The impact of the 2010 massive floods that submerged
one-fifth of Pakistan, left 20 million homeless, killed 2,000 and destroyed
millions of acres of crops is still painfully evident today -- especially in remote
villages. Many families in these farming
communities lost everything and have little access to relief and recovery
efforts.
As part of our commitment to help communities rebuild
sustainable health care following a disaster, AmeriCares is working to
rehabilitate 10 flood-damaged health facilities to restore crucial health care
services to Pakistan’s villages. Join us in restoring health village by village in Pakistan and around the world. »
At the same time, we continue to keep our promise by delivering
crucial aid to families in need. Relief worker Riaz Khalil works tirelessly
with village elders to identify needs and coordinates with partners to
distribute relief items. Many elders explained that these important AmeriCares
distributions are the only non-food items that their people have received since
the disaster.
Relief packs include some or all of the following: a quilt,
cooking set, plastic mat, clothing, water cooler, hygiene supplies and
toothbrushes – small but important items in places where most of the furniture
is destroyed, homes are badly damaged or completely destroyed, power is cut off
at night, and fresh water is difficult to find and store.
Help
and Hope for Pakistan’s Villages
Samanabad
Relief packs were distributed to 255 families in this Swat
River village that was nearly washed away entirely after suffering a direct hit
from floodwaters.
“The joint family system is very strong in this area -- married
brothers still live with their families in one compound with one kitchen,”
explained Riaz. “In all, nearly 500 families benefited from the distribution.”
Pir
Sabaq
In
this once-bustling village near the banks of the Nowshera River, much of the
potable water supply had been damaged in the floods, posing a serious health
risk to the community, especially young children. In addition to quilts,
hygiene kits and cooking sets for 800 village families, AmeriCares delivered a well
and community hand pump, ensuring that hundreds of students in the nearby
school have access to clean water, and benefiting
40 nearby homes in this recovering community.
A Pir Sabaq village elder thanked AmeriCares for the well and pump, saying "See
the girls' smiling faces. They are very happy to have clean water near their
school."
Mohkum Shah
Prior to the floods, Mohkum Shah was a fishing village
situated between the Kabul and Swat rivers. Floods devastated the
infrastructure and economy. Working with village elders and collaborating with
the Sabawoon Welfare Foundation, AmeriCares distributed relief items to 60 families.
One of the village elders stated that this was the first
non-food distribution the village had received.
Awan
Nearly 90 percent of the homes were completely destroyed in
this isolated fishing village Very little reconstruction has occurred since the
flooding. Working with partner, Sabawoon Welfare Foundation and the village
elders, 200 families received a water cooler, cooking sets and plastic mats.
“AmeriCares is the only organization who arranged any distribution,
and it was done in just two weeks time! The village of Awan will always
remember you,” said Mr. Tajuddin, the head of the village elders.
