Appeal for help

SPO Appeal for the Assistance of Flood Affected Population in Sindh

Recent torrential monsoon rains have hit majority of districts in Sindh province. According to the independent sources around population of 7.2 million of 19 districts has been badly affected, this number includes approximately 5.2 million affected people of the five districts of Mirpurkhas division only. According to media reports, the town of Mir Pur Khas is submerged under water and 4 feet high inundation is being observed in the city. The death toll has surpassed by two hundred, includes mostly women and children, while the number of injuries is also in hundreds. Additionally, crops of Kharif season have totally been wiped out, which includes cotton, rice, chilies, tomatoes, sugarcane, onion etc. Crop destruction evidently indicates a situation of famine and drought in coming days and this ongoing disaster can definitely convert into different severe socio-economic problems if adequate coping strategy is not timely developed and implemented. 

Moreover, besides, standing crops, the public and private infrastructure, communication means and roads and hundreds of thousands houses have been washed away and above all the affected population especially of southern and central districts, is displaced and forced to live under open sky without having adequate shelter. Hundreds of thousands children and women are facing extreme weather and unhygienic conditions which increasingly adding into their vulnerabilities. According to some media reports, 1.6 million pregnant women in Sindh are facing extreme hardship during the midst of their critical reproductive phase.

The initial report of PDMA says that the number of affected population in 16 districts of Sindh out of 19; is about 4.7 million, while, 0.95 million households are damaged. The figure shows that number of recent damage is exceeding by previous damage caused by August 2010 floods, which was, according to PDMA Sindh data, about 0.87 million.

The report also mentions that survey in three districts –Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Larkana is being carried out, and we foresee a substantial increase in the number of damaged houses, once the survey/initial damage assessment of these districts does complete. The recent monsoon rain, the report affirms, has submerged more than 3.6 million acres of agriculture land, out of which more than 1.7 million acres are completely wiped out.
We understand that these figures are not final and some fluctuation may be observed in coming days because of uncertain situation and conditions on the ground. However, there is no difference about the severity of the situation and need of instantaneous actions on war footings for addressing the basic and immediate needs of affected population across the Sindh.

The district authorities of Badin decided to evacuate the population of Tando Bago and Badin to a safer place like Makli in adjoining district of Thatha. The evacuation would start today and require huge resource for shifting such a large population to a safer place as well as fulfilling their basic and daily needs. This decision clearly depict the gravity of situation on ground and demands extraordinary actions and contribution from humanitarian community. Badin is extremely endangered because of fresh breaches in LBOD and this enforces the authorities to shift the whole population from the town to other district.

Karachi and Hyderabad, the two largest metropolitans are receiving heavy rains for last three consecutive days. Hyderabad city district government has declared holiday today as travel/movement in the city is not possible due to stagnant waters. Schools in Hyderabad will remain close today.

Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) is the largest right based organization in Sindh and also have a very strong portfolio of designing and undertaking humanitarian response across the country. So far, SPO has started its response from its meager resources and distributed relief assistance of in Badin and Matiari districts to 400 families.

SPO Hyderabad has deep rooted presence in Tando Mohammad Khan, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Matyari, Ghotki, Kashmore, Sukkur, Badin and Tharparkar and Thatha districts of the province and SPO has ample of social and human capital in the affected districts thus making a perfect outfit for undertaking another round of humanitarian response in recently affected districts.

Therefore we humbly request to all humanitarian organizations to extend all possible support to the rain affected people of Sindh.

Donate and contribute generously to help people in distress. Please send your cash to:

Currency: Pak Rupees

Bank: United Bank Limited

Branch: Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad

Title of Account: SPO Emergency Relief Fund

Account No: 101-5999-0

Swift Code: UBLPKKA741

For medical support, non-food items and voluntary services please contact:

SPO National Centre and its regional offices

SPO National Centre

Atif Sohail
Manager Humanitarian Response

House 429, Street 11, Sector F-10/2, Islamabad.
PakistanTel: +92-51-2104677 +92-51-2104677,2104679, 2104680Fax: 92-51-2112787
Email: info@stagingspo.spohrm.org

SPO Hyderabad

Mr. Mustafa Baloch
Regional Head, Hyderabad

Plot No. 158/2 Behind M. Usman Deplai Scholars Academy,
Alamdar Chowk, Grid Station Qasimabad,Hyderabad.
Tel: 022-2654725, 2655399, 2655712
Fax: 022-2652126

SPO Karachi

Mr. Ellahi Bakhsh
Regional Manager, Karachi

G-22, B/2, Park Lane,
Clifton Block 05, Karachi.
Tel: 021-35873405, 35836213
Fax: 021-35873794