Pakistan floods: two years on

The floods that hit Pakistan in 2010 affected 18 million people, and destroyed houses, roads and bridges over vast areas.

We provided food, water and emergency kits – including blankets, sheets and cooking utensils – to people who’d been forced from their homes.

As the floods receded, we helped people to construct new shelters..

Two women demonstrate the level of flooding on one of only three houses that weren’t washed away in Parto Malik, Sindh Province.

Sat Bai and her daughter outside their new shelter in Parto Malik. She holds a picture of her son, who was killed in the floods.

“I lost my son,” she said, ”but God gave me a new home.”

We provided clean water and hygiene training to help prevent the spread of disease.

We employed people to clean up damaged schools, and rebuild roads and water supply schemes, in return for cash to cover their basic needs.

Today, we are helping families who lost everything to become self-reliant again – for example by providing seeds and fertiliser to help people grow crops.

Our partner AWARD has given goats to women in remote villages in Punjab, which they are breeding to sell for a profit.

We are ensuring that disabled people who lost everything in the floods have the support they need to live independently.

And we are helping communities plan for future disasters – for example by rebuilding bridges so that they can evacuate safely in future emergencies

Thanks to your compassion, we have reached more than 385,000 people affected by

the floods.

Please keep the people of Pakistan in your thoughts

and prayers.

PhotosRobert Cruickshank, Lucy Morris, Monika Vrsanska/CAFOD

Eoghan Rice/TrócaireAsad Zaidi/Catholic Relief Services