"We urgently need the public’s help to save more lives"
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched an emergency appeal to raise aid for victims of the devastating floods disaster in Pakistan. United Nations have said it is the worst flooding in Pakistan for nearly a century, affecting more over 12 million people and taken 1,600 lives amidst the crisis.
DEC is an umbrella organisation of over 10 UK humanitarian aid agencies including, Islamic Relief, ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
The conditions in the affected areas of Pakistan are impacting the health of survivors and there is huge fear of repercussions in the form of disease and hunger if aid does not get to them quickly.
With fresh flood warnings and more rain forecast thousands are struggling with shortages of food, clean water, shelter and medicine. Reports from UK aid agencies say the situation on the ground is desperate.
The British Red Cross have quickly established mobile medical teams to address health, water and sanitation which are major concerns. Patrick Fuller, from the Red Cross said, “Many people rely on open wells, which have been contaminated, so access to clean water is a problem. We are worried about communicable diseases, like respiratory infections, skin diseases, diarrhoea.”
DEC has revealed that aid from its members is beginning to reach over 300,000 survivors but there is a lot more to be done and help is needed urgently via donations and any other kind of support that can be offered.
The north-western Swat Valley took the brunt of the monsoon floods but swollen rivers have now carried flood waters to Punjab province – Layyah, Mianwali and Kota Adu have faced massive destruction. Millions of people have lost homes or livelihoods. Waters have washed away thousands of acres of crops, government buildings, schools, bridges and railway tracks.
The floods have been triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rain over the upper Indus river area. The waters have delivered destruction over 600 miles long from northern Pakistan down to the south.
The UN say the tragedy in Pakistan is worse than the 2005 Asian tsunami and Haiti earthquake in terms of the number of people affected.
Disasters Emergency Committee Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said,
“These devastating floods have left millions fighting to survive with little food, clean water or shelter. As monsoon rains continue unabated, it is clear that the situation is deteriorating and the speed of our response is vital.”
She added, “DEC member agencies and their partners have already reached over three hundred thousand people on the ground but with roads and bridges damaged the challenges we face are considerable. We urgently need the public’s help to save more lives.”
The agencies are working around the clock to provide aid. Oxfam has helped over 182,000 people by providing clean water and hot food. ActionAid is working with its partners to help more than 23,000 people in areas of the Punjab to distribute food including rice, sugar, pulses, oil and tea. Care International has sent 11 trucks of emergency supplies to Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, including shelter for over 1,800 people, hygiene kits, kitchen sets and water purification tablets. Islamic Relief has delivered hygiene kits to over 14,000 people as well as tents.
The DEC agencies are the leading UK registered humanitarian charities that fulfil certain criteria. DEC agencies have the profile to ensure successful national appeals and expertise in the delivery and provision of aid. Therefore, any help given will be supporting these agencies to assist the vulnerable people in Pakistan hit by the life-wrecking floods.
Your help is very much needed to help make a difference for the survivors of this terrible disaster in Pakistan. Every donation can help to get food, clean water and shelter to the survivors.
A spokesman from Islamic Relief who has visited the disaster struck areas says the best way to help the victims of the floods is to donate money through DEC because the charities have the skills and expertise to deliver the aid. Sending clothes for example will not help because what is needed is support to help people with food, water, shelter and the chance to re-build their lives.
The Red Cross is saying, “The longer people are living in these conditions, the higher their vulnerability.” Therefore, please help now by donating to this cause urgently. Use the link below for direct online payments for the DEC Appeal or use the additional methods listed to make your contribution.
- To donate online now please click here: Online Donation (you will be diverted to the donation page on the DEC website).
- To make a donation by phone, call 0370 60 60 900 now
- To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal; and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA.’
- Donations can be made at any high street bank.
- To donate at a Post Office quote Freepay 1384.
- To donate £5 by text send the word GIVE to 70707. A standard network rate charge will apply.
At times like this, it is important to help those in desperate need, irrespective of who you are or what you are. Because you are helping vulnerable human beings who have been affected by a natural disaster beyond our control. So, please help and donate what you can now.
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