Four million flood victims still homeless: Red Cross

IFRC warns of a secondary wave of displacement as thousands return to find their homes inhabitable.

The International Federation of Red Cross claims that more than four million people remain homeless six months after the devastating floods that hit the country last year.

The IFRC said in a statement that families remain in desperate condition without adequate shelter, and floodwater still engulf huge areas of land in Sindh.

Thousands of displaced families who have begun leaving camps and temporary shelters have returned to find that their homes are no longer inhabitable – leading to a "secondary wave of displacement."

Gocha Guchashvili, IFRC flood operations coordinator in Pakistan, said people have endured miserable conditions and they are returning home to "almost nothing".

The IFRC is providing emergency relief to over two million people and is carrying out recovery programmes for the support of these returning people.

“The attention of the world has moved on and much more will be needed to help people get back on their feet. Food security remains a major concern and support from the international community is vital. Without it, the survivors of this crisis will slide further into poverty,” says Guchashvili.

According to their press release, the IFRC appeal of 130 million Swiss francs is currently 59 per cent covered; and full funding will allow it to support 130,000 families in their recovery over two years.

Catastrophic monsoon rains that swept through the country in July and August affected 21 million people and destroyed 1.7 million homes.