Early winter poses further challenge for flood victims

Pakistan Red Crescent Society has decided to continue relief efforts in flood-hit areas during Eid holidays.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Wednesday, warned against the early onset of winter, adding that the cold will pose fresh challenges for flood victims.

Speaking to the media after visiting flood-hit areas of Sindh, PRCS announced that the challenges in rehabilitating the victims persist, despite various efforts made by local and international agencies.

"Weather and issues like sanitation have placed tens of thousands of people, including women and children, at risk from disease in relief camps," said Chairman PRCS Major General (Retd.) Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz Khan.

Khan said that he was worried about the expected rise in water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases, with children being the most vulnerable.

He said that vast areas of land are still submerged in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, where relief efforts are yet to be initiated.

“If issues are not tackled in a quick and effective manner, it could lead to multiple problems,” he said.

Chairman PRCS said that the organisation has decided to continue relief efforts even during Eid holidays and has therefore cancelled leaves of field staff.

Khan said that the PRCS has arranged eight water filtration plants providing 150,000 litres of clean drinking water to the needy.

Moreover, construction of 6000 shelters and 1000 toilets is under way in Sindh while 20 mobile health units are currently providing medical services.

"We will do our level best to prevent further loss of human life, however, humanitarian assistance remains low. Stocks of some relief items has also depleted,” he lamented.

Stressing the need for more coordinated efforts, Khan said that the nation needs to urgently reorient its efforts to avoid deaths among children and adults during the cold.