03 August 2010, Dhaka. With the heavy rainfalls and the ensuing flood in Pakistan, BRAC  temporarily halted its microfinance and health operations in  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and is focusing on providing emergency relief.  “Drawing upon years of experience in flood relief work in Bangladesh, a  flood-prone country, BRAC Pakistan staff are rapidly and effectively  assisting the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province,” said Susan Davis,  President & CEO of BRAC USA.

Reuters/Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org

The shortage of food is acute.  BRAC Pakistan has begun to deliver food packets which contain rice,  lentils, flour, and water purification tablets. To combat the threat of  diarrheal diseases breaking out, BRAC is distributing Oral Rehydration  Solution sachets. This is a staple commodity distributed by BRAC’s  health program in every country where we operate, including Pakistan.  Additionally, BRAC will be sending a medical team for assessment of  health needs in the affected communities.

Of the houses that are  still standing many are under water. BRAC’s staff in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa  expect the water to recede in 2-3 days, but “this part of Pakistan is  not accustomed to floods,” said Mr. Aminul Alam, Executive Director of  BRAC International. “In Bangladesh, we are used to this so we can  prevent casualties there. But here the families and communities we serve  are not used to this. We want to help because of BRAC’s experience of  dealing with floods in Bangladesh over the years.”

BRAC Pakistan  has been operating in Pakistan since 2007 providing microfinance  throughout 94 branches to 106,000 people. Of BRAC’s 12 offices in  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 10 are under water. However, BRAC’s existing  footprint in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the extensive network of local staff  give BRAC a starting point through which relief will be delivered.

“Many  families that we serve have seen their houses washed away. Many houses  of our staff members were also washed away. But as a BRAC staff member  they can be effective in delivering relief to the families and  communities that they serve every day,” said Mr. Faridhur Rahman, BRAC  Pakistan CEO.

“Vehicles cannot go in to flooded areas, and there  is a lack of boats in this area. We have no choice but to wade through  water and deliver relief supplies on foot where we can, even in flooded  areas,” said Mr. Rahman.

Click here to donate to support BRAC's work in Pakistan.

About BRAC

BRAC,  the largest non-profit in the developing world, was launched in  Bangladesh in 1972 and currently touches the lives of more than 138  million people through its programs addressing poverty including  micro-loans, education, health services, self-employment opportunities  and human rights education. BRAC’s vision is to improve the health,  wealth and well being of millions of the poorest families primarily in  Asia and Africa. BRAC has provided $6.7 billion in micro-loans to nearly  eight million borrowers, mostly women, and created 9 million  self-employment opportunities. BRAC’s 84,000 community health promoters  have provided basic health services to nearly 100 million people.  Currently, BRAC has programs in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia,  Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda.  BRAC USA is a 501 c 3 affiliate in New York. To learn more about BRAC,  please visit www.bracusa.org.

Media Contacts

Pakistan
Md. Faridhur Rahman
CEO
BRAC Pakistan
92 334 5505 423
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USA
Malik Rashid
Program Manager
BRAC USA
1 212 808 5615
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02 August 2010, Dhaka. With the heavy rainfalls and the ensuing flood in Pakistan, BRAC has  temporarily halted its normal operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly  the North-West Frontier Province) and is focusing on providing relief  work.  BRAC seeks to bring to the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa our years  of experience in flood relief work in Bangladesh, a flood-prone  country.

Reuters/Adrees Latif, courtesy www.alertnet.org 

“We want to cover 4,000 families,” says BRAC Pakistan  CEO Mr. Faridhur Rahman, referring to the number of families to whom  BRAC aims to deliver food such as rice, lentils, and flour in the next  four days.  The shortage of food is acute. 

To combat the threat  of diarrheal diseases breaking out, BRAC will also be distributing Oral  Rehydration Salts (ORS).  This is a staple commodity distributed by  BRAC’s health program in every country where we operate, including  Pakistan.  Additionally, BRAC will be sending a medical team for  assessment of health needs there.

Of the houses that are still  standing many are under water.  BRAC’s staff in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa  expect the water to recede in 2-3 days, but “this part of Pakistan is  not accustomed to floods,” says Mr. Anisur Rahman, BRAC Pakistan’s  Microfinance Program Manager.  “In Bangladesh, we are used to this so we  can prevent casualties there.  But here the families and communities we  serve are not used to this.  We want to help because of BRAC’s  experience of dealing with floods in Bangladesh over the years.” 

BRAC  Pakistan has been operating in Pakistan since 2007.  Of BRAC’s 12  offices in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 9 are under water and 3 are of limited  use. However, BRAC’s existing infrastructure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in  the form of branch offices and the extensive network of local staff give  BRAC a starting point through which relief will be delivered. 

“Many  families that we serve have seen their houses washed away.  Many houses  of our staff members were also washed away.  But as a BRAC staff member  they can be effective in delivering relief to the families and  communities that they serve every day,” Mr. Rahman says. 

“Vehicles  cannot go in to flooded areas, and there is a lack of boats in this  area.  We have no choice but to wade through water and deliver relief  supplies on foot where we can, even in flooded areas.” 

Click here to donate to support BRAC's work in Pakistan.