Vaccinations and safe water provided in the aftermath of southwest Pakistan floods
Sandra Bisin, UNICEF

"BALOCHISTAN, Pakistan (August 1, 2007) — The village of Khurmastan is an oasis for farmers surrounded by a vast, arid swathe of land. The community normally sees very little rain, so the torrential rains caused by Cyclone Yemyin, which struck in late June, caught most of the population off guard and took a heavy toll on their livelihoods. 'We heard a strange noise, like water roaring. But we could not believe it," said Ms. Hano, a 30-year-old mother of six. 'Then the village elders came, shouting, 'Water is coming! Wake up!' 'In a single night, we lost everything,' she added. Although no one in Khurmastan died during the flood, the crisis is not over. In the aftermath of the emergency, it is vitally important to provide vaccinations and sanitation supplies to those who were displaced by the floodwaters.

Ms. Hano sits with one of her six children as she recounts the night when the floods hit Khurmastan village in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan

MEASLES CAMPAIGN
'Measles is a major killer of children, especially in times of emergency,'said UNICEF Health Officer Dr. Muhammad Amjad.'UNICEF and its partners have planned to vaccinate 124,000 children in flood-affected areas. So far, over 70,000 children have been vaccinated'....

A young girl affected by the floods being vaccinated against measles in Khurmastan village, in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan.

WATER AND SANITATION ASSISTANCE
The flood swept away homes and belongings as well as water and sanitation facilities in southwest Pakistan. In response, UNICEF and its partners are providing safe water to 125,000 people in both Balochistan and Sindh Provinces....

A boy collects water from a UNICEF water tank in Khurmastan village.

Throughout flood-affected the region, UNICEF and other organizations are helping children and their families rebuild their lives. However, much more work remains to be done as the humanitarian crisis continues in the aftermath of the flood. " [READ MORE OF THE STORY AND DONATE TO UNICEF]