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Millions Of Flood Victims In Pakistan Now Face Harsh Winter
by Brian McAfee
As the monsoon floods receded the impact on the people of Pakistan, reports indicate, have been exacerbated by the onslaught of winter. The floods affected 20 million of Pakistan's population of just over 180 million people. As the temperature dips hundreds of thousands of displaced children are susceptible to pneumonia and other cold related diseases. According to Director of the National Institute of Child Health
(Pakistan) Professor Jamal Raza states that in winter the flood victims becoming ill from the cold, particularly children, could almost double. Many are living in non-winterized tents and there are shortages of dry firewood. Many of the flood ravaged areas from this years monsoon remain flooded and millions are still displaced. Many being farmers whose fields are still flooded and have no source of livelihood. Of the children Professor Raza says it will be an uphill battle to save many of th children as they are malnourished, and have had a great deal of weight loss due to poor diet. Their immunity is very low and are susceptible to respiratory disease such as pneumonia as their immunity level is very low. There is an urgent need for blankets, quilts and better shelter to fight the cold as well as the obvious nutritional and medical needs.
Reports out of Pakistan indicate another danger caused by the floods, the release of stored toxic chemicals into the flood waters. An article in www.newscientist.com reports that the floods releases released an estimated 3000 tonnes of toxic chemicals into the environment. The chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) include several insect repellants such as DDT do not biodegrade in nature and are said to be linked to hormonal, developmental and reproductive disorders according to an article in New Scientist. Pakistan's floods have awakened some nations and scientists to this ongoing threat as changes in weather patters become more evident.
Reputable Relief organizations currently active in the relief effort in Pakistan include OXFAM www.oxfamamerica.org, AmeriCares www.americares.org, Save the Children www.savethechildren.org and
www.unrefugees.org,.
Please specify the donation is for Pakistan flood relief.
I welcome any comments or suggestions. I can be reached at brimac6@hotmail.com-Brian McAfee
