Pakistan floods
What is happening in Pakistan?
Over the course of July and August 2010, Pakistan experienced the worst monsoon-related floods in living memory. Heavy rainfall, flash floods and swollen rivers devastated over 70 of Pakistan's 122 districts and affected an estimated 20 million people.
8 million people in Pakistan are aged 60 and over - more than 5% of the country's population. At least 3 million older people and people with disabilities have been affected.
Pakistan floods in pictures
Older people's needs
Older people have specific needs in humanitarian crises.
HelpAge International interviewed older people straight after the floods and found that 71% said their health had been negatively affected. They complained of problems with mobility and sight, making it difficult for them to access aid, particularly food distributions.
None of the older people we interviewed straight after the floods had access to basic sanitation, such as working latrines.
A lack of accessible food distributions mean that vulnerable groups such as older people often miss out. Food distribution points are often too far and rations can be too heavy to carry.
73% of the older people we spoke to said they had lost any source of income.
Many older people had their belongings destroyed by the floods. Harsh winters in the areas affected mean that items, such as blankets and warm clothes are essential.
What are we doing to help?
HelpAge is working in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces to ensure that older people's needs are met by the humanitarian response:
- We have distributed 12,000 cold weather kits in Nowshera and Sindh that contain blankets, shawls and other woollen clothing for older people
- We have distributed 1,200 personal kits, which include items such as bedding, torches and food.
- Our specialist health workers are working with Merlin's mobile medical team in Nowshera giving free consultations, counselling, health education and medication to older people.
- With our partners, we have worked in 17 health centres to provide care for more than 23,400 people, with a special focus on older people's needs.
- We are funding eye tests and cataracts surgery for thousands of older people.
- Over 500 older people affected by the Pakistan floods are receiving counselling from HelpAge's psychologists.
- HelpAge has also established 20 older people's associations which support 1,200 older people and their families through £345,800 worth of cash grants which can be used to buy food, repair houses, pay off loans, start small businesses or buy tools or livestock lost in the floods.
What next?
- In the next six months we intend to set up 26 more associations reaching 2,000 older people and their families.
Money raised
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Pakistan Floods Appeal has so far raised £62 million. Age UK, sister organization to HelpAge International, is a member organization of the DEC.