15th September, 2014
HANDS Emergency Response for flood affected people of Punjab
HANDS Update from District Muzzafar Garh, Sialkot,
Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Chiniot and Jhang.
Introduction of HANDS Pakistan:
HANDS was founded by Prof.A.G.Billoo (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) in 1979. HANDS has evolved in 34 years as one of the largest Non-Profit Organization of the country with integrated development model. HANDS has a network of 30 offices across the country and has access to more than 16.2 million population nearly 20,274 villages/ settlement in 34 districts of Pakistan. HANDS strength is 18 volunteers Board Members, more than 1502 full time staff and nearly one million community based volunteers of 5205 medium and small size organizations.
HANDS has a vast experience to deal with Emergencies during the recent disasaters in the cuntry.
1. IDPs of North Waziristan Agency 2014: Emergency Response was initiated within 36 hours to provide assistance to IDPsand Services are still continuing at Bannu, KP.
2. Drought in Tharparkar in March 2014: Emergency Response was initiated within 5 hours and Relief package was provided to 6,000 families in 2 months.
3. Earthquake in Awaran Balochistan in October 2013: Emergency response was initiated within 8 hours & comprehensive relief package was provided in hard conditions and conflicted areas within two months to 10,000 families.
4. Rain Emergency 2012 in Northern Sindh, South Punjab & Balochistan:Emergency response was initiated within 6 hours. Distribution of emergency relief package was provided to 27000 families within 2 months
5. Rain Emergency 2011 in Southern Districts of Sindh: Emergency response was initiated within 8 hours in 8 districts. 29000 families were reached within 2 moths
6. Flood Emergency 2010: Emergency response was initiated within 4 hours in northern Sindh & 36,000 families were reached within 1 month.
Flood Updated situation in Punjab and Sindh.
The heavy water flow moving towards Guddu after passing through Panjnanad (Rojhan) Rajanpur, Flood waters are rising in Sindh at Guddu barrage in Kashmore district. The current water flow is indicative of high floods and is expected to peak sometimes tonight. According to Pakistan Meteorology Department the expected flow of water would be between 400,0000 -500,000 cusecs. This water will start reaching Sukkur barrage in next 24-36 hours. PDMA Sindh have issued flood alerts on Sep 6th, 9th and 12th, 2014, to district administration in the six northern riverine district to evacuate people living in Katcha areas [Riverbed]. These districts include, Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Khairpur and Larkana.
As per media reports and district flood control centers and HANDS assessment the evacuation is now complete. People moving out of katcha areas have taken shelter on the river embankments. According to district flood control centers people are reluctant to settle in tent cities, because they want to stay near their homes and return as soon as the water recedes.
HANDS Assessment:
HANDS Pakistan started Initial assessment to rescue the people who had not access to reach on safe places, teams contacted to District Government for the rescue activities and they supported us by providing authentic information regarding stucked people in flood on different places.
Recommendation for immediate early response:
· Provision of Food Items and Non Food Items except tents
· Medical health teams are required along with medicines for skin diseases, wounds, acute respiratory infections especially for children, malaria etc.
· For clean draining water Aqua tabs are required.
MIRA Assessment in flood affected districts of Punjab:
In order to assess the damages in the most affected districts NDMA in collaboration with UNOCHA has already initiated work on Multi Sector Initial Rapid Assessment. The assessment would be carried out in most affected districts that includes Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Jhang and Multan as identified by the PDMA Punjab. In this regard, a coordination meeting was also held today to devise final coordination mechanism and identify field coordinators to move in the identified affected districts for active management and timely completion of the task. NDMA would coordinate and facilitate UN system/NGOs in carrying out this assessment. HANDS Pakistan is alsothe part of MIRA assessment in all mentioned districts of Punjab
HANDS Emergency Response for flood affected families of Muzzafar Garh, Chiniot, Rajanpur and Jhang.
HANDS Pakistan has started its Emergency Response for affected families of Punjab flood affected families initially its own resources.
Coordination Meeting with Different Government Officials:
Coordination Meetings were conducted with the different Government Officials like PDMA, DDMAs, line departments, Emergency Coordinators, district clusters, Media representatives and UNOCHA.
Evacuation of Affected People:
HANDS Pakistan initiated emergency response in flood and they started evacuation affected families and more than 700 families were shifted to safe places in District Muzzafar Garh.
Food Distribution in flood affected districts of Punjab:
HANDS Pakistan observed that there is need of Food in the affected areas of Punjab also started the food distribution from 14th September 2014 in 03 villages of Bhawana and Lallian Tehsils of district Chiniot with the facilitation of Ujala Welfare Trust.
Food PackageItems / Quantity
Flour / 10kg
Dal Chana / 1Kg
Suger / 1Kg
Cooking Oil / 1Kg
Salt / 1 packet
Mobile Medical Services in flood affected districts of Punjab :
HANDS initiated health services through conduction of Mobile Medical Camps with support of District Government Chiniot, Sialkot, Jhang and Rajanpur. HANDS Medical teams have started the medical services from 12th September in Tehsil Bhawana & Lallian of Chiniot district and Tehsil Sambrial of Sialkot district with the facilitation of Ujala Welfare Trust and Young Blood Foundation. 863 Patients have been treated by HANDS Medical team and 499 patients out of them were female.HANDS teams have planned health education sessions on Health & Hygiene in the IDP camps at and different places in different UCs of District Chiniot, Sialkot, Jhang and Rajanpur.
Installation of Emergency latrines in relief camp established by district Government Kashmore @ Kandhkot:
HANDS Pakistan received request letter by district government Kashmore regarding the HANDS technical support in installation of tent city (relief camp) , provision of emergency latrines in relief camp as well as support in evacuation .On the bases of request by district government HANDS Pakistan , provided boats, HANDS Mazda for safely evacuation of flood affected families and provided 20 emergency latrines and installed at relief camp.
Chief Executive HANDS Pakistan Visited flood affected districts of Punjab :
The chief Executive HANDS Pakistan Dr Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed visited flood affected districts of Punjab and monitored ongoing relief operations by HANDS and conducted, during visit he conducted meetings with Government authorities, media representatives, community activist and HANDS teams.
HANDS Pakistan contacts information:Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Executive ‐ HANDS Pakistan
140‐C, Block‐2, PECHS, Karachi, Ph: 021‐34527698, Cell# 03008200507
Email: , Website: www.hands.org.pk
Donations: HANDS Account No.003800613865-03 (Habib Bank Limited)
HANDS Zakat Account No. 003800705395-03 (Habib Bank Limited)
Dr. Muhammad Sarwat Mirza - Chief Research & Development Executive, HANDS Pakistan
HANDS Islamabad Office, Office 1, Block-5, Saidpur Market, Sector G-7/1, Islamabad
Ph: 051-2606482; Fax: 051-2606483, Cell# 0300-8297503
Email: , Website: www.hands.org.pk
Muhammad Raheem Marri, General Manager ‐ Disaster Management Program HANDS
140‐C, Block‐2, PECHS, Karachi, Ph: 021‐34527698, Cell# 0346‐8209561
Email: , Website: www.hands.org.pk