Heavy Rains in upper Punjab, Kashmir and
Indian Occupied Kashmir has triggered floods in the rivers Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi
and Sutlej. The affected districts so far are Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat,
Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Chiniot and Jhang. Moreover, India has
reportedly released 818,000 cusec of water in Chenab which generated
exceptionally high flood in River Chenab that had passed through Head Marala and Head Khanki and expected to reach south Punjab at Head Trimmu and Head
Punjnad in coming days, and enter Sindh later in the week. Flood warnings have
been issued by Multan, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Rahim Yar
Khan and Bahawalpur district administrations and various camps have been
established by district administrations at various high risk points in these
districts along the rivers Chenab and Sutlej banks. Population living in low
lying and river belts have been evacuated to avoid losses.
The
population from most of the affected village was evacuated to safe places. Still
there are people who are trapped in the waters. Flood relief camps are
established for affected and displaced population by district administration
and Department of Health.
According to latest hydrological conditions of
River Indus, Guddu is likely to attain High to Very High Flood Level from 13
Sept. to 14 Sept. 2014. Sukkur: According to latest hydrological conditions of
River Indus at Sukkur is likely to attain High to Very High Flood Level from 14
Sept. to 15 Sept 2014. NDMA/ PDMA has informed to all concerned authorities to
take all necessary measures to avoid any loss of life and property.
HANDS Preparation
and Response:
Chief Executive
HANDS has declared Emergency within the Organization and has directed the staff
and volunteers to mobilize all available resources. HANDS Emergency response
Centre/ Operations Room in Pakistan has begun coordination between Government NDMA
(National Disaster Management Authority) and PDMAs (Provincial Disaster
Management Authorities) with HANDS
Provincial
and District offices and disaster management centres. All the emergency
response will be initiated from HANDS Disaster Risk Management Centre for
Northern Districts, which is fully equipped and resourced with Emergency
Stock, Vehicles, Boats, De watering machines and Ambulance Services.
HANDS Early warning Centre is disseminating Early Warning messages regularly to
Community Based organizations as they can be prepare to meet with any further
disaster.
To respond to the
situation, Operation centre is established at HANDS Head office to coordinate with
the Islamabad, Lahore, Rajanpur, and Sukkur offices to monitor the situation.
So far HANDS teams have
done the following:
Ø At national level, the Operations room has been made functional to
coordinate with Provincial and District offices, NDMA, PDMAs and DDMAs,
Provincial and District departments and other local partners, while logistic and
other necessary arrangements are being harmonised.
Ø Three Rapid Assessment Teams have visited three affected districts
in upper Punjab and completed the assessment of Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin and
Chiniot districts.
Ø According to the assessment of these three districts, total of 76
union councils, 802 villages and 175000 families are affected. It is estimated
that more than 50% of the houses in the affected locations have been partially
or fully damaged. A significant number of livestock perished and over a large
area the crops have been damaged.
HANDS team has made
following recommendations:
Immediate
Relief Phase:
Ø Provision of food and non food items except tents
Ø Medical response teams along with medicines to deal with skin
diseases, wounds, acute respiratory infection particularly in children,
malaria, etc.
Ø Supply of Aqua tablets for clean drinking water
Early
Recovery Phase:
Early recovery phase in
upper and central region districts of Punjab is about to begin as water has
started receding quickly in most of the area and people have started going back
to their places. However following concerns need to be looked at and dealt with
immediately:
Ø Shelter for people / families affected and displaced by floods
Ø Medical and primary healthcare support to deal with expected
increase in ARI (acute respiratory infections), diarrhoea, and waterborne skin
diseases.
Ø Restoration and reconstruction of broken and damaged
infrastructure and houses
Ø Restoration and repair of already damaged water sources and
providing and maintaining the supply of safe drinking water via tube wells and
hand pumps.
Ø Appropriate sanitation and disposal services
Ø Food and nutrition
Ongoing Support: