IMC Monitoring Situation in Pakistan

Washington DC/Los Angeles – Following the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed on Thursday in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi, President Pervez Musharraf has announced three days of national mourning and security forces have been put on ‘red alert.’

Only days away from crucial and hotly contested parliamentary elections Bhutto’s assassination puts further pressure on the country’s fragile political stability. International Medical Corps is observing the situation and evaluating the potential impact upon operations. “We will carefully monitor the situation and carry on with our programs as the situation will allow,” says Tracey Shissler, IMC Regional Coordinator for Central/ South East Asia.

UPDATE as of January 2, 2008: IMC’s operations have resumed and we will continue to monitor events in our areas of operation.

International Medical Corps provides primary health care services through basic health centers and an emergency obstetric care center, and conducts training and development programs for both Afghan refugees and Pakistani health professionals. IMC’s basic health centers focus on the delivery of maternal and child health services while trainings develop female doctors and health care workers. In addition to programs throughout the Afghan refugee camps in the North West Frontier Province, IMC provides assistance to Pakistanis displaced by the devastating earthquake in 2005 and has maintained basic health centers in the earthquake affected areas as well as provided nutritional support.

Read more about International Medical Corps in Pakistan HERE.