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ISLAMABAD: The United Nation's Children Fund (Unicef) urged that more help must reach fast to 2.5 million children affected by severe monsoon floods in Southern Pakistan and with many still recovering from the worst floods in the country's history last year.
“Children and families are still recovering from the effects of the 2010 floods, which aggravated existing levels of widespread chronic malnutrition, unhealthy sanitation practices, low primary school attendance and a host of child protection issues whereas the recent floods have disrupted that progress,” said a Unicef news release issued here on Monday.
“Children are the most vulnerable in any emergency - in this disaster, many are experiencing the devastating effects of a flood emergency for the second time in a year. Their coping mechanisms were already weak and their vulnerabilities high,” said Unicef Pakistan Representative, Dan Rohrmann.
“We are witnessing vast devastation across huge swathes of Sindh province. The key areas of concern for children right now include access to health and nutrition, safe drinking water and protection. At the beginning of an emergency like this, it is critical that children are reached with life-saving interventions and helped to return to a sense of normalcy,” said Mr Rohrmann.
“The flood waters, apart from driving children and families from their homes, have contaminated wells and other sources of drinking water, compromised sanitation and hygiene, and are contributing to a rise in water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea.
There are immediate needs to reach children with clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene messages as well as provide additional health services to prevent disease outbreaks,” said Rohrmann.
Following the official request for assistance by the Government of Pakistan, Unicef is working closely with the National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, and other UN agencies to urgently assess the level of humanitarian needs.
The emergency response, already underway by the Government, will be jointly coordinated and implemented by UN agencies, the Government of Pakistan, provincial government authorities, and civil society organisations.
“We will ensure that vulnerable children receive essential assistance both during and after this emergency as part of our 'core commitments for children in humanitarian action'. It is vital that we take all measures to save children's lives, alleviate suffering and protect the rights of children,” added Mr. Rohrmann.
