At least 3 million children at risk of malnutrition and disease as world ignores aid funding plea for Pakistan floods
October 5 (Save the Children) – The lives of at least three million children in Pakistan are at risk from malnutrition and disease because of a huge shortfall in emergency funding needed to help families left destitute by recent heavy flooding in Sindh province, says Save the Children. Only 9% of the £233 million required by the UN’s emergency appeal has so far been raised, prompting fears that millions of people will be left without food and water if more money is not found. The UN says that food and water supplies could run out in within weeks and is warning that a third of those affected could be without medical care in a month’s time. Emergency shelter supplies will run out in the next few weeks, according to the UN. At least 5.5 million people have been affected by the flooding after torrential rains caused river banks to burst and overflow in late August. The disaster left 1.8 million people displaced and forced many to flee to roadsides, railway tracks and schools in search of shelter . The downpours left three-year-old Mushtaq’s village in Badin underwater. Mushtaq’s and his family of seven found refuge in a relief camp set up in a government run school near Badin city. Hanif, Mushtaq’s father said: “Mushtaq has been very weak since he was born. Ever since we moved to the camp he has lost even more weight and has become lethargic as well. He does not talk or play like other children of his age. There are no health facilities at our camp and we do not have sufficient food to feed our entire family. When we arrived here I took him to a local clinic but the medicines prescribed by the doctor were too expensive.” David Wright, Country Director for Save the Children Pakistan said: “Children are distressed and are living in desperate conditions with families barely able to feed themselves. Their stocks of food have been wiped out by flooding and they don’t have the money to buy food. Some people are still completely cut off from help. We are on the ground saving children’s lives, but the need is huge. The world has to face up to what is happening here and fill the funding gap so aid agencies can reach millions more people.” […]
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