Minister says Pakistani disaster to get worse before it improves

THE HUMANITARIAN disaster caused by flooding in Pakistan will get worse before it gets better, Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power has said.

While the loss of life had been less than in the Haitian earthquake and the Asian tsunami, he said the number of deaths from hunger and disease in Pakistan was potentially far greater.

“The amount of people reduced to homelessness, the amount of children who are now at real risk of death, would dwarf the tsunami and the Haitian earthquake.”

Mr Power was speaking yesterday following discussions with aid agencies on the distribution of 98 tonnes of emergency shelter, water and sanitation equipment in Pakistan. The shipment, which Mr Power said was the largest single consignment of humanitarian aid ever donated by the State, arrived in the flood-stricken country this week.

Mr Power said close co-operation between the State and non-governmental agencies working on the ground was essential to the success of the aid operation.

“The sheer scale and size of this disaster demands that we work as closely as possible to make sure our national response is as effective as possible . . . I am delighted that Irish aid agencies have agreed to distribute humanitarian supplies from the Government’s stockpile.”

He said the humanitarian aid delivered from the Irish State stockpile in Dubai would be enough to provide shelter and basic sanitation supplies for 33,000 people.

Mr Power is also proposing to set up an emergency committee involving Irish Aid and non-governmental aid agencies to ensure a rapid response to any future humanitarian crisis.

The committee would ensure better “coherence and information-sharing” between the State and the agencies.

“It would build on the very good relationship we have developed with NGOs in recent years and, in particular, the daily contacts we have had with them during the Haiti and Pakistan operations.”

Representatives from Concern, Goal, Trócaire, Plan Ireland, Dóchas, Oxfam Ireland, Action Aid Ireland, the Christian Blind Mission, Tearfund and Sightsavers attended yesterday’s meeting.