Pakistan floods situation report #2
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Highlights After one week of torrential rain and heavy flooding in Karachi, Balochistan and North- West Frontier Province, forecasts show improvements in the weather. In Balochistan still 60% of the affected areas are not accessible due to flooding and damage to road infrastructure. Large scale displacement is reported, with some still waiting rescue in the hardest hit areas. Rescue operations are only possible through helicopters or heavy vehicles. Official government reports show an estimated 2 million people affected by the floods and 250 deaths. The health cluster was activated in Islamabad and Karachi. A joint flash appeal seeking for external funding for health response is being developed. Federal and Provincial Ministries of Health established Health Emergency Operation Centers in Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta.
Summary
Cyclone Yemyin in Balochistan Fifteen districts are badly affected in Balochistan, with Bella and Uthal tehsil in Lasbella district among the hardest hit with 40% of the total population affected (approximately 150,000 people). In Khuzdar district 10 villages are reportedly completely washed away by the rains.
Storm and rains in Sindh (Karachi) Over 250 villages reportedly disappeared by the rains. Approximately 50 000 people lost their homes in Qabu Saeed Khan Village of (Shahdadkot district). Coastline areas of Gadap, Kemari and Bin Qasim are worst hit, with adjoining areas of Thatta, and Dadu badly affected. The overflowing Layari Nadi River is threatening the population living on shorelines. Damages have been reported to the Kirthar canal in Mirpur Khas district and Rankot dam in Dadu district, threatening neighboring population The NGO HOPE, working in Thatta district, reported 21000 displaced people without shelter, with 5334 houses damaged.
Monsoon rains in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) Monsoon floods resulted in 925 destroyed houses, and 7290 partially damaged in NWFP: one of the earthquake affected districts. The Peshawar Provincial Relief Commissioner reported 101 deaths.
Emergency Preparedness & Humanitarian Action (EHA) World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) P.O. Box 7608 Nasr City (11371) Cairo, Egypt Fax: (+202) 2765422 [email protected] http://www.emro.who.int/eha/ Pakistan Floods Health Situation Report # 2 2
Health impact
Balochistan
More than 40% of the 74 functional health facilities in Lasbela district are partially or fully damaged: Bela Civil Hospital was partially damaged due to the rains but still operational, one Civil Dispensary in Khurkera and 5 Basic Health Units were totally destroyed in the floods. All 3 hospitals, 4 Rural Health Centers, and 4 Mother and Child Health centers are operational, but 40% of the Basic Health Units (44) and Civil Dispensaries (26) are damaged. The functioning health facilities report cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, and skin infections. Other districts, such as Kech and Nasirabad, report an increased number of cases of gastroenteritis and snake bites. District Health Officer in Turbat reported an increase in acute watery diarrhea cases from the district headquarter hospital. Request for IV fluids and medicines have been made.
Health response
1. Assessment and monitoring
The International Agency for Source Country Information shared the results of a joint rapid assessment conducted in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan and Sindh. Worst affected are Kech (Turbat), Gawadar, Naseerabad/Jaffarabad, Sibi, Bolan, Jhal Magasi and Thatta.
Balochistan
Two WHO teams managed to reach Bella and Uthal tehsils in Lasbela district for an assessment of health facilities. Much of the district is still inaccessible. All 3 hospitals, 4 Rural Health Centers, and 4 Mother and Child Health centers are operational, but 40% of the Basic Health Units (44) and Civil Dispensaries (26) are damaged.
Sindh
Aga Khan Foundation and the World Food Programme conducted surveys in Keti Bunder in Thatta district, to define what further interventions are necessary. Results are pending.
2. Health coordination
The Federal Ministry of Health supported by WHO has activated the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) cell lodged at Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The cell is operating to facilitate emergency response and preparedness activities/ plans for the flood affected areas and communities. The health cluster system has been reactivated, and health partners are meeting daily at the HEPR cell.
Sindh
A Health Emergency Operation Centre was established in Karachi by the Department of Health, Sindh Government, to coordinate relief and response activities.
World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean 4 July 2007 Pakistan Floods Health Situation Report # 2 3
3. Filling health gaps
So far, WHO dispatched one complete New Emergency Health Kit (NEHK), 20 NEHK basic boxes, 8 Italian trauma kits, one cholera kit, 450,000 chlorine tablets and 1000 vials of anti-snake venom. UNFPA provided 2000 sanitation kits each to Balochistan and Sindh health departments. (see table) A total of 44 flights have been operated for rescue operations and flood supplies by the Government of Pakistan. The Primary Health Care programme of the Federal Ministry of Health in Islamabad provided 495,000 Oral Rehydration Salts sachets, 36,000 chlorine tablets, and other essential drugs to their district programs. The National Institute of Health (NIH) provided the army with 200 vials of anti-snake venom and 200 to the Government of Sindh.
Karachi
UNFPA has one mobile service unit in Thatta. Sindh health authorities established 7 fixed and 9 mobile health camps in Qamber Shazad Kot (on the border of Sindh and Balochistan) as well as 6 mobile health camps in Joi talka, Mehr, and Khairpur Nathan Shah in Dadu district.
Balochistan
The district health authority provided three mobile health clinics from Uthal to Vinder, Hilgor, and Bela in Lasbela district. WHO provided the District Health Officer in Lasbela with 30,000 aqua purifying tablets, one basic health kit and one trauma kit. The District Health Officers in Khuzdar and Nasirabad established medical camps in all of the affected tehsils to provide medical services.
what who how many where distributed to UNICEF 3,000,000 Kech Balochistan District Health Officer Aqua UNICEF 500,000 In warehouse purifying WHO 250,000Karachi Sindh District Health Officer tablets WHO 170,000 In warehouse WHO 30,000 Lasbela Balochistan District Health Officer NEHK* WHO 1 In warehouse NEHK basic WHO 15Karachi Sindh In warehouse boxes Italian WHO 7 In warehouse Trauma Kit** WHO 1 Lasbela Balochistan District Health Officer Basic Health WHO 20 Balochistan Ministry of Health Kit ** WHO 1 Lasbela Balochistan District Health Officer Cholera Kit WHO 1 Karachi Sindh In warehouse Emergency UNICEF 4 Balochistan Health Kit ** Hygiene Kit UNFPA 2000 Sindh / Balochistan Ministry of Health Anti Snake WHO 800 Karachi Sind Venom vials WHO 200 Quetta Baluchistan Tents WHO 10 Karachi Sindh In warehouse Water UNICEF 4 Sindh / Balochistan bladders *** * New Emergency Health Kit ** Each for 1000 population for 3 months *** 5000 gallons
World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean 4 July 2007 Pakistan Floods Health Situation Report # 2 4
4. Preserving and supporting local health systems
The Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) was activated in the assessed areas. Treatment guidelines for acute watery diarrhea will be distributed to partners in the affected areas. The Lady Health Worker (LHW) programme initiated a mass Behavior Change Communication (BCC) campaign in affected areas on sanitation and hygiene aspects.
Urgent needs
Balochistan
There is an urgent need for rescue services in Oraki village. Shelter and food are needed in Lasbela district. Spraying and other vector control methods should be applied to prevent mosquito breeding. District Health Officers from Kech and Lesbela have requested for essential drugs.
World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean 4 July 2007