Secretary General, Caritas International, Michel Roy, who was on 3-day visit to flood hit areas, told the mediapersons in the briefing that an estimated cost of Rs 1.9 million Euros would be spent for relief of rehabilitation of flood affecte people of Sindh and Punjab.
However, the organization has earlier spent an amount of 2. 2 million Euros in 2010 floods providing assistance and fulfilling livelihood needs of flood victims.
He said rapid climate change is the major reason of these natural calamities and there is dire need for disaster preparedness to deal such disasters.
The Secretary General visited Rajanpur and Multan and also met with government officials for enhancing relief and rescue operation in flood affected districts.
Following it remarkable efforts for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims, Caritas International, being of the largest humanitarian organization having networks in more than 200 countries, has once again come up to assist rain and flood victims of Sindh and Punjab.
"Till date, Caritas Pakistan has distributed 700 food packages and tents in Sindh and Punjab besides establishing free medical camps. We are committed to continue our humanitarian services until the affected population is rehabilitated completely," the Secretary General said.
National Director, Caritas, Bishop Joseph Coutts on the occasion said "From relief to recovery, it is our duty to continue supporting the people who have been badly affected by the flood."
"We must raise voices and urged government to relocate the affected people and national and international donors must come forward for rebuilding lives at community level," he added.
Answering a question, National Executive Secretary Amjad Gulzar said the organization is in close coordination with the district governments and working for relief and early recovery at various union councils.
He said "Caritas will continue its efforts in both relief and rehabilitation phases with focus on reconstruction, livelihoods, restoration and provision of health services as well as psycho- social support."
Giving details of relief items, he said, food packages has been distributed among 1450 families, tents among 320 and plastic sheets among 850 families.
However, 21 health camps established in flood hit areas are catering 4500 victims, he said.
On the completion of one year of 2010 devastating floods, Carotas Pakistan has published a memoir named `Restoring Dignity' that provide a detail account of efforts carried out by the organization as well as the people working with affected community.
Caritas has also supported the affected population by fulfilling their livelihood needs by providing them goats, fertilizers, seeds, fuel efficient and smokeless stoves, saplings and agriculture tool kits.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011