By : Jawahir Habib
The flood hit areas of Balochistan still show a grim picture of devastation from the worst floods in the history of the country. According to PDMA floods affected a population of 700,000 in Balochistan province only. Martin Mogwanja, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the region termed the situation in Balochistan as “A tragedy within a tragedy”.
The flood hit areas of Balochistan still show a grim picture of devastation from the worst floods in the history of the country. According to PDMA floods affected a population of 700,000 in Balochistan province only. Martin Mogwanja, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the region termed the situation in Balochistan as “A tragedy within a tragedy”.
Young girls utilizing emergency latrines and hygiene products
provided by UNICEF at ShahChowki Camp Jafferabad
|
Photo credit: UNICEF/Pak2010/Sami Malik
|
Balochistan is the province with lowest literacy rates and poorest health indicators in the country. 69% of households in Balochistan have no improved toilet facility at all. About 66% households in Balochistan don’t have access to water in their premises.
In emergencies such as the 2010 Pakistan floods UNICEF is committed to ensure that the flood affected children and woman have access to sufficient water of appropriate quality and quantity for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. UNICEF Balochistan continues to provide clean drinking water to 340, 000 people in two most flood affected districts Naseerabad and Jafferabad on daily basis through 76 water tankers after 6 months of floods hitting these districts of Balochistan
UNICEF is working on recovery and currently has installed 17 drinking water treatment plants in Naseerabad and Jafferabad providing clean drinking water to around 84,000 men women and children.
 |
A Boy fetching water from water filters
established
by UNICEF at ShahChowki Camp Jafferabad..
Photo credit: UNICEF/Pak2010/Sami Malik
|
UNICEF Balochistan has been working in the five most affected districts Naseerabad Jafferabad, Sibi, Kohlu and Barkhan to provide access to toilets and washing facilities that are culturally appropriate ,secure ,sanitary and gender appropriate. More than two thousand five hundred emergency latrines and two thousand two hundred washing places have been constructed in the five most affected districts benefiting a population of hundred thousand floods affected man women and children.
To increase awareness about child illness especially water borne diseases as diarrhoea UNICEF Balochistan has conducted 1,985 Hygiene promotion sessions in five most affected districts (Kohlu, Barkhan, Sibi, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad) provide health and hygiene related information to 37,715 men, women and children.The situation in the flood affected districts has been improving however the districts face major challenges regarding water sanitation and Hygiene. UNICEF along with its partners is working in these areas to ensure that Girls, boys and women have protected and reliable access to sufficient, safe water and sanitation and improved hygiene facilities.
