Emergency foods and humanitarian emergencies in Pakistan

Disaster is a crisis situation that far exceeds the capabilities. There are two types of disaster.
1. Natural disasters
2. Man-made disasters
Natural Disasters: It includes floods, earth quakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, epidemics, and famine (Keelyet al., 2001).
Man-made Disasters: It includes forest fires, explosions, internal wars, wars at borders and terrorism (Keelyet al., 2001).
Humanitarian Emergencies are the result of any disaster, either its natural or man-made and are characterised by the hap-hazard conditions of resultant stress and instability (Barbara et al., 2002). Both, single disaster or a series of disasters could lead to the state of emergency. Magnitude of disaster could be brief or protracted. After-effects of disasters will indicate period of emergency that whether it would be sustaining for a short or long period.
Humanitarian needs during emergency situations: Disaster victims might need to be shifted from their homes or even cities which cause internal displacement. Internally displaced persons require three basic necessities ie:
i. Food and water
ii. Clothing
iii. Shelter
Another need is the first-aid and medicines. Providers of these foods, water, shelter, clothing, first AID and medicines are firstly the responsibility of native people, native non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Pakistani govt., Pakistan Army. The IDPs are served by international agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNHCR, FAO, World Food Program (WFP) the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Agency for International Development (Anonymous, DCHA, 2011).
In addition, civilian volunteers, independent teams of physicians for relief from diseases or injuries, and various other groups with little experience in disaster relief were also contributing their role. The Pakistan army provided the most visible rescue operations but was overextended with massive rescue efforts, shoring up and breaching dykes, as well as fighting the war in the tribal areas.
Types of foods being used earlier:
Certain foods which were and still are part of the emergency food programs are categorised as:
i. Whole foods
ii. Blended foods
iii. Powdered foods
----- Which includes following:
----- Wheat and wheat products
----- Cereal and soy foods
----- Corn soy blend (CSB)
----- Wheat soy blend (WSB)
----- Feed grains
----- Corn meal
----- Soy fortified sorghum
----- Pulses
----- Rice
----- Beans
----- Pulses: fried dal moong, fried dal masoor, Chickpea black flour
----- Peas
----- Sorghum
----- Corn
----- Wheat flour
----- Bulgur wheat
----- Vegetable oil
----- High energy biscuits
----- Dry milk powder
----- Very less amount of meat, fish and fat (Marchione and Thomas, 2002)
Draw backs of already present emergency foods:
a) Energy per capita required and provided does not match up (McClelland, 2000).
b) Deficient in certain nutrients so causing nutrient deficiency diseases. Pakistan has high population of individuals having blood group ¨ B¨ which demand more Iron. Such foods having high Iron are supplied during emergencies. Nutrient deficiency is also confirmed by NNS (2011).
c) More weight and space consuming foods.
d) High cost of transportation. Cheap and easily available foods be selected from local market not only to reduce overall cost, but also to ensure availability with in short period of time from local market.
e) Takes time to prepare and serve the meal.
f) Relevant food industries may actively be engaged to work for humanitarian aids during emergencies.
g) Relevantpersonnel's as food technologists and higher institutions should be consulted before time to chalk out a plan before the emergencies occur. Subject of food Science & technology is being taught in almost 10 Universities, but these institutions have never been engaged by local Governments or have never consulted.
Aid can provide short-term support; usual governmental revenue collection is the only effective long-term means to provide the economic support required to rehabilitate the flooded populations. Much of the revenue collected should be used for relief work. A separate fund may be evolved in addition to regular fund collection activities. Tax reforms may be revised for the time being to facilitate such relief activities.
Major deficiencies of Nutrients in Pakistan
I. Macro-nutrient Protein
II. Micro-nutrient
----- Iron (Anonymous NNS, 2011).
Objectives
Instead of surviving on just foreign AID, we should undertake the fact that profession of Food technology is excelling in Agricultural country like Pakistan so being food technology student it was my prior responsibility to bring a product.
Main Objectives which should be kept in mind to develop foods during emergencies:
-- Foods that does not need cooking facilities,
-- Food product easy to open and use/reuse after opening or small serving size to be used at one time
-- Easy to transport at less cost
-- Safe and secure
-- Low cost
-- Shelf stable
-- Less space occupying
-- Nutrient dense and instantly energising
-- Coping nutrient deficiency
-- Having Nutraceutical affects
-- Having reducing effect on epidemical disease caused by disaster
-- Easy to deliver during emergencies
-- Require no preparation and cooking time
-- Inspiration
Wawa mum food (Shane, 2011)
Wawa mum food was given to internally displaced persons by WFP. It is a 50g mineral and vitamin-fortified paste meeting a host of daily nutrient requirements and derived from locally-sourced chick with addition of honey packaged in sachet. It was manufactured in Faisalabad.
Options to be considered
1. Ready to eat cereals
2. Ready to serve soup
3. Nutri-bar
Nutri-bars Ingredients options
-- Puffed rice
-- Roasted wheat and barley
-- Chickpea roasted d-husked
-- Jaggery/gur/ brown sugar
-- Sesame/pumpkin seed
-- Dried coconut/fig/apricot/raisins or their paste
-- Black pepper
-- Skimmed/whole milk powder
-- Egg powder
-- Chicken powder
-- Chicken meat powder with dried mixed vegetables, and/or egg powder locally produced (Al-Waha Food Industry, Lahore).
Chicken powder is easy to prepare during the days of surplus supplies without any additional cost or any machinery involved. Institute of Food Science & nutrition, University of Sargodha can help to supply chicken powder for such relief.
Plant based foods like fruit and vegetables, cereals and nuts facilitates to health improvement by lowering disease rate (Shahidi, 2009). Whole grain cereal products prevent the growth of chronic diseases (Sahyounet al., 2006).Bars may enhance nutritionally by using a wide range of vitamins, minerals, herbs, energy rich ingredients and by adding other nutrients (Gonzales et al., 2003).
Method Indigenous cereals, dried fruit, herbs and seeds can be used by procuring from local market. The Nutri-bars can be made by mixing of ingredients, dough making, sheeting, spreadingfruit paste, nuts / seeds sprinkling, pressing and cutting into the form of bars.
Conclusion
After over viewing the situation of nutrient deficiency already present in a developing country like Pakistan and especially the nutritional problems faced in humanitarian emergencies it is concluded that Pakistan is being at a great risk of Nutrient deficiency. People are already suffering from nutrient deficient diseases like kwashiorkor, anemia, rickets, osteoporosis etc. This is also resulting in stunting and wasting of infants and children as well as adults of both genders.
To minimise this risk at least in the disaster affected areas especially Internally displaced people it is prior necessity to provide them with a healthy and nutrient deficiency combating ready to eat nutrient dense product in form of bar.
Suggestions
-- Research should be conducted in Universities and research organisations to develop Emergency foods in Pakistan.
-- Emergency foods should be developed according to nutritional requirements of Pakistani people ie according to blood group ¨B¨ .
-- Emergency foods should be manufactured using local indigenous Ingredients.
-- Emergency foods should be rich source of energy and combating the nutritional deficiencies of Pakistani people as Iron.
-- Mainly Pakistani people are deficient of Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Iron, Ca, and Zinc & Mg.
-- Awareness programs should be run in collaboration with media persons.
-- NGOs are contributing their positivity to the society but to enhance their capabilitiesand actual data base resources.
-- They should hire right persons.
-- They should do regular surveys and consult Food scientists and technologists to supply the exact required food to IDPs.
-- If we have better reservoir system with co-operation of villagers we could utilize rainfall water and not be affected with harms of floods.
-- Proper emergency management training should be conducted in universities and colleges.
Authors: Syeda Mahvish Zahra, Sarfraz Hussain, Muhammad Nadeem, Nida Mian, Ayesha Rafique, Shazia Yaqub, Muhammad Tauseef Azam.

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Table1. Frequent Emergencies Overview

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Timeline         Type of Disaster         Affected population

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May 1935           Balochistan Earthquake               60000

August 1973        Flood                          4.8 million

August 1976        Flood                          5.6 million

June 1977          Flood                            1 million

July 1978          Flood                         2.25 million

Aug 1988           Flood                            1 million

Sept 1992          Flood                           12 million

July 1995          Flood                          1.3 million

August 1996        Flood                          1.2 million

October 2005       Earthquake                     3.5 million

October 2008       Earthquake                        108, 000

August 2010        Flood                           22 million

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Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_natural_disasters_in_Pakistan

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Table 2. Recent flood Damages:

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No  of people affected by floods              Agricultural and

                                       infrastructural damages

20 million Flood victims              $2.5 Billion worth crops

                                                     destroyed

1600  Dead                               17 Acres of crop land

                                                     submerged

4.6 million Homeless               200, 000 Heads of livestock

                                                        killed

8 million Needs humanitarian     260 bridges destroyed in Swat

assistance

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