Kristalina Georgieva, European Humanitarian Commissioner, today visited Pakistan to see the effect of the devastating floods on the country. More than 17 million people are now affected by the floods – in an area that now constitutes the world's largest freshwater lake.

Pakistan floods 2010

We hope the EU will continue to show leadership in delivering real and sustained support to the Pakistani people – now and in the future.

Neva Khan

Oxfam's Country Director in Pakistan

• The European Commission has provided €70 million of humanitarian funding while EU Member States have so far committed a further €130 million.
• 17.2 million people have been affected by the floods with up to ten million estimated to be in need of direct assistance.
• Oxfam and partners are mounting a response across in four provinces Pakistan – Khyber Pakhtoonkkhwa (formally NWFP), Sindh, Kashmir and Punjab.
• So far, the agency has reached more than 375,000 people with clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies, as well as food and NFIs. The organization is planning to scale up its response to reach 1.1 million people.
• Agencies such as Oxfam are doing their best to scale up their operations to respond to the needs, but the resources currently available cover only a fraction of what is required.
• Oxfam has been working in Pakistan since 1973. We support local partners and work with government authorities to improve the livelihoods of those living in poverty, and provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by disasters and conflict.

For more information and interviews, please contact: In Pakistan:

• Louise Hancock on 92 (0) 308 555 9694 or lohancock@oxfam.org.uk
• Tariq Malik on 92 (0) 308-5052976 or tariq.malik@oxfamnovib-pakistan.org

In Brussels: Angela Corbalan on 32 (0) 473 56 22 60 or angela.corbalan@oxfaminternational.org

One month after the floods first reached disastrous levels in Pakistan, the waters continue to rise. Many areas are still cut off and millions of people are in desperate need of immediate help. Reconstruction efforts must begin immediately to avoid devastating long-term consequences for the country.

Pakistan floods 2010

Pakistan doesn't have the luxury of waiting for the emergency phase to be over before starting the reconstruction.

Neva Khan

Oxfam's Country Director in Pakistan

Serious gaps still remain in funding the emergency relief appeal for Pakistan. At present, the international community has committed $900 million both through the appeal and in other forms of funding. By contrast, following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, $2 billion in total was committed in the first month – equating to $570 per person directly affected. Oxfam and partners are mounting a response across in four provinces Pakistan – Khyber Pakhtoonkkhwa (formally NWFP), Sindh, Kashmir and Punjab. Oxfam is now reaching over 402,000 people in Pakistan and has launched a rapid relief effort in districts throughout KPK, Punjab and Sindh, providing people with clean water and food, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies. We plan to scale up our response to reach 1.1 million people and will soon be starting activities to assist people recover their livelihoods. Oxfam has been working in Pakistan since 1973. We support local partners and work with government authorities to improve the livelihoods of those living in poverty, and provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by disasters and conflict.

For more information and interviews, please contact:

• Louise Hancock on 92 (0) 308 555 9694 or lohancock@oxfam.org.uk
• Tariq Malik, 92 (0) 308-5052976 or tariq.malik@oxfamnovib-pakistan.org

 

Oxfam deeply regrets the deaths of two of its Afghan staff members and a community volunteer and the injuries to one staff member and one community volunteer. They were deeply committed to improving the lives of other Afghans and our thoughts are with their families at this time.

Afghanistan