Pressing concern: Aid needed to stem looming health crisis says Oxfam
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, more than 100,000 adults and 500,000 children are at risk of contracting diseases if the international community does not provide immediate assistance, said Oxfam in a press release.
Millions of people are living in extremely unhygienic conditions without access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation facilities, which if not addressed will lead to an outbreak of water-borne and vector-borne diseases like acute diarrhoea, dengue, malaria and hepatitis.
“These are exceptionally overwhelming circumstances that the people are facing, many of whom are still recovering from last year’s floods,” said Neva Khan, the country director. “People’s natural resilience to cope has eroded with one disaster after the other. A lack of food, water, shelter and sanitation has further weakened their resistance to diseases. Women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are now more vulnerable than ever.”
Reportedly, out of the 5.3 million flood-affected people, 32% are women. Of these, more than 100,000 are pregnant and are highly susceptible to diseases.
“The clock is ticking and with each passing day, human suffering is multiplying. Oxfam urges the donor community to gear up its response and support Pakistan generously in its time of need,” said Khan.
Humanitarian response during the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the 2010 mega-floods indicate that the provision of water and sanitation is life-saving and can greatly reduce the occurrence of many diseases. press release
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2011.
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