Pakistan Flood Victims Face Malaria Outbreak
Aid workers for the children’s organisation report more than 195,000 cases already as water levels remain in Sindh province.
Plan staff are preparing to distribute 18,500 mosquito nets to help protect families from the disease.
“Severe flooding persists in parts of Sindh and rescue operations are continuing,” says Plan’s country director in Pakistan Haider Yaqub:
“Floodwaters have created a large number of small islands on which people remained marooned alongside livestock.”
Families are returning home in Punjab but will need food, water, medicines and shelter.
“Standing water remains in some areas of the province,” says Mr Yaqub, “particularly along the riverbeds and is not expected to recede quickly.
“A combination of relief and early recovery support continues to be required, in addition to monitoring the welfare of those returning.”
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Pregnant women and children
Among the most at risk are 400,000 pregnant women, with 45,000 deliveries expected every month, many without access to trained birth attendants.
“The stagnant water is acting as cesspools of disease and obviously the most vulnerable are children and women,” says Mr Yaqub.
Nutrition is also a grave concern, particularly for pregnant women and toddlers, as people rely on food aid.
Plan has helped more than 250,000 people with cooked meals as well as providing shelter for more than 230,000.
The charity has also provided water tanks for more than 3,000 homes and health and hygiene kits to 2,750 families.
A US$12 million appeal launched by Plan International will include helping families return to their homes once the waters subside.
“The first cases of malaria should be a wake-up call for the UN, the Pakistan health authorities and international NGOs,” says Plan International’s Disaster Response Policy Coordinator Dr Unni Krishnan.
“Without a robust public health system, the number of cases and fatalities will build up significantly.”
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