American Refugee Committee Relief Teams Travel By Boat to Assist Survivors

Minneapolis, August 2, 2010 —  

The American Refugee Committee is assisting survivors of the floods in Pakistan, which have killed more than 1,100 people and forced more than 2.5 million people from their homes.

Health teams traveled by boat to visit medical centers in Swat, which had been made inaccessible by washed out roads and collapsed bridges. The team is also distributing critical supplies and medicines. 

“The heavy rains washed away entire communities, as most homes here are made of mud,” said Jill McGrath-Jones, Team Leader.  “The rain came in torrents.  Now there seems to be a collective holding of breath to see what happens next.  The fear is that this is just the beginning—more rains are forecast, and we are just at the tip of the monsoon season.”

Many of the water sources have been damaged by the floods.  This could lead to a major public health crisis.  Cases of diarrheal disease have already been reported.

“We are concerned about the worsening conditions in the flood-affected areas,” said Daniel Wordsworth, President of the American Refugee Committee.  “With experienced teams on the ground, we stand ready to help.”

The American Refugee Committee team is coordinating with partners and assisting survivors in Sibi District in Baluchistan; and Barikot and Ghalegay, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province)—some of the areas affected most by the flooding disaster.

TO MAKE A DONATION:  The American Refugee Committee is taking donations to support its relief efforts at:  American Refugee Committee; 430 Oak Grove Street, Suite 204; Minneapolis, MN  55403 USA; tel 612-872-7060 or at, www.ARCrelief.org 

About the American Refugee Committee
American Refugee Committee programs are built from the ground up.  We work with people at the most vulnerable points in their lives, when they have lost everything to war or disaster.  They let us know what they need most, and we work together to develop ways to help them get it.  Our programs are as diverse as the people we serve, but they all work together for the same goal:  to help people take back control of their lives.  We help nearly 2.5 million people a year through programs around the world.  For more information, visit www.ARCrelief.org.

Press contact:
Therese Gales, American Refugee Committee (800) 875-7060, ThereseG@ARChq.org