Food price hikes are adding to the misery for the millions of people affected by Pakistan’s worst flooding on record.Christian World Service has been told food prices had already drastically increased in the build up to the holy month of Ramadan. Now with the effects of ongoing flash floods and monsoon rains to the food supply, thousands of families are facing severe food insecurity. Pakistani sources report the prices of green vegetables are going up by more than 100 percent. CWS partner, Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A) fears price hikes could mean severe food insecurity and malnutrition increasing the likelihood of further deaths. The families remain at high risk of waterborne and skin diseases. Tens of thousands remain without shelter and can be found roaming and sleeping on the streetsParts of Dera Ismail Khan District where floodwaters had receded were again inundated. Zafar Wazir, CWS-P/A Project Officer, describes the situation, “Everyone is on the streets, animals and people. There is no shelter; tents are high priority. There is food shortage. A lot of humanitarian assistance is needed, and this area has received very little media coverage or assistance. Only the army and a few organizations can be seen in Dera Ismail Khan.”CWS is appealing for funds to help the relief efforts of CWS P/A. Distribution of 70 ton of food items in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is complete, and an additional 70 tons of food items will be distributed in Allai within in a couple of days. The procurement of an additional 490 tons of food items is underway. CWS-P/A also continues it health services. Current flood-related assistance is reaching 155,200 beneficiaries (direct and indirect) in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Balochistan.  Much more is needed.
 
10 August 2010