site stats
Wednesday, 8 February, 2012 RSS FOLLOW US

Pakistan food prices double

Food price hikes are adding to the misery for the millionsof people affected by Pakistan’s worst flooding on record.

Christian World Service understands that food prices had already drastically increased in the buildup to the holy month of Ramadan. Now,with the effects of ongoing flash floods and monsoon rains, thousands of families are facing severe food insecurity.

Pakistani sourcesreport the prices of green vegetables are more than doubling.

Tens of thousands remain without shelter and can be found roaming andsleeping on the streets of Dera Ismail Khan District.

 Zafar Wazir, CWS Project Officer, describesthe situation: “Everyone is on the streets, animals and people. There isno shelter; tents are high priority. A lot ofhumanitarian assistance is needed, and this area has received very little mediacoverage or assistance. Only the army and a few organizations can be seen inDera Ismail Khan."

Distribution of 70 tonnes of food in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwais complete, and an additional 70 tonnes of food will be distributed inAllai in a couple of days.

Donations can be made online at www.cws.org.nz or by phoning 0800 74 73 72.

New Zealanders responded generously to previous relief operations during the 2008 earthquake and last year’s conflict in the North West.

Heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 1500 people and over 3 million have been affected in the north-west of the country.

“It is hard to understand  the sheer need  when you think that nearly three quarters of our total New Zealand population has been affected  already,’’ said CWS national director Pauline McKay.

Homes have been destroyed and livestock and food crops washed away. 
 

Flood water remains in the damaged houses, posing numerous health risks. Victims are reporting diarrhoea, skin infections, and respiratory tract infections and need to act quickly against water borne diseases.  Mobile health clinics have begun working in some areas.

Comments on this story

Log in or create a user account to comment.

Editors' Picks

'Horrific' violence against women

Violence against women in the Pacific is “horrific” and must be addressed, says an Australian...

From Church Times cartoonist Dave Walker

Back to the community – every day

What we need is a "Back to the Community" campaign, says the vicar of a quake zone.

Cathedral bells bound for UK

The ChristChurch Cathedral bells will soon be enroute to England for testing and repair.

New guidelines for marriage rites

A “consensus description” of Anglican theology on marriage rites is being finalized by the Int...

The best Grandad in the world.

A unique and final honour

Sir Paul Reeves is accorded a unique last honour. He is laid to rest on the gentle north-facin...

Decision time on gay ordination

The question of whether openly gay and lesbian people can be ordained should be settled s...

© Anglican Taonga

ANGLICAN TAONGA  is the communications arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Haahi Mihanare ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. TAONGA magazine is published three times a year and distributed to all Anglican ministry units and agencies. TAONGA also publishes occasional booklets on church, ministry and sacraments. The General Editor of TAONGA is accountable to the Communications Commission of General Synod / te Hinota Whanui, 200 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.

Login | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use © 2005-2012 Taonga Online. All rights reserved. | Another eZ Publish site by Quiqcorp Ltd