A twenty-one-member medical team of doctors and paramedical staff from Spain arrived in Pakistan on Thursday. They will provide health care to the more than 20 million people affected by the recent floods.
[Pablo Yuste Echarren, Humanitarian Aid Office Head]: (English)
"In the previous trip, we discovered that the main needs are basic and primary health and that is why we came back with a team of primary health professionals that will be trying to provide health service to the IDP (internally displaced persons) population in south of Baluchistan."
Spain's ambassador to Pakistan says the government and people of Spain would extend help to the flood victims until the effects of the calamity were over.
[Gonzalo Saravia, Spain’s Ambassador to Pakistan]: (English)
"As you know, we have a big community in Spain of Pakistani citizens, some of them are also Spanish citizens. So we are very close to this problem that Pakistan is suffering. But Pakistan has succeeded in beating all the odds against Pakistan since 1947, so we are really, really sure that with the help of friends like us you will be overcoming this crisis very, very soon -- much sooner than most of people think."
Displaced persons have continued to move back to districts where the water has begun to recede, but many of them are hindered by standing water and severe damage to their houses.
Health concerns about Pakistan's flood victims are increasing as winter approaches.
The rate of acute respiratory infections is expected to rise in some areas due to extreme cold weather and poor shelter conditions.
Cases of diarrhea remain high in southern areas.
Malaria remains a potential threat.
Sources say a total of 12 foreign medical teams are providing medical care to the flood-affected people across the country.