Pakistan Update #9

NFI Kits
Just learned of the availability of NFI Kits (Non-Food Item packages that include such items as tarps, blankets, and hygiene, kitchen and medical supplies) in Sukkur, free for the taking and distributing. We’re hoping to somehow arrange for around 250-350 of these shipped to Hyderabad. There is a Muslim friend here, SS, also very active in relief work and intently focused on genuinely helping the needy, who is providing a place to store them till they can be distributed.

SS wanted to do a distribution to the most needy at Jamshoro, where there is a very large camp of IDPs—in the thousands. But to drive up there with a truckload of goods to try to distribute them would be suicidal (possibly literally!). So first, SS spent from about 1:00-6:00 PM in the camp, assessing the situation, walking around and asking about individual families regarding the number of men, women, children, etc. He then chose 100 families at the bottom of the “needy heap” (those with no men folk, or multiple dependant women, lots of children, etc.), and his team went back and put together packets based on the demographics of those chosen—food, clothing, bedding…—returning at 3:00 AM with a truckload of supplies while everyone was asleep. With the assistance of the police at the camp, they went from chosen family to family, waking them and handing out the designated packets. SS and his team finished within an hour’s time, managing to accomplish the inconceivable with no mad rush.

Hyderabad
Yesterday, the guys went carefully along looking for the most needy, especially the displaced Hindu tribal people. They walked and walked, handing out tickets for 50 ration packs, which they will return with tomorrow. An Army captain from Hyderabad, who is rescuing people trapped by the water, has offered them security when they distribute their packs.

The Hospital (SCH)
The pump handle was installed on the well drill bore, and the people are quite happy with it and using it. Kitchen sets will be ordered today. It was pointed out that they are missing knives, manni cloths and tongs, so those will be added. Food will also be ordered. We are now serving 131 families—over 700 people. A food packet will feed four people for 15 days; 175 of them will need to be given out at a total cost of 327,000 rupees. We are beginning to transition from providing everything to making it possible for the refugees to cook for themselves. The food packets will keep them from starving but they don’t contain any fresh food. It was suggested that we try to provide tomatoes, onions or potatoes at times.

The government medical camp packed up and left three days ago. Mr. Samuel will try to find out if they are planning to return; however, there is a person from Shikarpur who is running medical camps. He is looking for a gynecologist and a dermatologist. Is it possible that we could direct our people to them? We are having trouble finding a source of medications. WHO, the World Health Organization, is not providing any, and there aren’t any available for us in Karachi. We are gearing up to bring out two medical teams to SCH.

To view a map of areas of Pakistan affected by the flooding, go to: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm, a website run by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).