notes: From RELIEF WEB: MORE AID REACHES PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS: Catholic Relief Services Battles Weather to Help Families from Remote Villages Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Date: 09 Aug 2010 Baltimore, MD, August 10—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is providing newly homeless families with water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, cookware and more as floods continue to ravage Pakistan. Though hampered by washed-out roads and bridges, CRS has reached thousands of people in the north and southwest parts of the country. "Our teams are battling the weather, the terrain and the immense scale of the disaster," says Carolyn Fanelli, Head of Programming and Acting Country Representative for CRS Pakistan. "In places where water has begun to recede, it has left behind a trail of devastation." In the past two days, CRS has distributed the sheeting, purification tablets, and other items to more than 150 families in the Swat Valley. "At first, we didn't get to as many families as planned because a new landslide blocked the way—our team got stuck on one side of it," says Fanelli. "But as of Monday, August 9 we've reached more than 1,500 people. Before that, CRS distributed supplies to 4,000 people in the Kohlu and Barkhan areas of Balochistan in the southern part of the country. "The rainy weather there also has made things much slower," says Fanelli. A CRS team trekked to the Shangla District, hiking through steep and slippery mountainous terrain in the rain to meet with survivors in remote villages and find out what they needed. The team reports that almost all the water systems and existing walking paths have been destroyed CRS engineers are now in the process of repairing five separate water systems in the region. The agency has years of experience building and repairing water systems in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan, having worked on hundreds of systsms following the 2005 earthquake there. CRS briefly had to evacuate its office in Besham, Shangla, on Sunday August 8 because of rising floodwaters, but staff returned the next day. CRS and it partners have opened an office in the Sharpor Valley of Shangla in order to better serve this remote area. Millions of Pakistanis have been affected by the floods. Many have lost their homes, crops, livestock and small businesses. Once the most immediate needs are met, CRS will help farmers and others to regain their means of earning a living. In several areas including Swat, CRS is planning cash-for-work projects, paying people affected by the disaster to build irrigation channels, pathways and retaining walls. "There's a long road ahead," says Fanelli. "But CRS staff are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions." ----------------------------------- From the SITE: Pakistan Floods Ravage North and South Since July, torrential rains in Pakistan have caused flooding that washed out roads, homes and tracts of land, leaving millions destitute. Michelle Neukirchen is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia, based in Afghanistan. She worked for CRS Pakistan from 2005 to 2008, helping with the earthquake recovery efforts there, and returned to assist with relief efforts after the devastating floods began. Recently, she spoke with Jennifer Hardy, New Media communications officer at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Jennifer Hardy: Can you tell me about your recent visit to northern Pakistan? Michelle Neukirchen: I just returned from the CRS office in Besham. We've worked in this area of Pakistan continuously since the 2005 earthquake. The purpose of my visit was to support our team as they plan further flood response efforts, especially in the areas of water, infrastructure and hygiene. Hardy: What stood out to you the most as you visited communities there? Neukirchen: The difficulty of moving from one location to another. In one area we visited, the entire length of road connecting villages to the local market was washed away. We hiked from the market to the village, and although it was only three kilometers (less than two miles) away, it took us over two hours to reach the community. We had to climb over boulders and scramble over loose rocks. It's important that roads are rebuilt in the north as quickly and safely as possible. People had to travel long distances for food and medical care before the floods—now those journeys are more difficult, and may be impossible for someone who is very ill. We also have to remember that some people depend on getting to markets to make a living, so the limited access has become an income issue as well. Hardy: How does CRS plan to help with water and roads in the north? Neukirchen: CRS is beginning to lay out pathways and build culverts to improve market access, as well as constructing retaining walls to limit landslides. Engineering teams are also repairing water supply systems to restore safe water access close to homes. We're teaching people about proper hygiene, water purification and water storage, which is essential to prevent disease. CRS is distributing water purification tablets and also talking to people about boiling water if tablets run out. Hardy: Where are displaced people staying right now? Neukirchen: Some families are taking shelter in local schools. People do have extended families, so many are staying with relatives. A few families even had leftover materials from the 2005 earthquake, such as tents and tarps, and they were able to grab them before the floodwaters rose. Hardy: Are there any special concerns that affect women in Besham? Neukirchen: We saw some women carrying children out walking with their husbands toward the market. Women don't leave the household very often, for cultural reasons, so if you do see a woman walking, it's likely for a serious reason. The biggest impact on women is collecting water. Tap stands are no longer working so they have to collect water further from home, which compromises their privacy. Now families have to work together to access water and other services. Hardy: Tell me about the difference between the disaster in the north and in the south of the country. Neukirchen: The floods in northern Pakistan were sudden and violent. People had very little time to move to higher ground, and the water cut 100-foot-wide and 40-foot-high gashes out of mountainsides. Water delivery systems, roads, bridges—everything was destroyed by the sudden force of the water. People's land has just vanished. It's not a matter of waiting for waters to recede; their land is gone for good. And we have to think about shelter solutions in the north right away. Winter comes earlier in the north, so aid agencies will need to coordinate with the government to ensure needs for winterized shelters are met before the cold sets in. More people are affected in the south, but it's a different type of flood. The water that has inundated the lowlands is affecting people on a larger scale. Entire communities are displaced in the south, but their land, although damaged, will be there after the floodwaters go down. Only after the water recedes will we know the level of overall damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Hardy: What unique challenges will aid workers face with this disaster? Neukirchen: When you look at the whole country it becomes a complex response. The issues in Besham are completely different than in the south where there is standing water. In the north there is widespread, permanent damage to land. In the south, entire communities are displaced. The situations are very different. It's challenging us and other agencies to be flexible with our response, which must reflect the unique needs in both settings. CRS is well-positioned to respond in both the north and the south. In the north, the communities' needs will be somewhat similar to what we saw in the 2005 earthquake. We already have established expert teams positioned to engineer solutions well-suited to rugged terrain. In the south, the flood patterns and people's needs are similar to what we have seen in Pakistan's 2007 floods, as well as annual flooding in India and Bangladesh. We can draw on CRS' national and regional experience and expertise to respond appropriately in Pakistan's southern lowlands. -> From RELIEF WEB: MORE AID REACHES PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS: Catholic Relief Services Battles Weather to Help Families from Remote Villages Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Date: 09 Aug 2010 Baltimore, MD, August 10—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is providing newly homeless families with water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, cookware and more as floods continue to ravage Pakistan. Though hampered by washed-out roads and bridges, CRS has reached thousands of people in the north and southwest parts of the country. "Our teams are battling the weather, the terrain and the immense scale of the disaster," says Carolyn Fanelli, Head of Programming and Acting Country Representative for CRS Pakistan. "In places where water has begun to recede, it has left behind a trail of devastation." In the past two days, CRS has distributed the sheeting, purification tablets, and other items to more than 150 families in the Swat Valley. "At first, we didn't get to as many families as planned because a new landslide blocked the way—our team got stuck on one side of it," says Fanelli. "But as of Monday, August 9 we've reached more than 1,500 people. Before that, CRS distributed supplies to 4,000 people in the Kohlu and Barkhan areas of Balochistan in the southern part of the country. "The rainy weather there also has made things much slower," says Fanelli. A CRS team trekked to the Shangla District, hiking through steep and slippery mountainous terrain in the rain to meet with survivors in remote villages and find out what they needed. The team reports that almost all the water systems and existing walking paths have been destroyed CRS engineers are now in the process of repairing five separate water systems in the region. The agency has years of experience building and repairing water systems in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan, having worked on hundreds of systsms following the 2005 earthquake there. CRS briefly had to evacuate its office in Besham, Shangla, on Sunday August 8 because of rising floodwaters, but staff returned the next day. CRS and it partners have opened an office in the Sharpor Valley of Shangla in order to better serve this remote area. Millions of Pakistanis have been affected by the floods. Many have lost their homes, crops, livestock and small businesses. Once the most immediate needs are met, CRS will help farmers and others to regain their means of earning a living. In several areas including Swat, CRS is planning cash-for-work projects, paying people affected by the disaster to build irrigation channels, pathways and retaining walls. "There's a long road ahead," says Fanelli. "But CRS staff are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions." ----------------------------------- From the SITE: Pakistan Floods Ravage North and South Since July, torrential rains in Pakistan have caused flooding that washed out roads, homes and tracts of land, leaving millions destitute. Michelle Neukirchen is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia, based in Afghanistan. She worked for CRS Pakistan from 2005 to 2008, helping with the earthquake recovery efforts there, and returned to assist with relief efforts after the devastating floods began. Recently, she spoke with Jennifer Hardy, New Media communications officer at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Jennifer Hardy: Can you tell me about your recent visit to northern Pakistan? Michelle Neukirchen: I just returned from the CRS office in Besham. We've worked in this area of Pakistan continuously since the 2005 earthquake. The purpose of my visit was to support our team as they plan further flood response efforts, especially in the areas of water, infrastructure and hygiene. Hardy: What stood out to you the most as you visited communities there? Neukirchen: The difficulty of moving from one location to another. In one area we visited, the entire length of road connecting villages to the local market was washed away. We hiked from the market to the village, and although it was only three kilometers (less than two miles) away, it took us over two hours to reach the community. We had to climb over boulders and scramble over loose rocks. It's important that roads are rebuilt in the north as quickly and safely as possible. People had to travel long distances for food and medical care before the floods—now those journeys are more difficult, and may be impossible for someone who is very ill. We also have to remember that some people depend on getting to markets to make a living, so the limited access has become an income issue as well. Hardy: How does CRS plan to help with water and roads in the north? Neukirchen: CRS is beginning to lay out pathways and build culverts to improve market access, as well as constructing retaining walls to limit landslides. Engineering teams are also repairing water supply systems to restore safe water access close to homes. We're teaching people about proper hygiene, water purification and water storage, which is essential to prevent disease. CRS is distributing water purification tablets and also talking to people about boiling water if tablets run out. Hardy: Where are displaced people staying right now? Neukirchen: Some families are taking shelter in local schools. People do have extended families, so many are staying with relatives. A few families even had leftover materials from the 2005 earthquake, such as tents and tarps, and they were able to grab them before the floodwaters rose. Hardy: Are there any special concerns that affect women in Besham? Neukirchen: We saw some women carrying children out walking with their husbands toward the market. Women don't leave the household very often, for cultural reasons, so if you do see a woman walking, it's likely for a serious reason. The biggest impact on women is collecting water. Tap stands are no longer working so they have to collect water further from home, which compromises their privacy. Now families have to work together to access water and other services. Hardy: Tell me about the difference between the disaster in the north and in the south of the country. Neukirchen: The floods in northern Pakistan were sudden and violent. People had very little time to move to higher ground, and the water cut 100-foot-wide and 40-foot-high gashes out of mountainsides. Water delivery systems, roads, bridges—everything was destroyed by the sudden force of the water. People's land has just vanished. It's not a matter of waiting for waters to recede; their land is gone for good. And we have to think about shelter solutions in the north right away. Winter comes earlier in the north, so aid agencies will need to coordinate with the government to ensure needs for winterized shelters are met before the cold sets in. More people are affected in the south, but it's a different type of flood. The water that has inundated the lowlands is affecting people on a larger scale. Entire communities are displaced in the south, but their land, although damaged, will be there after the floodwaters go down. Only after the water recedes will we know the level of overall damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Hardy: What unique challenges will aid workers face with this disaster? Neukirchen: When you look at the whole country it becomes a complex response. The issues in Besham are completely different than in the south where there is standing water. In the north there is widespread, permanent damage to land. In the south, entire communities are displaced. The situations are very different. It's challenging us and other agencies to be flexible with our response, which must reflect the unique needs in both settings. CRS is well-positioned to respond in both the north and the south. In the north, the communities' needs will be somewhat similar to what we saw in the 2005 earthquake. We already have established expert teams positioned to engineer solutions well-suited to rugged terrain. In the south, the flood patterns and people's needs are similar to what we have seen in Pakistan's 2007 floods, as well as annual flooding in India and Bangladesh. We can draw on CRS' national and regional experience and expertise to respond appropriately in Pakistan's southern lowlands.
region: Middle East -> South Asia

notes: From RELIEF WEB: MORE AID REACHES PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS: Catholic Relief Services Battles Weather to Help Families from Remote Villages Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Date: 09 Aug 2010 Baltimore, MD, August 10—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is providing newly homeless families with water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, cookware and more as floods continue to ravage Pakistan. Though hampered by washed-out roads and bridges, CRS has reached thousands of people in the north and southwest parts of the country. "Our teams are battling the weather, the terrain and the immense scale of the disaster," says Carolyn Fanelli, Head of Programming and Acting Country Representative for CRS Pakistan. "In places where water has begun to recede, it has left behind a trail of devastation." In the past two days, CRS has distributed the sheeting, purification tablets, and other items to more than 150 families in the Swat Valley. "At first, we didn't get to as many families as planned because a new landslide blocked the way—our team got stuck on one side of it," says Fanelli. "But as of Monday, August 9 we've reached more than 1,500 people. Before that, CRS distributed supplies to 4,000 people in the Kohlu and Barkhan areas of Balochistan in the southern part of the country. "The rainy weather there also has made things much slower," says Fanelli. A CRS team trekked to the Shangla District, hiking through steep and slippery mountainous terrain in the rain to meet with survivors in remote villages and find out what they needed. The team reports that almost all the water systems and existing walking paths have been destroyed CRS engineers are now in the process of repairing five separate water systems in the region. The agency has years of experience building and repairing water systems in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan, having worked on hundreds of systsms following the 2005 earthquake there. CRS briefly had to evacuate its office in Besham, Shangla, on Sunday August 8 because of rising floodwaters, but staff returned the next day. CRS and it partners have opened an office in the Sharpor Valley of Shangla in order to better serve this remote area. Millions of Pakistanis have been affected by the floods. Many have lost their homes, crops, livestock and small businesses. Once the most immediate needs are met, CRS will help farmers and others to regain their means of earning a living. In several areas including Swat, CRS is planning cash-for-work projects, paying people affected by the disaster to build irrigation channels, pathways and retaining walls. "There's a long road ahead," says Fanelli. "But CRS staff are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions." ----------------------------------- From the SITE: Pakistan Floods Ravage North and South Since July, torrential rains in Pakistan have caused flooding that washed out roads, homes and tracts of land, leaving millions destitute. Michelle Neukirchen is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia, based in Afghanistan. She worked for CRS Pakistan from 2005 to 2008, helping with the earthquake recovery efforts there, and returned to assist with relief efforts after the devastating floods began. Recently, she spoke with Jennifer Hardy, New Media communications officer at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Jennifer Hardy: Can you tell me about your recent visit to northern Pakistan? Villagers clear a road near Besham Villagers clean a landslide on a road near Besham through CRS' cash-for-work program. Photo by Asad Zaidi for CRS Michelle Neukirchen: I just returned from the CRS office in Besham. We've worked in this area of Pakistan continuously since the 2005 earthquake. The purpose of my visit was to support our team as they plan further flood response efforts, especially in the areas of water, infrastructure and hygiene. Hardy: What stood out to you the most as you visited communities there? Neukirchen: The difficulty of moving from one location to another. In one area we visited, the entire length of road connecting villages to the local market was washed away. We hiked from the market to the village, and although it was only three kilometers (less than two miles) away, it took us over two hours to reach the community. We had to climb over boulders and scramble over loose rocks. It's important that roads are rebuilt in the north as quickly and safely as possible. People had to travel long distances for food and medical care before the floods—now those journeys are more difficult, and may be impossible for someone who is very ill. We also have to remember that some people depend on getting to markets to make a living, so the limited access has become an income issue as well. Hardy: How does CRS plan to help with water and roads in the north? Neukirchen: CRS is beginning to lay out pathways and build culverts to improve market access, as well as constructing retaining walls to limit landslides. Engineering teams are also repairing water supply systems to restore safe water access close to homes. We're teaching people about proper hygiene, water purification and water storage, which is essential to prevent disease. CRS is distributing water purification tablets and also talking to people about boiling water if tablets run out. Hardy: Where are displaced people staying right now? Neukirchen: Some families are taking shelter in local schools. People do have extended families, so many are staying with relatives. A few families even had leftover materials from the 2005 earthquake, such as tents and tarps, and they were able to grab them before the floodwaters rose. Hardy: Are there any special concerns that affect women in Besham? Neukirchen: We saw some women carrying children out walking with their husbands toward the market. Women don't leave the household very often, for cultural reasons, so if you do see a woman walking, it's likely for a serious reason. The biggest impact on women is collecting water. Tap stands are no longer working so they have to collect water further from home, which compromises their privacy. Now families have to work together to access water and other services. Hardy: Tell me about the difference between the disaster in the north and in the south of the country. Neukirchen: The floods in northern Pakistan were sudden and violent. People had very little time to move to higher ground, and the water cut 100-foot-wide and 40-foot-high gashes out of mountainsides. Water delivery systems, roads, bridges—everything was destroyed by the sudden force of the water. People's land has just vanished. It's not a matter of waiting for waters to recede; their land is gone for good. And we have to think about shelter solutions in the north right away. Winter comes earlier in the north, so aid agencies will need to coordinate with the government to ensure needs for winterized shelters are met before the cold sets in. More people are affected in the south, but it's a different type of flood. The water that has inundated the lowlands is affecting people on a larger scale. Entire communities are displaced in the south, but their land, although damaged, will be there after the floodwaters go down. Only after the water recedes will we know the level of overall damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Hardy: What unique challenges will aid workers face with this disaster? Neukirchen: When you look at the whole country it becomes a complex response. The issues in Besham are completely different than in the south where there is standing water. In the north there is widespread, permanent damage to land. In the south, entire communities are displaced. The situations are very different. It's challenging us and other agencies to be flexible with our response, which must reflect the unique needs in both settings. CRS is well-positioned to respond in both the north and the south. In the north, the communities' needs will be somewhat similar to what we saw in the 2005 earthquake. We already have established expert teams positioned to engineer solutions well-suited to rugged terrain. In the south, the flood patterns and people's needs are similar to what we have seen in Pakistan's 2007 floods, as well as annual flooding in India and Bangladesh. We can draw on CRS' national and regional experience and expertise to respond appropriately in Pakistan's southern lowlands. -> From RELIEF WEB: MORE AID REACHES PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS: Catholic Relief Services Battles Weather to Help Families from Remote Villages Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Date: 09 Aug 2010 Baltimore, MD, August 10—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is providing newly homeless families with water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, cookware and more as floods continue to ravage Pakistan. Though hampered by washed-out roads and bridges, CRS has reached thousands of people in the north and southwest parts of the country. "Our teams are battling the weather, the terrain and the immense scale of the disaster," says Carolyn Fanelli, Head of Programming and Acting Country Representative for CRS Pakistan. "In places where water has begun to recede, it has left behind a trail of devastation." In the past two days, CRS has distributed the sheeting, purification tablets, and other items to more than 150 families in the Swat Valley. "At first, we didn't get to as many families as planned because a new landslide blocked the way—our team got stuck on one side of it," says Fanelli. "But as of Monday, August 9 we've reached more than 1,500 people. Before that, CRS distributed supplies to 4,000 people in the Kohlu and Barkhan areas of Balochistan in the southern part of the country. "The rainy weather there also has made things much slower," says Fanelli. A CRS team trekked to the Shangla District, hiking through steep and slippery mountainous terrain in the rain to meet with survivors in remote villages and find out what they needed. The team reports that almost all the water systems and existing walking paths have been destroyed CRS engineers are now in the process of repairing five separate water systems in the region. The agency has years of experience building and repairing water systems in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan, having worked on hundreds of systsms following the 2005 earthquake there. CRS briefly had to evacuate its office in Besham, Shangla, on Sunday August 8 because of rising floodwaters, but staff returned the next day. CRS and it partners have opened an office in the Sharpor Valley of Shangla in order to better serve this remote area. Millions of Pakistanis have been affected by the floods. Many have lost their homes, crops, livestock and small businesses. Once the most immediate needs are met, CRS will help farmers and others to regain their means of earning a living. In several areas including Swat, CRS is planning cash-for-work projects, paying people affected by the disaster to build irrigation channels, pathways and retaining walls. "There's a long road ahead," says Fanelli. "But CRS staff are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions." ----------------------------------- From the SITE: Pakistan Floods Ravage North and South Since July, torrential rains in Pakistan have caused flooding that washed out roads, homes and tracts of land, leaving millions destitute. Michelle Neukirchen is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia, based in Afghanistan. She worked for CRS Pakistan from 2005 to 2008, helping with the earthquake recovery efforts there, and returned to assist with relief efforts after the devastating floods began. Recently, she spoke with Jennifer Hardy, New Media communications officer at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Jennifer Hardy: Can you tell me about your recent visit to northern Pakistan? Michelle Neukirchen: I just returned from the CRS office in Besham. We've worked in this area of Pakistan continuously since the 2005 earthquake. The purpose of my visit was to support our team as they plan further flood response efforts, especially in the areas of water, infrastructure and hygiene. Hardy: What stood out to you the most as you visited communities there? Neukirchen: The difficulty of moving from one location to another. In one area we visited, the entire length of road connecting villages to the local market was washed away. We hiked from the market to the village, and although it was only three kilometers (less than two miles) away, it took us over two hours to reach the community. We had to climb over boulders and scramble over loose rocks. It's important that roads are rebuilt in the north as quickly and safely as possible. People had to travel long distances for food and medical care before the floods—now those journeys are more difficult, and may be impossible for someone who is very ill. We also have to remember that some people depend on getting to markets to make a living, so the limited access has become an income issue as well. Hardy: How does CRS plan to help with water and roads in the north? Neukirchen: CRS is beginning to lay out pathways and build culverts to improve market access, as well as constructing retaining walls to limit landslides. Engineering teams are also repairing water supply systems to restore safe water access close to homes. We're teaching people about proper hygiene, water purification and water storage, which is essential to prevent disease. CRS is distributing water purification tablets and also talking to people about boiling water if tablets run out. Hardy: Where are displaced people staying right now? Neukirchen: Some families are taking shelter in local schools. People do have extended families, so many are staying with relatives. A few families even had leftover materials from the 2005 earthquake, such as tents and tarps, and they were able to grab them before the floodwaters rose. Hardy: Are there any special concerns that affect women in Besham? Neukirchen: We saw some women carrying children out walking with their husbands toward the market. Women don't leave the household very often, for cultural reasons, so if you do see a woman walking, it's likely for a serious reason. The biggest impact on women is collecting water. Tap stands are no longer working so they have to collect water further from home, which compromises their privacy. Now families have to work together to access water and other services. Hardy: Tell me about the difference between the disaster in the north and in the south of the country. Neukirchen: The floods in northern Pakistan were sudden and violent. People had very little time to move to higher ground, and the water cut 100-foot-wide and 40-foot-high gashes out of mountainsides. Water delivery systems, roads, bridges—everything was destroyed by the sudden force of the water. People's land has just vanished. It's not a matter of waiting for waters to recede; their land is gone for good. And we have to think about shelter solutions in the north right away. Winter comes earlier in the north, so aid agencies will need to coordinate with the government to ensure needs for winterized shelters are met before the cold sets in. More people are affected in the south, but it's a different type of flood. The water that has inundated the lowlands is affecting people on a larger scale. Entire communities are displaced in the south, but their land, although damaged, will be there after the floodwaters go down. Only after the water recedes will we know the level of overall damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Hardy: What unique challenges will aid workers face with this disaster? Neukirchen: When you look at the whole country it becomes a complex response. The issues in Besham are completely different than in the south where there is standing water. In the north there is widespread, permanent damage to land. In the south, entire communities are displaced. The situations are very different. It's challenging us and other agencies to be flexible with our response, which must reflect the unique needs in both settings. CRS is well-positioned to respond in both the north and the south. In the north, the communities' needs will be somewhat similar to what we saw in the 2005 earthquake. We already have established expert teams positioned to engineer solutions well-suited to rugged terrain. In the south, the flood patterns and people's needs are similar to what we have seen in Pakistan's 2007 floods, as well as annual flooding in India and Bangladesh. We can draw on CRS' national and regional experience and expertise to respond appropriately in Pakistan's southern lowlands.

name: American Jewish World Service - 2010 Pakistan Floods -> Catholic Relief Services - 2010 Pakistan Floods
main_phone: 212.792.2900 / 800.889.7146 -> 888-277-7575
address: 45 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018 PAKISTAN -> HQ: 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Maryland 21201 PAKISTAN
notes: FROM RELIEF WEB: American Jewish World Service Collecting Donations for Flood Relief in Pakistan Source: American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Date: 19 Aug 2010 New York, NY; August 19, 2010— In response to the recent flooding in Pakistan, where the U.N. is reporting that 1,200 people have died and 14 million are in dire need of urgent assistance, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) has opened an emergency flood relief fund to receive donations. The money AJWS collects will support the relief work of its existing grantee partners in Pakistan. The flooding is the worst Pakistan has seen since 1929 and is concentrated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (formerly known as North West Frontier Province), the same region that was devastated by a massive earthquake in 2005. Because roads, bridges and communication lines have suffered severe damage, the government is having difficulty meeting the population's needs. AJWS's grantee partners have assessed needs in the affected areas and are already mobilizing to provide support for victims of the flooding. They are distributing food packets and essential medicines to those who are stranded, erecting temporary shelters, facilitating access to clean water in relief camps and working with government and local authorities to expedite larger-scale efforts. "As in any disaster, the poor are disproportionally affected," said Ruth Messinger, AJWS's president. "With government unable to respond to many of their needs, it is crucial that organizations work through established networks to get resources into the right hands so the impact can be maximized. This has always been our approach to disaster response and remains so in Pakistan." AJWS has been providing emergency support in Pakistan since the 2005 earthquake and currently has five grantee partners in the country. Funds raised will enable AJWS's grantee partners to distribute Aid-Bags to affected families in the worst hit areas. These Aid-Bags contain essentials: food, water, pots, pans, and other necessities that will sustain these families for a week to 10 days. AJWS's grantee partners will also be distributing clothes and scarves to women who lost their belongings in the floods and who, as a result, have been forced to remain indoors to avoid harassment and violence. The totality of the flood's devastation remains unknown, but Pakistan is sure to experience profound long-term consequences. According to an initial assessment, U.N. officials report that 3.2 million hectares of standing crops have been damaged or lost in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab alone. At least 200,000 head of livestock have been lost and many more will die without proper feed and veterinary support. AJWS will be working with its partners over the coming months to assess and respond to the long-term needs of affected communities. With additional funding, AJWS will expand its initial response effort to support relief and rehabilitation, with the aim of assisting local communities in the reconstruction of their physical surroundings and creating economic opportunities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of its partners, AJWS does not list its Pakistan grantees on its website or publicize them by name. Donations can be made at www.ajws.org/pakistanemergency or by check made out to American Jewish World Service. All checks should include "Pakistan Flood Relief" in the memo line and should be sent to American Jewish World Service, 45 West 36th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10018-7904. -> From RELIEF WEB: MORE AID REACHES PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS: Catholic Relief Services Battles Weather to Help Families from Remote Villages Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Date: 09 Aug 2010 Baltimore, MD, August 10—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is providing newly homeless families with water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, cookware and more as floods continue to ravage Pakistan. Though hampered by washed-out roads and bridges, CRS has reached thousands of people in the north and southwest parts of the country. "Our teams are battling the weather, the terrain and the immense scale of the disaster," says Carolyn Fanelli, Head of Programming and Acting Country Representative for CRS Pakistan. "In places where water has begun to recede, it has left behind a trail of devastation." In the past two days, CRS has distributed the sheeting, purification tablets, and other items to more than 150 families in the Swat Valley. "At first, we didn't get to as many families as planned because a new landslide blocked the way—our team got stuck on one side of it," says Fanelli. "But as of Monday, August 9 we've reached more than 1,500 people. Before that, CRS distributed supplies to 4,000 people in the Kohlu and Barkhan areas of Balochistan in the southern part of the country. "The rainy weather there also has made things much slower," says Fanelli. A CRS team trekked to the Shangla District, hiking through steep and slippery mountainous terrain in the rain to meet with survivors in remote villages and find out what they needed. The team reports that almost all the water systems and existing walking paths have been destroyed CRS engineers are now in the process of repairing five separate water systems in the region. The agency has years of experience building and repairing water systems in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan, having worked on hundreds of systsms following the 2005 earthquake there. CRS briefly had to evacuate its office in Besham, Shangla, on Sunday August 8 because of rising floodwaters, but staff returned the next day. CRS and it partners have opened an office in the Sharpor Valley of Shangla in order to better serve this remote area. Millions of Pakistanis have been affected by the floods. Many have lost their homes, crops, livestock and small businesses. Once the most immediate needs are met, CRS will help farmers and others to regain their means of earning a living. In several areas including Swat, CRS is planning cash-for-work projects, paying people affected by the disaster to build irrigation channels, pathways and retaining walls. "There's a long road ahead," says Fanelli. "But CRS staff are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions." ----------------------------------- From the SITE: Pakistan Floods Ravage North and South Since July, torrential rains in Pakistan have caused flooding that washed out roads, homes and tracts of land, leaving millions destitute. Michelle Neukirchen is Catholic Relief Services' regional technical advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia, based in Afghanistan. She worked for CRS Pakistan from 2005 to 2008, helping with the earthquake recovery efforts there, and returned to assist with relief efforts after the devastating floods began. Recently, she spoke with Jennifer Hardy, New Media communications officer at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Jennifer Hardy: Can you tell me about your recent visit to northern Pakistan? Villagers clear a road near Besham Villagers clean a landslide on a road near Besham through CRS' cash-for-work program. Photo by Asad Zaidi for CRS Michelle Neukirchen: I just returned from the CRS office in Besham. We've worked in this area of Pakistan continuously since the 2005 earthquake. The purpose of my visit was to support our team as they plan further flood response efforts, especially in the areas of water, infrastructure and hygiene. Hardy: What stood out to you the most as you visited communities there? Neukirchen: The difficulty of moving from one location to another. In one area we visited, the entire length of road connecting villages to the local market was washed away. We hiked from the market to the village, and although it was only three kilometers (less than two miles) away, it took us over two hours to reach the community. We had to climb over boulders and scramble over loose rocks. It's important that roads are rebuilt in the north as quickly and safely as possible. People had to travel long distances for food and medical care before the floods—now those journeys are more difficult, and may be impossible for someone who is very ill. We also have to remember that some people depend on getting to markets to make a living, so the limited access has become an income issue as well. Hardy: How does CRS plan to help with water and roads in the north? Neukirchen: CRS is beginning to lay out pathways and build culverts to improve market access, as well as constructing retaining walls to limit landslides. Engineering teams are also repairing water supply systems to restore safe water access close to homes. We're teaching people about proper hygiene, water purification and water storage, which is essential to prevent disease. CRS is distributing water purification tablets and also talking to people about boiling water if tablets run out. Hardy: Where are displaced people staying right now? Neukirchen: Some families are taking shelter in local schools. People do have extended families, so many are staying with relatives. A few families even had leftover materials from the 2005 earthquake, such as tents and tarps, and they were able to grab them before the floodwaters rose. Hardy: Are there any special concerns that affect women in Besham? Neukirchen: We saw some women carrying children out walking with their husbands toward the market. Women don't leave the household very often, for cultural reasons, so if you do see a woman walking, it's likely for a serious reason. The biggest impact on women is collecting water. Tap stands are no longer working so they have to collect water further from home, which compromises their privacy. Now families have to work together to access water and other services. Hardy: Tell me about the difference between the disaster in the north and in the south of the country. Neukirchen: The floods in northern Pakistan were sudden and violent. People had very little time to move to higher ground, and the water cut 100-foot-wide and 40-foot-high gashes out of mountainsides. Water delivery systems, roads, bridges—everything was destroyed by the sudden force of the water. People's land has just vanished. It's not a matter of waiting for waters to recede; their land is gone for good. And we have to think about shelter solutions in the north right away. Winter comes earlier in the north, so aid agencies will need to coordinate with the government to ensure needs for winterized shelters are met before the cold sets in. More people are affected in the south, but it's a different type of flood. The water that has inundated the lowlands is affecting people on a larger scale. Entire communities are displaced in the south, but their land, although damaged, will be there after the floodwaters go down. Only after the water recedes will we know the level of overall damage to homes, infrastructure and farmland. Hardy: What unique challenges will aid workers face with this disaster? Neukirchen: When you look at the whole country it becomes a complex response. The issues in Besham are completely different than in the south where there is standing water. In the north there is widespread, permanent damage to land. In the south, entire communities are displaced. The situations are very different. It's challenging us and other agencies to be flexible with our response, which must reflect the unique needs in both settings. CRS is well-positioned to respond in both the north and the south. In the north, the communities' needs will be somewhat similar to what we saw in the 2005 earthquake. We already have established expert teams positioned to engineer solutions well-suited to rugged terrain. In the south, the flood patterns and people's needs are similar to what we have seen in Pakistan's 2007 floods, as well as annual flooding in India and Bangladesh. We can draw on CRS' national and regional experience and expertise to respond appropriately in Pakistan's southern lowlands.
organization: -> Faith-Based Disaster Relief
website: http://ajws.org/ -> http://www.crs.org/

notes: -> FROM RELIEF WEB: American Jewish World Service Collecting Donations for Flood Relief in Pakistan Source: American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Date: 19 Aug 2010 New York, NY; August 19, 2010— In response to the recent flooding in Pakistan, where the U.N. is reporting that 1,200 people have died and 14 million are in dire need of urgent assistance, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) has opened an emergency flood relief fund to receive donations. The money AJWS collects will support the relief work of its existing grantee partners in Pakistan. The flooding is the worst Pakistan has seen since 1929 and is concentrated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (formerly known as North West Frontier Province), the same region that was devastated by a massive earthquake in 2005. Because roads, bridges and communication lines have suffered severe damage, the government is having difficulty meeting the population's needs. AJWS's grantee partners have assessed needs in the affected areas and are already mobilizing to provide support for victims of the flooding. They are distributing food packets and essential medicines to those who are stranded, erecting temporary shelters, facilitating access to clean water in relief camps and working with government and local authorities to expedite larger-scale efforts. "As in any disaster, the poor are disproportionally affected," said Ruth Messinger, AJWS's president. "With government unable to respond to many of their needs, it is crucial that organizations work through established networks to get resources into the right hands so the impact can be maximized. This has always been our approach to disaster response and remains so in Pakistan." AJWS has been providing emergency support in Pakistan since the 2005 earthquake and currently has five grantee partners in the country. Funds raised will enable AJWS's grantee partners to distribute Aid-Bags to affected families in the worst hit areas. These Aid-Bags contain essentials: food, water, pots, pans, and other necessities that will sustain these families for a week to 10 days. AJWS's grantee partners will also be distributing clothes and scarves to women who lost their belongings in the floods and who, as a result, have been forced to remain indoors to avoid harassment and violence. The totality of the flood's devastation remains unknown, but Pakistan is sure to experience profound long-term consequences. According to an initial assessment, U.N. officials report that 3.2 million hectares of standing crops have been damaged or lost in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab alone. At least 200,000 head of livestock have been lost and many more will die without proper feed and veterinary support. AJWS will be working with its partners over the coming months to assess and respond to the long-term needs of affected communities. With additional funding, AJWS will expand its initial response effort to support relief and rehabilitation, with the aim of assisting local communities in the reconstruction of their physical surroundings and creating economic opportunities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of its partners, AJWS does not list its Pakistan grantees on its website or publicize them by name. Donations can be made at www.ajws.org/pakistanemergency or by check made out to American Jewish World Service. All checks should include "Pakistan Flood Relief" in the memo line and should be sent to American Jewish World Service, 45 West 36th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10018-7904.