World Vision Plans Relief Intervention for Pakistan

World Vision is planning a relief intervention for more than one million people affected by cyclone Yemyin, which hit the southern province of Balochistan in Pakistan last week.

The decision follows the request today from the Pakistani Government to international donors, NGOs, and agencies, to contribute towards relief and rehabilitation efforts.

"Our operations strategy is to work through implementing partners," explained Graham Strong, World Vision Pakistan National Director.

"We will coordinate with other international and local NGOs that had a presence in the affected area prior to the disaster. Based on continuing monitoring of the situation and needs, we will decide what the best course of action is," he added.

Latest reports estimate that the number of people affected is anywhere between one to two million, in the 14 districts of Balochistan hit hardest by the cyclone. At least 300 people are confirmed dead or missing, and thousands of homes have been destroyed by the heavy rains, floods, and winds up to 130 kph.

Important elements of infrastructure, and power and water supplies have also been severed in Balochistan. The government is cautious in releasing final figures, as the full scale of the loss and destruction is not yet fully known.

A state of emergency was declared in the worst affected districts.

The federal government, through its National Disaster Management Authority, has organised rescue missions, and set up camps for the evacuated population. Re-enacting its effective intervention during the October 2005 earthquake, the army provided relief goods to 14 worst affected districts of Balochistan.

The relief intervention in southern Pakistan, some 1,600km away from World Vision's programme areas in the North West Frontier Province, could encounter major difficulties. Mr Strong explained that Balochistan occupies 44 per cent of Pakistan's total area but contains only five per cent of its population.

"The access to scattered groups of populations is very difficult. We can count on the professionalism of our team, and the collaboration with our partners, but there are considerable logistic challenges," Mr Strong added.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a warning that a low pressure system is moving from India and is expected to reach Sindh and Balochistan in the next 24 to 36 hours. This weather development is considered very dangerous, as gustier winds and heavy rains will hit areas already damaged by the Yemyin Cyclone. Due to the cyclone, areas of the North West Frontier Province where World Vision operates have been hit by heavy rains.

"Our operations in the NWFP have not yet been affected by these harsh weather conditions," said Mr Strong. "However, the forecast warns against possible landslides, which would slow down some of our field activities in Kaghan Valley, Siran Valleys, and Oghi."