31 August 2010: Team makes future plans for aid distribution

OM International

Surveys in Sindh

With every passing day, the plight of thousands in flood-affected areas becomes more desperate. To ensure that the neediest families receive food rations, OM teams conduct surveys and issue special cards to families. The cards guarantee that the right people receive aid from the delivery team.

At one place, the team completed their survey and issued cards. The next day the other team that delivers the rations arrived a little late. People were waiting for them anxiously. When the team arrived, they saw one man almost jumping with joy and shouting, “Look at these people! I told you they are (Christian). They have promised and they will come. Look! They are here with us.”

During their surveys, the team in Sindh has discovered that other organizations have started to provide daily food deliveries to some of the major centres where people have gathered. These organisations are providing food that is only suitable for adults. Infants and other small babies are not receiving food that meets their needs. The team is considering what they can do about this. They are planning to redo their survey to determine the numbers of pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and babies who require help. If possible, the team will provide this vulnerable group with nutritious food appropriate to their age. This would include baby and powdered milk, cereal and fruit.

Ongoing needs

The surveys indicate that many people need more aid, not just basic food and equipment to prepare food. They also urgently need  basic hygiene products such as soap. A change of clothing would enable people to wash their clothes. The team will make adjustments to the aid packages to meet this need. Some of the most vulnerable groups are young children, expectant mothers and the elderly who cannot fend for themselves.

This was also the month of Ramadan. Eid is approaching, when  families traditionally have special foods like dates to celebrate the end of the daytime fast. The team is considering what small items to include in the aid packs.

In the Sindh province, many people lost their livelihood when the floods washed away large areas of agricultural land. The Government has proposed to move many of these village refugees to camps outside the main city, Karachi. For some people, this is over 400 km from their homes and former communities.

Future relief and development work

The Sindh team attended a meeting called by the World Health Organisation, to discuss the possibilities for future relief and development work. They found it very beneficial to know what other organisations are doing. The team is selecting the areas where they will be involved in reconstruction and development work. They recognise that they need to link themselves with these communities to help with their recovery. The floodwaters have not yet receded and it will easily take two or more weeks before people can go back to the remains of their homes. 

Prayer Points

• Please pray for the teams’ health and strength – especially the team leader who is very tired and not well.

• Please pray for more urgently needed doctors and medical staff.

• Please pray for wisdom for the leaders as they consider how to tailor the aid packages for vulnerable people such as babies, pregnant and nursing mothers and the elderly.

• Please pray for wisdom for the leaders as they make plans for longer-term development work to rebuild broken communities and lives.

New photos can be found on the web site below and are being uploaded daily.

Credit: OM International
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