 13 to 18 July 2007; Appeal target: CHF 21.34 million (USD 17.3 million or EUR 12.9 million); Appeal coverage: 9%; Outstanding needs: CHF 19.4 million (USD 15.8 million or EUR 11.7 million)
Appeal history:
- Preliminary appeal launched on 04 July 2007 for CHF 10.38 million (USD 8.5 million or EUR 6.2 million) for six months to assist 14,000 families.
- A revised emergency appeal was launched on 17 July 2007 for CHF 21.34 million (USD 17.3 million or EUR 12.9 million) for six months to assist 51,500 families.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 250,000 on 02 July 2007.
Operational Summary:
The floods operation is in the emergency phase as the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Federation work hand-in-hand to provide relief to the affected people in Baluchistan and Sindh Provinces. The Federation's field assessment and coordination Team (FACT) has completed its preliminary assessments, consequently a plan of action was developed and the emergency appeal revised on 17 July. Under the new appeal, five Emergency Response Units (ERUs): logistics; health; water and sanitation; mass sanitation; and specialized water and distribution will be deployed in Sindh, while Baluchistan will be supported by PRCS/Federation national staff.
To date, the PRCS has provided medical assistance to more than 10,000 people while a total of 9,500 food parcels have been distributed in Sindh and Baluchistan. Non-food items have been distributed to more than 1,300 families (9,100 people), while the PRCS water and sanitation team is active in Turbat (Baluchistan).
Background
Severe flooding resulting from heavy rains that were exacerbated by a cyclone in late June 2007 has affected over two million people in Pakistan. The Baluchistan Province is the worse hit, with 23 of its 29 districts affected. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed the number of affected people in that province alone at two million, with 130 deaths. The Sindh Province, where at least 311,570 people have been affected and 115 deaths confirmed, was also hard hit. Five of its districts have been affected. Infrastructure has been severely undermined with roads and bridges damaged or destroyed and telecommunications out in many areas since 26 June 2007.
In addition to the considerable loss of life, thousands of people have been displaced as their homes were either washed away by floodwaters or are inundated. In Baluchistan, 5,000 villages have been affected while in Sindh, 173 villages are submerged. Over 67,500 houses have reportedly been damaged across these two flood-affected provinces.
How we work
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
The Federation's Global Agenda
The International Federation's activities are aligned with under a Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Contact information
Pakistan Red Crescent Society: Khalid Kibriya (secretary general) ; email: khalid_kibriya@yahoo.com; phone: +92 51 0407; fax : + 92 51 925 0408
Federation country delegation in Pakistan: Azmat Ulla (head of delegation); email: azmat.ulla@ifrc.org ; phone: +92 51 925 0416/7 ; mobile: +92 300 850 3317
Federation South Asia regional delegation in India: Nina Nobel (acting head of delegation); email: nina.nobel@ifrc.org; phone: + 92 11 2411 1125; fax: +91 11 2411 1128.
Kuala Lumpur regional logistics unit, Ilir Caushaj (regional logistics coordinator); email: ilir.caushaj@ifrc.org; phone: +603 2161 089; phone + 60 1 2628 2707; fax +60 3 2168 8573 or Jeremy Francis (regional logistics delegate); email: jeremy.francis@ifrc.org; phone: + 60 1 2298 9752.
Federation Secretariat in Geneva: Linda Stops, (operations coordinator); email: linda.stops@ifrc.org; phone +41 22 730 4300; fax: +41 22 733 0395