FLOODS IN NWFP PAKISTAN – 17 August 2009 - OneResponse

FLOODS IN NWFP PAKISTAN – 17 August 2009
This situation report is based on information
received from UN Agencies, humanitarian
partners, government sources and the media.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Heavy rainfall on 16 August caused flash floods
originating from the Karamar Mountains in
Swabi and Mardan Districts in North West
Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. The
numbers of affected people remain
undetermined. According to various sources,
there are reports of 27 deaths, nine people
missing, an estimated 400-450 houses
destroyed along with massive losses to crops
and livestock.
The most affected Union Councils were Ismaila,
Kalu Khan and Adina in Swabi District and
Shahbaz Garrhi and Garryala in Mardan District.
The District Administration in Swabi has
declared a state of emergency in Adina, Ismalia
and Kalu Khan.
The Swabi District Coordination Officer (DCO)
reported that about 70,000 to 80,000 people
have been affected in the region. The UN
assessment team reported that approximately
100 houses have been damaged in Kalu Khan in
Swabi District.
As the water swept through the villages, the
roofs of mud houses collapsed and caused the
majority of the deaths. Concrete houses were
mostly unaffected. The flood waters submerged
the cultivated land in these regions and much of
maize, rice, sugarcane and tobacco crops were
destroyed. Livestock was washed away and
drowned. In addition, valuables in homes were
completely swept away and stored grains in
houses were destroyed.
Traffic between Swabi and Mardan, Mardan-
Rustam, Mardan-Shahbaz Garhi and Mardan-
Dubian was totally cut off. Several bridges were
washed away while the communications network
has been severely damaged in Mardan District.
An initial assessment has been completed by
non-government organization Muslim Aid, the
first on the scene, and the United Nations
currently has an assessment team in the regions.
Mardan and Swabi Districts are adjacent to each
other and are the districts with the largest
number of people displaced due to military
operations in Malakand Division. Swabi District
hosted internally displaced people (IDPs) from
Buner District while Mardan District received
IDPs from Swat District.
NEEDS
The normal practice in these agricultural regions
is for most of the farmers to store six months of
wheat or dry rations in their homes. These
rations have now been swept away by the floods,
which may lead to food insecurity. Should food
be necessary, a WFP hub is located just a few
kilometers away.
There is also a requirement for medicine, tents,
drinking water and aqua tabs. The large
number of livestock lost to the flood waters also
means a loss of livelihoods to many households.
RESPONSE
Government, UN agencies and other
humanitarian organizations have started relief
activities in the flood affected areas of Mardan
and Swabi Districts. The Government’s
Emergency Response Unit arranged boats from
the Pakistan Army that were dispatched to
Mardan District while two trucks with tents and
non-food items (NFIs) are also due to reach
Mardan District for emergency shelter.
UNHCR is sending NFIs and 500 tents for
distribution in flood affected areas in Swabi
through the DCO. WHO has set up three
medical camps in Mardan and has assessed
that there is sufficient anti-venom for potential
snake bites after the flood waters recede.
UNHABITAT has pre-positioned plastic sheets
and tents should they be needed in Mardan

District, while IOM has flood relief related NFIs
ready to be delivered in flood affected areas.
Muslim Aid has also started providing relief
items such as kitchen sets, jerry cans, water
buckets, mattresses and tents to flood affected
communities in Shahbaz Garhi in Mardan
District.
For more detailed and updated information
please visit the Pakistan website at
www.un.org.pk or contact:
OCHA Office in Islamabad
Manuel Bessler, OCHA Head of Office Pakistan
bessler@un.org
Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson
bunker@un.org Cell: 0300 850 2397
Flood Affected Union Councils in North West Frontier Province (NWFP)