MEDIA RELEASE
02 AUGUST 2010
Act for Peace Assists Flood Ravaged People of Pakistan
Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, is
responding immediately to assist the flood ravaged people of Pakistan with emergency
assistance as the death toll soars beyond 1,100 and disease outbreaks emerge.
Mr. Alistair Gee, Executive Director of Act for Peace, said, Our partners on the ground are
already distributing food packages, shelter, drinking water, hygiene kits and mosquito nets for
flood affected families in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Our partners have also put into
action a mobile health unit to provide emergency health assistance in Mansehra. More mobile
health units will soon cover areas such as Kohistan, Swat and Balakot.
More than 1.5 million people have been affected thus far. Families are stranded and exposed to
disease and extreme lack of food. Thousands have been displaced. Other impacts include the
loss of livestock and damage to agricultural crops and fields, said Mr. Gee.
Act for Peaces partners report that total estimated damages and affected population are yet to be
determined due to inaccessibility caused by rising flood waters and disruption to communication
networks.
Mr. Gee said, Our response is in the very early stages and the magnitude of destruction is only
just beginning to surface in the international media. Our local partners, which are members of the
ACT Alliance, are preparing for the potential of massive displacement and relocation of
residents.
Our partners in Pakistan have been actively working with communities to overcome the affects of
war and respond with resilience to disasters. It is vital that a strong, concerted and well
coordinated aid effort is carried out. This disaster threatens to undo amazing development
achievements in Pakistan since the earthquake in 2005 which claimed over 80,000 lives.
How to Help:
Gifts can be made online at www.actforpeace.org.au, via Free Call 1800 025 101, or by Post: Act
for Peace, Locked Bag 199, Sydney, NSW 1230. More than 90% of gifts will be sent directly to
assist the victims of this terrible flooding in Pakistan. All gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible and
any excess funds raised will be applied to ongoing development work in Pakistan.
For further information or interviews please contact:
Campaigns & Communication Coordinator, Edwyn Shiell 0458 303 515