Committee of Emergency Situations issued an emergency appeal for donations in Pakistan, where at least 1000 people were killed by floods described as the worst in countries history.
“Scale of these floods caused shocking level of destruction – crops were swept away and livestock killed over huge plots of country,” said DEC Executive Director Saleh Saeed.
“DEC charities are doing their best, but British donations public will make a huge difference in allowing them to reach more people,” he added. “We call on everyone give all they can in what we value is a hard time for us all.”
Pakistan ranks eighth in risk country worldwide from impact of changing of the climate.
floods, caused heavy monsoon rains devastated three-quarters of districts of Pakistan, which are home to about 33 million people. people and leaving more than 6 million in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
Rescuers struggling to reach entire villages that have been slaughtered off on flood water. hundreds of health facilities were damaged, as were bridges, roads, schools, crops and houses. destroyed.
Even like the UK government pledge up up to £1.5m of financial help to help with direct aftermath of floods, British charities and Pakistani diaspora groups came forward in raise more over £1,500,000 in in past several days.
Alina Khan and Fatima Asfandyar, two Pakistanis women life in London started fundraising on Instagram, after they became concerned for family members living in north-western Pakistan, where flooding from the Swat River has affected dozens of thousands of people.
“In less than a week we received over £10,000 in donations from over 100 people from all over world, outside of Pakistan, Khan said. who worked with a team of Volunteers of the Red Crescent Society in Islamabad. Khan said their efforts reached hundreds of family so far.
“Fatima and I are relieved to hear of the DEC appeal and hope that the UK will also make generous donations but no of initial coverage was discouraging and we are glad that we took quick action,” Khan said.
Disaster comes at an uncertain time for Pakistan, which has been going through political and economic turmoil before and after the departure of Imran Khan as prime minister.
Following the Pakistani government’s request for international to help, on tuesday UN announced a $160 million (£139 million) contingency plan. This was announced on Wednesday by the head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. announced release of from $10 million to support healthcare facilities and prevent the spread of malaria, dengue fever and other waterborne diseases.
A man tries to save things from a flooded house. home in Shikarpur, Sindh province. Photograph: Farid Khan/AP
Scale of flooding prompted several senior British-Pakistani politicians to appeal for donations.
Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West recently traveled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help distribute basic foodstuffs items with Islamic Relief, charitable organization of DEC, which has so far raised more than £1 million.
AT video posted on her twitter accountShah who costs in front of corn field flooded with muddy water, said the 2010 flood that killed at least 2,000 people. people as well as left millions homeless, were “minutes” in comparison with them.
“There is [a] a man who roamed the streets and for searched for five days for a box. As well as in what box were his savings for three of the wedding of his daughters,” Shah said.
“There is people here who looking for for their favorite with no hope of they come back because they just was washed away.”
Writing on Twitter on WednesdaySadiq Khan, Mayor of London called government and others onstep forward” and provide immediate rescue assistance and long-term assistance.
“My thoughts with all Pakistanis and many Londoners who will be very worried about their friends and family”Khan tweeted.
The DEC appeal will broadcast on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky on Thursday afternoon news.
