July 2011
Twelve months have passed since the monsoon rains in Pakistan turned into devastating floods. Christian Aid continues to support flood-affected families, helping them begin to recover and rebuild their lives.
Christian Aid supporters responded with incredible generosity to our appeal and more than £5 million is available for us to use over three years.
We have already spent £2 million responding to the immediate needs of communities affected by the floods and the remainder will go towards long-term recovery and rebuilding work.
Through local partners on the ground, Christian Aid has been able to support more than 140,000 people in the first year of our response.
One year on
Christian Aid responded to many of the immediate needs of flood-affected communities through ACT Alliance partners Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan, Norwegian Church Aid and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, plus partner Muslim Hands.
After the initial emergency work, such as supplying food, shelter and hygiene kits, Christian Aid partners have begun their long term recovery work.
Strong, brick built houses are being built, which replace the weak homes that fell so easily in the severe floods. Young men are being trained in construction skills so they can take part in the rebuilding of their country. People are being supported in order to make a living in order to support and provide for their families.
Over the past year, our work has included:
• providing food parcels for 17,000 families.
• distributing emergency shelters to 40,000 people, including sturdy ‘winterised’ tents or plastic sheeting.
• distributing household kits, including items such as cooking equipment, blankets and mosquito nets to 17,000 families.
• distributing nearly 30,000 hygiene kits that provided vital care to people at risk from health issues caused by the flooding.
• building 63 permanent, brick built houses for families whose homes were washed away in the floods.
• providing three-month construction training courses for 900 young men to enable them to become welders, masons, plumber, electricians or carpenters.
To date, 90,000 people have benefitted from livelihoods support. Farmers were given vouchers in order to buy seeds, tools and fertiliser, and cash grants have been provided so that small businesses can be set up once more.
Preventing disaster
A vital part of the recovery programme will be helping communities reduce their vulnerability to future disasters.
Partners will work with communities which are prone to flooding, and help them identify and prepare for the risks which are specific to their local area.
By providing secure housing and reliable livelihoods, families will be better prepared for future disasters.
Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of 100 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance and development.
