Highlights Government authorities are providing assistance in drought-hit Tharparkar District, Sindh Province. The Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner’s office estimates 900,000 people have been affected by the drought. The Sindh Chief Minister today held a cabinet meeting in Tharparkar to streamline the Government’s response. The Chief Ministers of Sindh and Punjab have announced an assistance package of PKR200 million (US$1.9 million) each for Tharparkar. Response Relief teams from the Pakistan Army have reportedly distributed 10 metric tons of relief items and treated over 600 patients at medical camps in Mithi and Diplo in the drought-affected district. Relief camps will also be set up at Chachhro‚ Nangarparker‚ Islamkot and Khinsar. WFP is implementing a supplementary feeding programme in the district through international NGO Merlin in six union councils (UCs). The programme will be expanded in April to cover 20 (UCs) in Mithi and Diplo talukas. UNICEF will provide treatment to severely acutely malnourished children. WHO has a nutrition stabilization centre in Mithi, the district capital. The Livestock Department has vaccinated 1.8 million animals in the last six months, but an outbreak of sheep pox remains a concern in the district. Provincial authorities, philanthropic organizations and political parties are dispatching relief items‚ including food and medicines, to the drought-hit areas. Local NGO HANDS today pre-tested assessment data collection tools and trained enumerators to assess the situation in the district. Coordination A network of NGOs in Tharparkar (Marora Network) discussed the drought situation on 8 March and agreed to approach district authorities to establish a coordination, facilitation and information sharing centre at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. A joint NDMA-PDMA team assessed the situation in the district today. The NDMA Chairman is expected in the district tonight to oversee the Government’s ongoing response. Annette Hearns Head - Coordination Unit United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 04:34:51 +0000
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