Situation Report: Pakistan Drought


March 7, 2014

Situation:

Drought and resulting extreme food scarcity are imperiling life in District Tharparkar, one of 23 districts in the southern Pakistan province of Sindh.

As one example, in the last three months, at least 121 people have died as a result of what authorities believe are drought-related causes – this in the midst of hundreds of thousands migrating from the region because of precarious conditions.

According to sources, 38 children died of malnutrition in the district’s Mithi taluka hospital in December 2013; 42 in January and 36 in February. So far, there have been five deaths this month. Response from government authorities has been slow at best, local residents say.

CWS Response:

CWS is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with local partners and authorities to get updated information on any new developments. CWS’s emergency response team in Pakistan is on standby to start its emergency response activities as needed.

How to Help

Contributions to support CWS emergency response efforts may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.  Donations to our emergency response efforts around the globe may also bemade online.

Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.