The United Nations (UN) said on Monday that around two million people in Pakistan are again at a risk of floods, partly because of the lack of funds for reconstruction in the 2010 flood-hit areas.
“Major efforts are immediately needed to reduce vulnerability of these families and implementation of urgent recovery and flood preparedness work on river banks, irrigation channels and other infrastructure,” said UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It said the humanitarian community is also preparing contingency plans to enable effective response to any humanitarian needs that may rise. “Major preparedness measures include pre-positioning of tents and establishment of coordination structures with local authorities,” it said. The UN said over $600 million is still needed to support early recovery activities and achieve objectives, set out in the Pakistan Flood Relief and Early Recovery Response Plan. Nearly a fifth of the country was flooded last year, affecting over 20 million people and leaving around 14 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Livestock, crops, infrastructure and other livelihood assets were destroyed. Immediately after the floods, humanitarian agencies, coordinating with the Pakistani government and local authorities, provided food to seven million, safe drinking water to eight million and medicines to 12 million people. As the government had declared transition from relief phase to early recovery at the end of January 2011, humanitarian communities have actively supported early recovery activities to help people restart a normal life. Major activities include rehabilitation of water wells, improvement in primary health care system and rebuilding of schools.