The Needs Assessment Mission of the UNDP Pakistan estimated that Rs 7.157 billion are required to help the people of flood-hit areas in Sindh and Balochistan, calling for investment in buildings, water, sanitation, livestock, health, education, roads and livelihoods.
The United Nations system launched the "Flood Rehabilitation Needs Assessment for Balochistan and Sindh" here on Tuesday.
UN agencies including United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the office of the Resident Co-ordinator sponsored the assessment which estimates medium- and long-term relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance needed in the worst flood affected regions.
Thousands of poor people are still suffering from food insecurity and health problems persist in Badin, Tharparkar, Thatta, Naseerabad, Bolan, Jaffarabad, Lasbela and Jhal Magsi districts.
It is estimated that over one million people have been affected as their houses have either been destroyed or damaged and livestock has perished. Moreover, the floods have destroyed crop land and this created the food crisis in the area.
The Needs Assessment Mission recommended that supplementary food aid be given to the 125,500 vulnerable families for a period of four months, as the Rabi crop has been lost. Physical infrastructure such as road and schools have also been destroyed and needed rehabilitation.
It was also suggested that technical assistance to the federal and provincial governments is essential for allowing warning and preparedness. Some of the flood-affected area had earlier been hit by the drought and it was felt that a comprehensive strategy for the harnessing and utilisation of floodwater be developed.
Onder Yucer, UN Resident Co-ordinator, said, "UNDP had helped the government in the preparation of a comprehensive national disaster management plan, which needs implementation to avoid the repetition of such incidents.
The representative of the Ministry of Finance, said "the alarming crisis deserves immediate attention of all the partners. The findings of the Needs Assessment should be shared widely to ensure technical and financial support is provided to flood affected people. Representatives, from civil society, said that the rehabilitation needs to be linked with wider efforts of poverty alleviation.
Since the floods, the population has had limited cash resources which has resulted in the proliferation of money lending at very high interest rates.
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