Save the Children launches emergency appeal for Pakistan flood affected children

3 August 2010 – Save the Children New Zealand has launched an emergency appeal in response to the needs of children and families affected by severe floods in Pakistan, CEO Liz Gibbs announced today. ‘We’ve committed an immediate $20,000 from our Children’s Emergency Fund help children and families in the flood affected areas. We’re asking New Zealanders to help us reach our target of $100,000 to assist the thousands of people who have lost their homes and are at risk of water-borne diseases.

‘Save the Children International is moving quickly to reach children and families in flood-affected communities in critical need of emergency health care and medicines. We have information that more than 1 million people, at least 400,000 of them children, have been affected by the floods, the worst the region has seen in decades. More than 1,400 people have died, with hundreds more reported missing, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,’ says Ms Gibbs.

‘Our international organisation has sent mobile health teams, ambulances and medicine to Pakistan's Swat region to provide critical emergency health care to affected children and families. Save the Children’s medical teams have seen more than 1,200 people patients in the past three days. Our doctors are reporting many cases of respiratory illness and diarrhoea. If these illnesses are not treated promptly they can be life-threatening to babies and young children.

‘The area’s entire infrastructure has been affected. Homes, schools and health clinics have been washed away. Communities have no access to clean water or sanitation facilities. Some people are starting to drink contaminated water, which will only increase the likelihood of waterborne illnesses. Meanwhile, our agency has also begun distributing 800 shelter kits,’ said Ms Gibbs.

Save the Children New Zealand has set up an appeal to assist the Pakistan emergency. Donations can be made in several ways:
- www.savethechildren.org.nz
- Call 0800 167 168
- Send a cheque, to Save the Children New Zealand, at Freepost PO Box 6584,Marion
Square, Wellington, 6141.
- Donate at local Save the Children stores.
- Join the Children’s Emergency Fund to help Save the Children be prepared to
respond quickly to disasters or emergencies like the Pakistan floods.

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