KARACHI, Aug 7: Various international NGOs operating in the country have decided to provide relief goods worth Rs20 million (US$ 340,350) to the victims of the rains and floods in Sindh over the next couple of weeks.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the INGO Forum for Disaster Preparedness and Response held here on Thursday. The NGOs which were represented at the meeting included Islamic Relief (UK), OXFAM, Catholic Relief Services, Action Aid, Church World Service, Save the Children (UK) and the Concern International.

The meeting decided that the NGOs would distribute food and non-food packages, conforming to the SPHERE standards, among the affected people of Thatta, Dadu and Badin districts who have taken shelter in relief camps after being rescued form their rain/flood-hit villages. The three districts have been worst hit by the calamity.

Besides essential food items, the relief goods would include water purifiers with containers, hygiene kits and cooking utensils. The relief operation will start immediately in these districts in coordination with the government and other stakeholders.

The NGOs have scheduled their next meeting for Aug 15 to assess the situation and formulate a future strategy.