Pakistan food prices double
CWS
| 01 Aug 2010
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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.
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