15.6 metric tons of cholera kits arrive as WHO airlifts medical supplies to Pakistan

Published September 10, 2022
Makeshift arrangements made by communities to connect villages with markets in flood-affected areas. — Photo by WHO/Twitter
Makeshift arrangements made by communities to connect villages with markets in flood-affected areas. — Photo by WHO/Twitter

Two shipments from the United Nations carrying emergency medical supplies and flood relief equipment for victims of the catastrophic floods across Pakistan have arrived at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

“The shipments contain 15.6 metric tons of cholera kits, water and multipurpose tents that can be used as medical tents,” a WHO press release said on Friday.

According to the organisation, the supplies — estimated at a total value of $174,816 — were delivered to Pakistan with the support of the government of Dubai and the International Humanitarian City.

The Dubai government and the International Humanitarian City, it said, have established an air-bridge linking UAE and Pakistan, which is now fully operational with several rotations having already arrived in the country to deliver critical humanitarian supplies in response to the recent flooding.

“The floods have severely impacted the lives of millions in Pakistan. We are currently working with the national authorities to ensure access to health care and medical supplies, mitigate the risk of disease outbreak, coordinate the response to ensure critical gaps are met, and prepare for any worsening of the situation over the coming weeks,” Dr Palitha Mahipala, WHO Representative in Pakistan, said.

“ […] This critical shipment is arriving at an opportune time and will be immensely useful in helping to strengthen essential health services and control the spread of disease, especially in displaced persons’ camps lacking safe water and sanitary conditions,“ he added.

The WHO noted that the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the flood-hit areas of Pakistan was unprecedented, with more than 33 million people affected, over a million houses damaged or destroyed, over 600,000 persons internally displaced in camps and over 1,460 health facilities damaged.

The health threats were enormous, leaving the most vulnerable, including women and children, at increased risk of diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, malaria, dengue fever, acute respiratory infections and typhoid — already reported in flood-affected areas, it said.

“In close coordination with the ministry of national health services regulations and coordination and national institute of health and partners, WHO is playing a leading role in the health response, providing guidance and health interventions on all fronts, focusing on the current health impact of the floods, while scaling up preparedness for the additional health risks expected to emerge,” WHO added.

Opinion

Editorial

Mixed signals
Updated 28 Dec, 2024

Mixed signals

If Imran wants talks to yield results, he should authorise PTI’s committee to fully engage with the other side without setting deadlines.
Opaque trials
Updated 28 Dec, 2024

Opaque trials

Secretive trials, shielded from scrutiny, fail to provide the answers that citizens deserve.
A friendly neighbour
28 Dec, 2024

A friendly neighbour

FORMER Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday at 92 was a renowned economist who pulled ...
Desperate measures
Updated 27 Dec, 2024

Desperate measures

Sadly in Pakistan, street protests and sit-ins have become the only resort to catch the attention of a callous power elite.
Economic outlook
27 Dec, 2024

Economic outlook

THE post-pandemic years, marked by extreme volatility in the global oil and commodity markets as well as slowing...
Cricket and visas
27 Dec, 2024

Cricket and visas

PAKISTAN has asserted that delay in the announcement of the schedule of next year’s Champions Trophy will not...