CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
SITUATION REPORT: PAKISTAN STORMS
June 27, 2007


SITUATION: Heavy rains continue to fall in Karachi, Pakistan's largest 
city, and in surrounding areas throughout southern Pakistan. Parts of 
the city are still without power and basic amenities, and there is 
concern that unless cleanup efforts are implemented soon, health issues 
- such as water-borne diseases - will become a serious problem, Church 
World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan reported. More than 300 persons have 
died from storm-related damage and flooding.

Meanwhile the province of Balochiatan is coping with the after-effects 
of Cyclone Yemyin, in which 10 people died and some 60,000 persons have 
been displaced; at least 35 villages have been inundated. That storm 
resulted in wide scale damage of roads, communication links, crops and 
houses. Thousands of people were evacuated from the Hingo and Kech 
districts, especially Turbat city which was subiect to massive flooding 
as rivers burst their banks. The residents of flooded areas took refuge 
in hospitals, schools, mosques and even in date trees. Affected areas of 
Balochistan have become cut off from the rest of the country, as major 
highways and bridges have been damaged, or in some cases washed away.

CWS RESPONSE: Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan has conducted 
its first assessment in Gadap, one of the worst-hit towns, about 34 
miles from Karachi.

Out of the eight local units in Gadap, four were badly hit, with Gujro 
and Sangul being the worst affected, Church World Service 
Pakistan/Afghanistan reported. One thousand homes have been either 
severely damaged or completely destroyed.  Twenty-four have been 
reported dead, with 250 injured, including a high number of women and 
children.  Four hundred livestock are reported missing, which will have 
an immediate economic impact in the area where most people make their 
living from agriculture.  In addition, 75 poultry farms have been 
destroyed. The overall cost to the region has been thus far estimated at 
200 million rupees, just under $3.5 million, according to a local 
government official.

The CWS response includes immediate use of CWS Rapid Response Funds for 
1,000 family food packages, containing such basic items as wheat, rice 
and cooking oil. The response is also to include the distribution of 
1,000 non-winterized tents.

A second assessment is being carried out today by CWS and by partner 
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) to further ascertain where relief and aid 
needs to be prioritized. CWS has a long history of work in the southern 
districts of Pakistan, and in previous years has been instrumental in 
providing response and relief to those areas regularly hit by floods and 
severe weather conditions.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is 
responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS 
Hotline, (800) 297-1516.

Program Director: dderr@churchworldservice.org
International: flumeya@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org

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