Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

In response to the large-scale flooding that struck Pakistan in the second half of 2022, AMDA sent an emergency relief coordinator from Japan in September to launch emergency relief activities with its local counterparts. The extent of the damage was devastating, so much so that it lingered for a few months until the flood water receded. 

 

The National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA) said, 1,739 people died (including 647 children) and 12,867 were injured (as of 18 November 2022). Leaving one-third of the country under water, the authorities estimated that the affected population would top 33 million, of which around 2.1 million would become homeless. 

 

Earlier this month, the Baqai Foundation, one of AMDA’s local partners, sent a report to conclude its relief activities which ended in December. The organization is led by Dr. Shoaib Baqai who also heads AMDA Pakistan, AMDA’s local chapter.

 

According to the report, the foundation began its relief work in Sindh Province in October by dispatching relief teams three times. Each of the activity periods is as follows:

 

Team	Work location	Period
1st team	Moro	6-9 October
2nd team	Thatta	18-20 November
3rd team	Gharo	16-18 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each time, a team comprising around 10 staff members worked hand-in-hand to provide assistance. Government-run schools and institutions accommodated the team during their stay at each location.

 

The aid work consisted of two elements, which were, 1) medical assistance, and 2) the distribution of relief goods. 

 

For the medical part, paramedical staff and doctors took care of patients with common ailments such as diarrhea, coughs and ophthalmologic symptoms. Accordingly, antidiarrheic drugs, cough syrups, and eye drops were prescribed as needed. In total, more than 1,000 patients benefited from the medical assistance.

 

Regarding the item distribution, the teams delivered foodstuffs which included rice, beans, flour, teabags, and cooking oil. First aid boxes that contained bandages, ointments, antibiotics, and other hygiene goods, were also provided. The team estimated that more than 200 families benefited from the item donation as a whole. 

 

     

 

Mr. Rehan Lodhi, Baqai’s liaison officer, explained that around the time when the relief work started, the communication and interaction between the team on the frontline and the back office was not easy due to security reasons in affected areas. 

 

However, he concluded that “people affected by the disaster were full of praise for the assistance they received.” 

Also as a follow-up, he also sent the below message to express his views on the ongoing situation:
 
“In the current scenario, the floods in Pakistan have had a devastating effect on the country. Millions of people have been displaced and thousands have lost their lives. The floods have destroyed homes, crops, and infrastructure. The floods also had a significant impact on human health with a rise in waterborne diseases and mental health problems.
 
“The floods have had a major impact on the economy of Pakistan. The country is already struggling with high levels of debt and inflation. The floods will make it even harder for Pakistan to recover. It is estimated that it will take years for Pakistan to recover from the floods. In the meantime, the people of Pakistan need our help. We must do what we can to provide relief and support to those who have lost so much. It will take time to come back to normal life. 

"Thanks once again to support the effective flood relief."