Pakistan floods - your questions answered

Villagers build new shelters using the kits we provided [Robert Cruickhank/CAFOD]

One year on from the start of the Pakistan floods, we have provided assistance to more than 285,000 people.

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What happened? The floods began at the end of July 2010 following exceptional monsoon rains in the north of the country. The flash floods caused wide-spread destruction to lives and property and resulted in the death of over 1,150 people in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Within days, the heavy flooding moved south along the Indus River in what was described as a “slow-motion tsunami”. At one point, approximately one-fifth of Pakistan was under water - an area larger than England. More than 18 million people, out of the population of 180 million, were directly affected. Around 2,000 people were killed.

What were the most urgent priorities at the beginning of the disaster and what is important now? The most urgent needs were getting food, clean water, medical care and shelter to those affected by the disaster. The situation now is that the vast majority of people have returned to their towns and villages. However, shelter continues to be an urgent priority as the majority of people cannot afford the costs of repairs and so continue to live in temporary shelters. At least 450,000 families still need permanent shelter. Helping people to earn a living again is a major priority, so that individuals, families and communities can once again become self-reliant. The timing is very important especially for the local farmers so that they are able to plant in planting season and not lose another harvest.

How has CAFOD responded? We reached more than 130,000 people within six months of the start of the floods. Since February 2011, we have been working with our partners to reach a further 155,000 people affected by the disaster, making a total of over 285,000 people.We provided emergency kits including plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking utensils and hygiene kits including water purification tablets, soap, sanitary cloths and towels in the immediate aftermath of the floods. CAFOD’s partners also constructed transitional shelters and bathing spaces. We have also been running schemes that employ local people to build transitional and permanent shelters, clean up schools and community buildings in return for cash. Elsewhere, our partners have distributed food and clean drinking water and provided life-saving drugs and emergency health care through health clinics and mobile medical camps. From February 2011, we launched a larger scale project in the south helping people to make a living again and to be better prepared for future disasters, as well as improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in the areas most affected by the floods.

Why can’t Pakistan cope with its own disaster? The number of people affected by the floods in Pakistan exceeds the combined total affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), Cyclone Katrina and the Kashmir earthquake (2005), Cyclone Nargis (2008) and the Haiti Earthquake (2010). The scale of the disaster is simply too vast for a single country, already facing so many challenges, to cope. The Pakistani authorities led the response to the disaster, with the support of the national and international agencies and the UN.

Has aid got through to the affected people and can I be sure that my money gets through to the people in need? Yes, aid did get through, and continues to get through. Our partners were able to react quickly to the disaster, as they were already present in some of the affected areas, and immediately diverted their focus to flood relief work. CAFOD takes the issue of donor funds very seriously and we are committed to making sure all donations reach those who are most in need as quickly as possible.

How long has CAFOD been working in Pakistan? CAFOD has supported partners and funded projects in Pakistan since 1986. The projects have primarily had a humanitarian or rehabilitation focus following major disasters. Between 2005 and early 2010 we were responsible for co-ordinating the Caritas International response to the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. In addition to our work with Caritas Pakistan, we have also provided support to people affected by the earthquake including helping people to earn an income, providing water and sanitation systems for villages and running literacy classes for women. We have also helped people following other earthquakes and cyclones, and supported our partners to help those forced to flee their homes in 2009 because of fighting in the Swat Valley.

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