RAWALPINDI, July 9: At least 300,000 people affected by severe flooding and cyclone in Sindh and Balochistan are in need of ‘ready-to-eat’ rations. Of these people, 160,000 are facing shortage of food due to lack of access to markets and other food sources and loss of household food stores, livestock, crop and sources of income, according to a report issued by Unicef.

By July 11, the number of food insecure people will be verified by a Joint Assessment Mission which has commenced its operation in Karachi and Quetta and details from the assessment will start to filter during the next few days.

The immediate needs in Balochistan and Sindh are food, shelter, water, sanitation and first-aid items.

The World Food Programme has identified flood-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan as hunger hot spots.

It has been estimated that the total cost of food and associated storage, transport and handling costs would amount to $17.50 million. On the assumption that at least a little over 50 per cent of the needs can be met through local sources, a draft flash appeal for 45 per cent of requirements which would be $7.80 million or 11,550 metric tonnes of food has been prepared and will be adjusted against the ongoing joint assessment, says the latest situation report prepared by the United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Assistance.

The report says UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team members were now fully deployed in Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta, and were being involved in meetings with government officials, the National Disaster Management Authority and joint assessment participants as a prelude to the planned field visits.

Reports from non-governmental organisations and the government indicate sufficient food has been delivered to cover food insecure households in the main population centres for about two weeks. Based on the information presently available, a total of 25,660 metric tonnes of bulk and ‘ready-to-eat’ commodities will be required to meet the minimum daily caloric requirements of 300,000 people for three months at varying ration scales, says the report.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, communication links of all major roads have been restored while 26 helicopters and C-130 aeroplanes were conducting relief activities in Balochistan.

The report says the Balochistan government has requested for tents so that two tent villages could be established in the districts of Jhal Magsi and Gandawa for a minimum of 5,000 people in each camp. The Sindh government has set up 47 relief camps for the displaced population of Shahdadkot and Qambar districts. Larkana was being developed as the main logistic base for the district.

The report says with the cluster system already operational in Islamabad, four clusters have started functioning in Quetta, including health, education, protection and water/sanitation. Efforts were underway to establish the remaining clusters by engaging relevant line departments.

The World Health Organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has facilitated the establishment of a health emergency operation centre in Quetta and Kechi districts. A health department official will coordinate with the emergency cell. The disease early warning system has been activated in Karachi.

Reporting on the situation in the NWFP, WHO says 11 health facilities have been damaged in Chitral, three in Swat and two each in Bannu and Tank. There was no increase in disease prevalence.