Pakistan: Floods not yet receding

“All of my things were taken by the water” says eight year old Arbeli

One point four million people in just one province, the Sindh, in Pakistan are living in temporary shelters set up in schools, as the floods are not yet receding and continue to spread in some areas.

The flooding in Pakistan, which began seven weeks ago, still affects 21 million people and has destroyed an estimated 1.8 million homes and over 9,000 schools.

Consider the situation of one child, eight year old Arbeli (above). Her family arrived at a UNICEF supported camp only recently after floods ravaged their home. She now lives with her mother and brothers under a tarpaulin in the intense summer sun.

“When the floods came, my house was destroyed,” Arbeli says. “All of my things were taken by the water, even my bed was washed away.”
“Many people have their crops and animals. When they finally do return home, they will find next to nothing is left.”

“Pakistan is only just beginning to pick up the pieces. They are still dealing with the effects of losing their homes and not being able to return,” says UNICEF Fundraising manager Ellen Voller. “Millions of displaced people cannot go home; they only have the clothes they wore when they were forced to leave many weeks ago.

“Displaced people’s three main needs are shelter, food and clothing. We are focusing on those, as well as children’s education and protection

“Donations from New Zealanders have been generous and are being used effectively, but the scale of this disaster is the biggest, in terms of people affected, that UNICEF has ever responded to.

“Because there is much less coverage in the media about the disaster now, people may think that all of the work is done or the funds needed have been raised. But people are still suffering. People are still suffering – and still need urgent help,” she says.

Millions of people, including children like Arbeli, lack simple necessities which were lost in the floods.

It is for these necessities, and for basic educational materials, that UNICEF now needs funds.

UNICEF and its partners have set up 200 temporary schools so far, with more every day. “The schools establish normality in the children’s lives. Schooling is critical to their recovery from trauma,” she says.

UNICEF is providing a ‘school-in-a box’ a ready made education solution for 80 children, with a chalkboard, pencils, exercise book and teacher supplies, in a lockable metal box. It costs $NZ 360.

So far, more than 34,000 children are being provided with educational and recreational support.

For Arbeli – and thousands of children like her - it will actually be the first time she attends school, prior to that she worked in the fields.

“I only have these clothes,” says Arbeli. “I really want some new clothes and shoes”.

ENDS