Jerrycans for flood relief

In the summer of 2010, Pakistan saw the largest floods in its history. Nearly one-fifth of its area was under water from the heavy monsoon rains, with over 20 million people being affected – more than 2.000 died, millions are homeless, and many are threatened by disease. Clean drinking water, food, clothing, and medicine are needed. Approximately 3.5 million children are exposed to diseases such as diarrhea and malaria, according to United Nations estimates.

At McKinsey for Children, we have decided to help with clean drinking water to prevent diseases from spreading through polluted water. For this purpose, jerrycans are ideal. These canisters have an integrated water filter for 15,000 liters, which is sufficient to provide clean drinking water for an entire family for up to 18 months. The Jerry Can is, with it’s ultra-fine Micro-Filter, the only model on the market that can filter out viruses without chemical additives.

We are working with Shelter Now for the local implementation of the project. Shelter Now is a Christian organization that has been running aid projects in Pakistan and Afghanistan for more than 25 years: from help for refugees and earthquake victims to long-term reconstruction and development aid projects. The focus is especially on helping with basic needs, such as food, drinking water, and housing. The projects are mainly financed through private donations and partially through public funds from the United Nations and the German Federal Government.