World Food Programme (WFP) and other United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies, closely watching the situation of rains affected areas of Sindh and Punjab, are waiting for a green signal from the government to start the relief operation. Talking to newsmen on Tuesday, WFP Spokesman Amjad Jamal said that around 750,000 people had been affected in Punjab and Sindh, while 25 died in Sindh and about 50,000 others displaced in rain-affected areas, according to various media reports.
To a question, he said the UN humanitarian agencies including WFP could only start relief operation in Pakistan after the written request of the government otherwise it was not possible for those agencies to move in affected areas and help the people. He said UN humanitarian agencies in Pakistan were ready to start relief operation and would start work in rain-affected areas as soon as request received.
To another question, he said firstly, the government would fulfil its responsibility and start the relief operation and if the authorities would feel that affected people need operation on large scale in that situation they will call UN humanitarian agencies for the relief operation. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has also directed all the federal and provisional authorities to launch relief work in flood affected areas of Sindh on immediate basis and assure payment of compensation after the damage assessment.
During a visit to assess the damages caused by heavy rains and flooding, he asked the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide tents, food, medicines and other facilities to the displaced people in relief camps set up at different places. He said 15,000 tents would be provided in the first phase.
Prime Minister also asked the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to issue Watan cards to help displaced people to meet their needs. The rain continued intermittently for about three days, causing havoc and created a flood like situation in lower parts of Sindh.