Pakistan: MSF increases aid - water and hygienic conditions among priorities

Official figures now speak of more than three million people having been directly affected by the floods, and more than 1,500 confirmed deaths.

NEWS | 05 August 2010

More rains are expected in the coming days and could cause renewed flooding and create problems in areas that have up until now been unaffected. But some areas initially affected are becoming more accessible thanks to the water receding.

Bakhtirabad, Pakistan © MSF.
MSF distributed tents and hygiene kits to about 750 families in Bakhtirabad, one of the worst affected towns in Baluchistand province.

While delivering much needed medical and humanitarian assistance, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams continue assessing needs in Malakand and Peshawar Divisions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and in several places in the Baluchistan province as it is suspected that some isolated communities have not been reached by any assistance yet. A helicopter assessment is taking place today and more will follow in the next few days.

In addition to the expansion of its medical activities, MSF’s priority is to provide clean water and improve hygienic conditions in order to prevent the spread of acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and skin infections. MSF teams are getting ready in case of a waterborne disease outbreak (such as cholera) – however, the situation is under control at this point.

In Charsadda, mobile clinics have started providing primary care on Aug. 4 reaching a pocket of 1,400 people. Mobile teams will be expanded to be able to reach more people in the coming days. The mobile clinics are also an opportunity to identify new pockets of people who may be in need of other kinds of support like clean water and hygiene items.
Water points were set up in Charsadda, in Lower Dir (near Khazana) and in eight locations in Swat (to reach approx 100,000 people). In addition, MSF also provides clean water to the district hospital in Lower Dir.
In Tangi, north of Charsadda, MSF has identified families who have lost their houses and who live in schools. Health needs are covered but MSF is planning a distribution of hygiene, shelter and kitchen kits. More distributions will take place in the next few days for thousands of affected families in rural areas of Nowshera and Peshawar districts.
In the Nowshera area, MSF started supporting the Pabbi Satellite hospital on Aug. 1. The MSF medical team performs an average of 275 consultations per day mainly for skin disease and acute diarrhea.
MSF has also been supporting the Nowshera district hospital since Aug. 2, focusing on the emergency room and the outpatient department. MSF also aims to provide electricity, drinking water and then hand over a functional hospital to the health authorities. Three ambulances have also been provided, ensuring about 10 referrals per day so far.
Also in the Nowshera area, MSF is planning to provide improve access to drinking water.
In the area around Peshawar MSF provides support to health centres through outreach teams.
MSF distributed tents and hygiene kits to about 750 families in Bakhtirabad, one of the worst affected towns in Baluchistan province. In Fadfedar canal, also in Baluchistan, teams distributed hygiene kits, cooking sets sand jerry cans to 250 families. More distributions are planned in the same area and will include chlorine tablets (to clean water) and mosquito nets to prevent malaria infection.
Assessments in different parts of Baluchistan are still taking place, but large pockets of people in need of humanitarian assistance have already been identified especially around Manjoshori and Kabula. MSF is planning to distribute tents and hygiene kits to around 20,000 families in Baluchistan. In addition to that, two mobile clinics will be providing care in the province.
Cargo planes will depart from Europe at the end of the week carrying 90 tonnes of drugs, cholera kits and water and sanitation materials.