August 22, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-us-Sani 23, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: In view of the increased threat of water- borne diseases in the country, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has sent three medical teams to Jhal Magsi, Jafarbad and Harnai, Baluchistan, with another camp planned for Kamancha in District Lasbela.

A wireless communication system consisting five vehicles are monitoring the situation for immediate action between Badin and base station in Karachi.

This has been put in place with help from International Committee of Red Crescent (ICRC), said a press release issued here.

The situation has been trouble-some for the PRCS and other aid workers with most of the roads still under stagnating water. Assistance teams are undertaking delivery of relief items mostly through air-drops and boats.

The PRCS has already provided clothing and around 4,000 food parcels to the flood-victims in Sindh and Balochistan. With the recent funds funnelling in, relief efforts are expected to pick up momentum.

The PRCS press release said the receding flood-water has left 250 people dead and 449 injured in the wake of the devastation in about 7,573 villages of Balochistan and Sindh.

Though the worst seems over, about 4-5 feet deep floodwater has left people stranded in many villages where entry and exit is impossible. This is a dismaying situation for over one million affected people, who are left homeless and exposed to countless diseases and infection risks.

The PRCS earlier managed to mobilize local resources worth approximately $50,000. Similarly, USAID and the Chinese Red Cross also gave $50,000 each to PRCS.

Future pledges include 10 metric tons of food items from the Turkish Red Crescent and 150 metric tons of rice from the ICRC also pouring in.

Of this, Rs4 million is being released to Sindh and Rs1.9 million to Balochistan for relief efforts in the affected districts. These funds will be used by the branches largely in the preparation of relief packs, provision of shelter, medical aid and other amenities.