Malnutrition in flood sufferers is much worse than in Sub-Saharan Africa

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 2:36:53 by Mursil Mehmood Butt

Malnutrition in flood sufferers is much worse than in Sub-Saharan Africa

The malnutrition in flood victims of Pakistan is much worse than those residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. The weak international response to the second major flooding crisis in Pakistan has directed millions of people to the risk of malnutrition and other
lethal diseases.

The Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), a group of the 41 largest international charities in the country, has invited the international community and Pakistan to take imperative steps that could resolve the issue.

The country director of Oxfam, Neva Khan said, “With funds drying up, millions will find it extremely hard to make it through the next few months. Donors and the government of Pakistan must step up their response immediately.”

She stressed that more than 2.5 million people are still without the basic necessities of life, which includes food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare. The union of international charities claimed that such deepened poverty ultimately results in
the danger of malnutrition and deadly diseases.

The country director for Save the Children, David Wright said, “The floods have exposed and deepened a food crisis in Sindh that has resulted in malnutrition rates far worse than those in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

In the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, almost 43 percent of the concerned people are sternly short on food while malnutrition level continues to decline below the emergency verge.

The group added that last year, the United Nations instigated an appeal to collect $357 million, but only less than a half of it has been funded yet.

The chief executive of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Naseer Memon told that, “Six months on, the crisis seems to have been forgotten by the international community.”

PHF’s chairperson, Aine Fay expressed that, “The needs of the communities affected by the floods are still enormous with women, children, the elderly and disabled particularly vulnerable.”

It should be noted that tens of thousands of flood affected people are still dislocated in their affected areas and only a few of them have returned home and if not met with proper care, circumstances can be very cruel for them.

Tags: Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, Aine Fay, Aine Fay PHF, Balochistan, David Wright, flood sufferers, headscarves, Malnutrition, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Naseer Memon, Neva Khan, Oxfam, Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, Save the Children, Sindh, Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Sub Saharan Africa, Tamil Superstar, United Nations, without makeup

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