Arlington, VA — August 4, 2010 — In response to more than a week of torrential rainfall in flood-stricken Pakistan, International Relief and Development (IRD) has launched an urgent appeal and released emergency funding for the relief effort. Officials report that more than 1,400 lives have been lost, and an estimated 3 million people, including 1 million children, have been affected by the heavy rains and are in urgent need of food, water, medicine, and shelter. Conditions on the ground are expected to get worse in the coming weeks, with forecasters predicting at least two more weeks of heavy rain.

IRD has created a Pakistan Floods Relief Fund for public donations. Cash contributions are critical to the relief efforts, and those who wish to donate can visit www.ird.org, call 1-866-595-1100, or text PAKISTAN to 85944.

IRD is moving quickly to address the emergency needs of thousands of families in two of the most heavily affected districts. IRD is among the only international NGOs with operations in both D. I. Khan and Tank Districts. Initial needs assessments by IRD and our partners in the region are helping to prioritize our immediate response. 

IRD’s emergency response is focused on providing shelter, safe water, sanitation, and non-food items, such as blankets and clothing. IRD is also re-stocking flood-damaged health clinics, focusing on treatments for water borne illnesses, oral rehydration salts, and primary health care pharmaceuticals.   

The current monsoon rains have triggered the worst floods in Pakistan in more than 80 years, affecting people in every area of the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), the worst-affected province, the Provincial Government puts the death toll at nearly 800 people, with more than 100 people still missing. Rivers have burst their banks, tearing down 60 bridges and washing away roads and buildings. Hundreds of villages and towns, along with massive sections of agricultural land, are under several feet of water. The full extent of the damage from the heavy rainfalls and flash floods is still not clear, since  access to affected areas is limited and most of the communication networks are disrupted.

More information on IRD’s work in Pakistan can be found at www.ird.org/what/countries/pakistan.html. You can also stay up-to-date on the latest Pakistan floods relief efforts at www.ird.org, by following @ird_relief on Twitter, or joining us on Facebook. For information on how you can help raise funds, please call Daniel Puls, IRD Chief of Advancement, at 703-957-1452.