News: One year on, Pakistan still not back to pre-flood living

“Pakistan sits on the frontline of disasters, and communities already living in extreme poverty are simply not being given time to recover from the last blow they were dealt”, said Alexander Davey, National Director for World Vision in Pakistan.

“World Vision aid workers even have children asking them when the next flooding will start - as last year’s emergency aid gave people more than they have ever had before, and much more than the lives they are returning to now”, Davey added.

...last year’s emergency aid gave people more than they have ever had before, and much more than the lives they are returning to nowChildren face heightened vulnerability after any disaster, but particularly in Pakistan where malnutrition rates among children were already dire. The flooding washed away crops, destroyed 5.4 million acres of land and, as food prices rise, child malnutrition has increased to almost 25 percent in worst-hit areas like Sindh province.

World Vision is responding to Sindh’s high malnutrition rates through community-based nutrition sessions and has set up more than 20 mobile clinics - often the only available form of healthcare.

...with schools damaged or teachers lost, children drop out of education; what’s left of belongings often needs to be sold offIn the past year World Vision has reached an estimated 1.5 million people with food distributions, clean drinking water, hygiene kits, blankets, shelter and by establishing women and infant-friendly spaces across three of Pakistan’s four provinces.

Yet, as monsoon rains and melting mountain snow cause river levels to rise, up to five million people could be at risk once again. Families are being asked to prepare for evacuation in case river banks, damaged by last year’s flood, succumb to rising water.

“Pakistan’s cycle of disasters create a generational impact that is hard to break – with schools damaged or teachers lost, children drop out of education; what’s left of belongings often needs to be sold off; families become increasingly sick as they have less to eat but must work more. How can you afford to start rebuilding your home, when there’s no money to put food in your child’s mouth?’ said Davey, adding:
‘One year on, Pakistan’s most vulnerable are barely even starting out on the long road to recovery.’

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