• Will Hale

The Salvation Army in Pakistan Distributes More Relief Aid

PAKISTAN - The third major flood relief distribution effort arranged by The Salvation Army in Pakistan took place on Saturday 21 August. The first distribution took place at Tar Nab Farm, on the bank of the River Kabul between Nowshera and Peshawar, where sleeping and cooking packs were given out to 43 families. As with previous distributions the packs consisted of quilts, pillows, mattresses and a set of kitchen utensils.

Government and Pakistan military officials helped with the distribution and expressed their appreciation for the work being carried out by The Salvation Army. They were particularly pleased with how organised the distribution was.

One of the female recipients told Divisional Officer Captain Washington Daniel that she had lost everything in the water but that she could now look forward to a comfortable night's sleep for the first time since the disaster struck.

Another 180 families received sleeping and cooking packs during a second distribution held in the open air near Peshawar. Mr. Syed Zahir Ali Shah and his team from the Ministry of Health and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Mr. Javed Prince gave their help and spoke about the effectiveness of The Salvation Army's relief work.

The third distribution point was in Nowshera which is on the bank of the River Kabul and has been badly affected by the floods. The distribution took place at Christ Church School and packs were given to 77 families.

The initial flooding was mainly centered on the north-west of Pakistan but fears are growing for people in the south of the country where the floods have received less publicity.

A Salvation Army team visited two camps near Hyderabad which are home to around 300 families. The team has reported that living conditions are poor and that people are sleeping in tents usually used for weddings but not suitable for rainy conditions. As well as the dangers of living in unsuitable weather conditions the people also have to be wary of snakes competing with them for the dry ground. 

The assessment team reports that most people in the camps lost all their possessions in the floods and that they urgently need bedding, food, clothes and sanitary items.

The Salvation Army is looking to see how it can provide help to these people and many others who have lost everything.

Submitted by Lt. Colonel Laurie Robertson, International Secretary for Communications