Direct Relief has offered emergency medical aid to healthcare partners responding to massive flooding in Pakistan. According to news reports, flooding over the past week has killed more than 430 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in both the southern and northwestern portions of the country, destroying homes, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.

Direct Relief has strong partnerships in Pakistan, built since the response to the 2005 earthquake there. To help those affected by flooding, the organization’s emergency response team has contacted three partners in Pakistan: Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic & Orthotic Sciences (PIPOS), Murshid Hospital and Health Care Center, and American Refugee Committee (ARC).

• PIPOS, in Peshawar, is distinguished as the preeminent amputee hospital in the country and provides artificial limbs for patients at five clinic sites across Pakistan.
• Murshid Hospital and Health Care Center was established in 1988 to serve the underprivileged people of suburban Karachi and Baluchistan. The modern 123-bed hospital offers services in 19 specialties with a 24-hour emergency room, intensive care unit, and four operating theaters.
• Since 2002, American Refugee Committee has assisted Afghan refugees in Baluchistan to rebuild their lives by providing healthcare services, security, microfinance opportunities, and community development.

With extensive experience responding to flood emergencies, Direct Relief is prepared to assist in the most effective manner according to partners’ needs and requests. The organization will continue to stay in close touch with partners and monitor the situation through news reports.