UNICEF ...Saving lives.. Providing Clean water to drink

By Jawahir Habib

UNICEF is committed to provide children and women access to sufficient water of appropriate quantity and quality for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene during the emergencies. About 700,000 people in Balochistan have been affected by floods and more then seventy five thousand households have been damaged by the recent floods in Balochistan.  During the natural disasters  like floods the access to clean water and hygiene is interrupted making the population more prone to water borne diseases.

UNICEF Balochistan is providing clean drinking water to estimated 251,000 people, as of today through 69 water tankers in the five most affected districts (Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad) with the help of local NGOs. To further facilitate the users Along with that 15,500 jerry canes and 7,000 plastic buckets distributed in three districts (Sibi, Jaffarabad and Naseerabad.

Two girls living in IDP Camp Quetta in front of UNICEF
Emergency Latrines

During the emergencies one of the great challenges is maintaining hygiene in the camps and open locations. UNICEF focuses its efforts on providing children and women access to toilet and wash facilities that are appropriate culturally and for both genders. 749 emergency latrines and 556 washing places constructed in five districts (Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad) through UNICEF Balochistan Support, benefiting around 29,960 people. 750 emergency latrines and 400 washing places constructed by WASH cluster partners in three districts (Sibi, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad) benefiting around 30,000 people. More than 1,190 hygiene sessions have been conducted and 13,000 hygiene kits have been distributed. These hygiene kits have benefited 91,000 people in the flood affected districts.

Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM): understanding and mapping Food Insecurity

WFP’s VAM unit has released the Initial Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) for the  12 severely affected districts of the province. The study was conducted from 30  August to 3 September 2010. According to IVA, the floods have damaged 85,076  households affecting 595,532 men, women and children in 12 districts of Balochistan.  The results from this assessment complement’s the estimates provided by the  provincial government.The World Food Program leads the fight against hunger and food insecurity  on many different fronts. Sometimes the front line is an emergency such as a war or a natural disaster . To provide an appropriate humanitarian and longer-term response to complex food crises or  chronic hunger triggered by poverty, WFP monitor the food security situation of populations  and assess their vulnerability to events that could plunge them into the vicious circle of hunger. VAM enables WFP and its partners to draw a full picture of people at risk of hunger and  malnutrition and enable to provide solutions, whether through food or other forms of assistance. Pakistan Flood Impact Assessment report September2010

Interactive Map : UNICEF flood relief activities in Pakistan

View UNICEF UK's Pakistan Flood Children's Appeal in a larger map


This map highlights UNICEF's activities in Pakistan along with success stories .The map also includes UNICEF Balochistans contribution for the province

The UNICEF Balochistan Staff...On field!

By Jawahir Habib

Children at a Camp waiting for food

More than 600,000 IDPs have flown from Sindh province to Balochistan after the floods and torrential rains that have affected more than 20 million people in Pakistan. UNICEF has focused its relief efforts on provision of clean water and sanitation in the affected districts, along with immunization, provision of essential drugs and nutritional supplies. Apart from that UNICEF is also focusing on child protection activities and is providing education through temporary learning centres in the camps.

UNICEF Staff Distributing Food

UNICEF Balochistan staff members raised Rupees two hundred thousand and contributed at a personal level in field relief efforts along with their daily professional responsibilities they have been performing during this time of crisis. UNICEF staff members with their provided 107 Dry Ration Packets which included flour, Sugar, Tea, Oil, Daal (grains) and High Energy Biscuits to over a hundred families in IDP Camp established by Government of Balochistan on Sariyab road Quetta. These families had been recently displaced from Jafferabad and neighbouring districts of Sindh.

Temporary shelter arrangement in the Scorching Sun