Photo exhibition marks first anniversary of floods

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of as many as 47photographs was displayed here Thursday at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) to mark the first anniversary of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

With the theme `Reviving Communities Stronger Together', the event was organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

The joint commemoration plans for the one year anniversary of the floods will be followed by the staging of a candlelight vigil on the evening of July 27.

The display captured the moments of devastation and its effects on the lives of people with a prime focus on children. Some images gave the message of supporting the traumatized affectees with psychotherapy and counselling.

The photographs also depicted the rehabilitation work by the Red Crescent Society during the worst situation.

Meanwhile, a volunteer registration drive is also being organized on the occasion in which people from different walks of life are being registered as volunteers.

Pakistan 2010 flood survivors continue to face an uncertain future. Some still live in makeshift shelters, leaving them vulnerable to the rains expected in this year's monsoon season. Food insecurity and malnutrition are real threats and an immediate response is needed to halt another humanitarian crisis, said a statement from Red Crescent Society.

Figures from the National Disaster Management Authority indicate 20 million people were affected by the floods. Close to 2,000 people died. More than 1.7 million houses were damagedor destroyed, along with 12,000 schools.

Around 12 million people remain without a main source of livelihoods; over 10 million reported a drop in income and 11million people lost their houses during the floods.

More than 2.6 million people have received food parcels from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society and its Movement partners. This includes a second round of food distribution to 350,000 of those hardest hit in Sindh and Punjab provinces. These parcels include staples like wheat flour, sugar, lentils and cooking oil and support a family of seven over a one month period.

The Red Cross Red Crescent continues to provide emergency and basic health care services through eight health teams, working in flood affected areas. More than 243,000 people have been reached with these services. The most common ailments continue to be acute respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, skin diseases and anemia.

The show continues till July 31.