Millions of flood-hit Pakistanis still without shelter: IOM

ISLAMABAD (AFP) — More than 80 percent of the millions of Pakistanis left homeless by the country’s worst floods are still without shelter, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Friday. The United Nations is to launch a fresh appeal for funds on Friday to help victims of the catastrophe which left some 10 million without shelter since the floods started nearly two months ago. “We have probably reached something like 2.1 million people, that is only about 17 percent or less than a fifth of the families that actually need emergency shelter,” said Chris Lom from the IOM which is taking part in the UN-led relief effort. Briefing the reporters on the latest situation in the flood-hit areas, Lom said they only had enough funds to help at most 50 percent of those in need of shelter. … Pakistan’s worst floods in history have affected up to 21 million people and left 10 million without shelter. More than eight million people are reliant on aid handouts just to survive. The UN Family Planning Association said tens of thousands of the half million pregnant women affected by the floods could face complications to give birth. “Some 1,700 out of total 500,000 pregnant women will go into labour every day,” said UNFPA representative Sara Raza Khan. “250 out of these women might have a complicated labour and they would need emergency medical services, which means 15 percent of total pregnant women need urgent medical care,” she said. …