UN ready to Aid Pakistan following Monsoon

The United Nations humanitarian wing reported that local authorities in Pakistan are continuing their rescue and relief efforts in areas affected by flash flooding following recent monsoon rains. The authorities told the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that the monsoon rains have killed an estimated 80 people, injured 36 others and displaced more than 81,000 so far. The rains have also ravaged thousands of acres of standing crops and caused huge damage to houses and infrastructure, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva, adding that further monsoon rains are forecast for later this month. “Pakistani authorities continue rescue and relief activities in affected areas, particularly Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces”, said Laerke. “They have not requested international assistance at this stage. OCHA and humanitarian partners are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to assist if required”. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) will provide emergency health and diarrhea disease kits, water purification tablets and malaria medicine for 5,000 people. Other humanitarian agencies have also offered their support and stand ready to assist. Meanwhile, UN agencies and partners are working with local authorities to reach people with live-saving aid in neighboring Afghanistan, where flash floods have affected at least 13 villages in Kabul province in the last few days and dozens of people have reportedly died. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will provide two months of food rations, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with the partner agency International Organization for Migration to provide water and sanitation support. “UN and humanitarian partners are ready to provide food, basic household items, water, sanitation and emergency health support if required”, Laerke stated.